Monday, December 29, 2008

Smooth Transitions To Six Sigma Implementation

By Craig Calvin

When a business is switching from their normal processes to the Six Sigma discipline, they should expect a platform of efficient and improved processes. Team leaders need to make every effort to make certain that the conversion process is not hampered by any unnecessary reasons. If expected benefits of the project are to be realized, then the Six Sigma implementation must be seamless.

Effective planning is not just crucial for the Six Sigma projects; it can be beneficial to everyone involved in the organization. For a Six Sigma implementation to have a proper plan in place is vital. These plans should be realistic and achievable. The planning has to be such that the participation of the members involved does not hamper the daily functioning of the organization. If the plans are not effective enough, they may be extra burden added to the daily activities of the business. With proper planning and strategizing for the various stages in the Six Sigma project implementation, you will be ready to face any kind of problem that may arise. In a Six Sigma implementation the biggest risk faced is the resistance to the changes. Considering this factor, strategies have to be designed that will help to overcome or reduce such resistance. Planning should involve resources, strategizing to face the problems that may arise and having a good communication strategy for the project.

The availability of resources to the team is a requirement that should not be overlooked. Both material and human resources are key to the program's success. If the resources are not provided and available in a timely manner, then the morale of the team could be affected negatively, causing the Six Sigma project to go off schedule. Smaller companies will be more likely to have resources ready at hand, whereas in larger corporations the gathering and compiling of resources may require more effort. If the Six Sigma implementation is to continue unimpeded, resources must be easily available.

Appropriate communication channels have to be opened at the onset of the project. And all team members, from Green Belts to Black Belts to top management, must be involved at all stages. The information must flow freely among all teams. If one team is left uninformed at any stage of the process, then the schedule could be delayed and the project will need to regroup and reassess. The setting up of a clear communication plan is an important part of the foundaton of the Six Sigma process.

Communication of the various activities to the employees at various levels of the business has to be done. This is helpful in addressing resistance to change to a large extent. Communication has to reach out to employees, stakeholders and the senior management as well. Six Sigma is beneficial to all sorts of businesses, big or small. The implementation of such projects has to be continuous to ensure that the business starts to work to its fullest possible level. - 16069

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