Six Sigma Green Belt and project challenges
Six Sigma is a systematic approach to continuous process improvement, focused on identifying and eliminating process defects and variations. Using Six Sigma ensures a high level of quality, thus reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.
Certification levels:
- Yellow Belt is the basic level, the goal being to understand the basic principles and participation in project teams.
- Green Belt is the next level of certification, they lead improvement projects and have advanced knowledge about the tools used.
- Black Belt intended for experts who manage complex projects, provide support and train other people in the methodology.
- Master Black Belt, expert level, those who coordinate Six Sigma programs in organizations.
The implementation of Six Sigma Green Belt projects can face several challenges that can affect the success and achievement of the objectives defined at the beginning of the projects, such as:
- incorrect selection of projects; projects with low impact to the organization, which will only consume time and resources, or unrealistic, oversized projects.
- the objectives of the projects are not clearly defined, the starting point of the objective is wrong, because the correctness of the historical data was not checked beforehand.
- the project objectives are unrealistic, they do not respect the SMART principle (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound).
- the team members are not suitable or trained about the methodology, without proper training they will not have the necessary knowledge and skills to correctly apply Six Sigma tools and methods.
- data, collection system, inaccurate or insufficient measurements to analyze and understand the process, can lead to conclusions and thus solutions, ineffective actions
- the lack of continuous communication between the project team and the managers of the area where the project is carried out, can generate misunderstandings, resistance to change and lack of support for the implementation of actions.
- Six Sigma is not just a set of tools for analysis, improvement and statistical techniques, the specific needs (Voice of the Customer) of the organization and the area where the project is carried out must also be included in the project from the beginning
- following the implementation of the improvement actions, monitoring and control are essential, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the implemented actions, respectively, without this, the long-term results cannot be sustained.
In order to manage these challenges, has to be commitment from the Management, the leaders and the Six Sigma project team. Continuous training of all levels involved in the projects and the permanent adjustment of the strategy according to the results obtained from the Six Sigma projects.
