10 ways that project managers can make lean six sigma succeed

10 Ways That Project ManagersCan Make Lean Six Sigma Succeed

By Er Ralston

Process Excellence Coach, Advisor, Trainer

Question

How can project managers benefit from Lean Six Sigma?

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Lean Six Sigma Approach

• Breakthrough Improvement

• Customer, Process & People Focused

• Systematic Approach

• Data Driven Decisions

• Team Based


What is a Lean Six Sigma Project?

“All improvement happens project by project and in no other way" - Dr. Joseph M. Juran

• Temporary group activity• Focus on goal accomplishment• Solutions are unknown• Blending of Lean & Six Sigma

concepts, methods, and tools


Lean Six Sigma Project Approach

Define Measure Analyze Improve Control

Establish Project

UnderstandBaseline

Analyze Process

Design/Test Solutions

Implement Controls


Project Managers Can Help!

Project Managers are:

• Organized

• Goal-oriented

• Change agents

• Skilled

• Always improving

Following: 10 Ways That Project ManagersCan Make Lean Six Sigma Succeed


#1: Goal Setting

Exercise: What’s wrong with this goal?

Goal: Implement tracking system to reduce delivery time.

How Project Managers Can Help

• Set clear goals

• Measureable goals

• Time bound goals

• Solution independent goals


#2: Define Business Case

Exercise: Does this project have a business case?

Business Case:

VP is receiving complaints about product damage.


• Financial impact

• Strategic impact

• Risk from no action


#3: Establish Scope

Exercise: Are these scope parameters clear?

Project Scope:

Customer Call Center


• Define parameters and boundaries

• In-scope and out-of-scope

• Avoid scope creep


#4 Resource Planning

Exercise: Who are we forgetting?

Project Team:

Team Leader & other department members


• Clearly define resources

• Agreement on availability

• Core team and ad hoc

• Right skills and synergy


#5: Project Planning

Exercise: Does anyone know the plan?

Project Plan:

Complete in 5 months


• Detailed project plans

• Clear deliverables

• Resource requirements

• Constraint management


#6: Project Milestones

Exercise: Will these project reviews be effective?

Project Review Plan:

5 minute update at monthly staff meeting


• Scheduled phase gate reviews

• Champion engagement

• Focus on the goal

• Focus on methodology application


#7: Reporting Project Progress

Exercise: Does anyone know the project status?

Project Reporting Plan:

Store project files in SharePoint folder


• System for regular project reporting

• Create awareness of status and issues

• Stimulate recognition of good progress

• Initiate remedial actions where needed


#8: Managing Change

Exercise: Have we mitigated resistance to change?

Change Management Plan:

Director will discuss change with affected employees


• Anticipate and expect change resistance

• Change management planning

• Engaging resistors

• Leverage supporters


#9: Managing Project Issues

Exercise: Will project issues be resolved?

Project Issue Plan:

Email responsible person to address


• Make project issues visible

• Ensure ownership

• Track status through resolution

• Analyze for chronic / systemic issues


#10: Replication

Exercise: Are we optimizing the implementation of solutions?

Replication Plan:

Look for other opportunities to apply this solution.


• Be proactive

• Systematic opportunity identification

• Systematic methods to spread


Other Ways Project Managers Can Help Lean Six Sigma Projects

• Learn the methods and tools

• Be a project team member

• Lead a project

• Be an advocate


How Lean Six Sigma Can Help Project Managers

• Enhanced Culture for Project Management

• Added Value

• More tools for data driven decision making

• More tools for monitoring and controlling


Summary

• Lean Six Sigma projects drive breakthrough improvements

• Project managers skills can help Lean Six Sigma succeed

• Lean Six Sigma cultivates project discipline


RALSTON

EXCELLENCE

Contact Information:

[email protected]

www.RalstonExcel.com

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