<< Previous Page 3 of 4 Next Page >>    

The Six Sigma infrastructure consists of the following elements:

• Project Identification Process
• Leadership Training
• Practitioner Training
• Project Tracking and Support

A key element to Six Sigma is the fact that it is implemented as a cornerstone to the business strategy. Business results are delivered by individual contributors and teams tasked to complete business critical projects. As such it is imperative that the projects worked are identified in coordination with the business goals. This linkage makes Six Sigma the operations improvement mechanism enabling an executive strategy. Only those projects that are on the leadership agenda are addressed as part of the Six Sigma program. This process ensures managerial motivation to adequately support the project work. It ensures key business goals set by executives are accomplished by focusing activity and resources on those projects that link to the goals. It drives organizational focus to strategy related activity.

By using the infrastructure, associates work on projects that have quantifiable results, introducing the entire organization to “business thinking”. While some organizations have driven business thinking into the lower ranks, many have not. Getting the entire organization to think and behave with a business mindset, value generation being job number one, versus a functional mindset, like engineering, marketing or accounting, generates the culture required in a fast paced, global marketplace.

The leadership training portion of the infrastructure is designed such that leadership gains not so much an in-depth knowledge of statistical methods but the knowledge how to best utilize individuals equipped with these methods. Its focus is on project selection, project tracking and required behavior changes to best support fast paced project teams. The leadership training will also, one more time, reinforce the executive agenda.

The Practitioner Training is designed to equip the organization with the tools and a project management framework to rapidly and successfully complete projects. Depending on the ability, time commitment, and project opportunities, three training levels are commonly found:

• Greenbelts
• Blackbelts
• Masters

Greenbelts are formally trained for the duration of 5-10 days. They are exposed to the fundamental tools that are required on almost any project. Greenbelts are typically not removed from their day-to-day function and complete project work as part of their normal task.

Blackbelts are usually trained for 20-25 days over the course of 4-5 months. They typically attend 5 consecutive days of classroom training, then apply the learned principles on their respective projects before they return to the classroom for the next 5 day session of training. Blackbelts are typically dedicated to the improvement effort for the duration of the training.

First Published in Asia Pacific Magazine, April 2002.

<< Previous Page 3 of 4 Next Page >>