While Six Sigma training can help businesses in the technological sector tremendously, it is vital that companies choose the best Six Sigma consultants to work with and introduce the Six Sigma concepts in the proper manner. After all, if companies do not implement Six Sigma in an efficient manner, businesses can run into costly difficulties down the road. How then does an organization properly implement the Six Sigma program?
Background Information
A large insurance company headquartered in the western United States was one such company that unfortunately did not work with the proper Six Sigma consultants. These outside consultants (Master Black Belts (MBBs)), who were not IT/software specialists, were responsible for implementing all of the Six Sigma strategy planning, training, and coaching at the insurance company.
Early on in the Six Sigma implementation process, internal Black Belt candidates were then selected and trained from across the organization. The company then examined some of the critical issues within the organization. From this list of critical issues, the more pressing problems were selected, and with coaching from the MBB consultants, the internal Black Belt (BB) candidates implemented these projects.
To report on progress and issues, weekly and monthly status meetings were held. However, there were some issues that arose during this process. In fact, many projects were slowed or cancelled due to a lack of usable data for base lining & analysis purposes.
As a result, one and a half years after implementing the Six Sigma training, a Green Belt (GB) program was initiated to supplement BB activities on smaller projects. Further, ‘Lean’ thinking, training and approaches were added to the on-going Six Sigma effort as well. All the while these events were taking place, the internal MBBS began replacing the external MBB consultants at this insurance company in increasing numbers.
Results
The numerical results can be viewed in the accompanying graphs, and overall, 184 projects were measured and analyzed.
Please note that the results depict a Baseline model as well as Four Phases of implementation over a time span of approximately 39 months. Also, to preserve the privacy of confidential information, the graphics depict only the relative improvement.
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