At SigmaPro we are very clear about the purpose of improvement activity. The purpose is to address strategic gaps within the organisation - gaps between where the organisation wants to be and where it is right now.
We advocate a six step approach to introducing a sustainable approach to organisation improvement. These six steps help to create a clear roadmap for the organisation to follow.
Step 1 – Assess
The first of these stages is to carry out a review to establish current status of the organisation: strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. The review uses 7 components, ranging from strategy deployment methods, through resources available and prioritisation approach, to methods used. Once this review has been carried out, there is a clear picture of current status, a potential future status, and the gaps between the two.
Step 2 – Prepare
Assuming the business case makes sense, the second stage is to prepare. This has three main components: Agree the goals for the improvement programme; create a top level implementation plan; and get commitment to the implementation plan at senior level. In defining what the goals for the improvement programme are, remember that improvement activity is about addressing strategic gaps, not just about making random improvements for the sake of it.
Step 3 – Launch
The third step is to launch and complete a number of initial improvement projects that are strategically aligned, and have been prioritised by the Senior Team.
Each project should have a leader, and a project team. Practitioner training is designed to teach a wide range of tools that enables delegates to identify and eliminate waste and variability in processes. Each participant runs a live project between training weeks.
Step 4 – Progress
Once the first wave of projects has been completed, the objective is to continue the programme by running more projects. The organisation may train other staff as Belts at this stage if the launch phase has been seen as a pilot. The organisation is most likely to train staff in the principles of new product and process design (Design for Six Sigma, or DfSS) at this stage.
Step 5 – Sustain
In step 5 the aim is to embed improvement activity at all levels within the organisation. Organisational goals must be clearly cascaded down to people at all levels, and improvement activity aligned to these goals. Learning for others in the organisation who have not yet been involved should be carried out, and the programme can be refined to improve its fit to the culture of the organisation.
Step 6 – Enlarge
The final phase, Enlarge, involves considering how the learning that the organisation has achieved can be passed on to others within the supply chain: Customers, suppliers and partners. Optimal performance can only come when all parts of the supply chain are working at or close to perfection!
Author Resource:
Chris rees is the author of this article on Six sigma training .
Find more information about Green belt training here.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")