Top 3 six-sigma critical success factors

Senior Management Commitment
Implementation of Six Sigma represents a long term commitment. The success of Six Sigma projects depends substantially on the level of commitment by the senior management. General Electric’s success with Six Sigma is due in large part to the role that Jack Welch (former CEO) played in relentlessly advocating Six Sigma and integrating it into the core of the company’s strategy.

Initial Questions to ask before Adopting Six Sigma

• Does the company’s leadership understand and completely behind implementing Six Sigma?
• Is the company open and ready to change?
• Is the company hungry to learn?
• Is the company willing to commit resources, including people and money, to implement this initiative?

Selecting and Training The Right People

• It is necessary to attract the best people to be involved in the company’s Six Sigma initiative and motivate them by compensation, rewards, recognition and promotion which are linked to performance.
• Training programs should focus on statistical, analytical, problem-solving skills and leadership skills that help to remove barriers and create initial momentum.
• Furthermore, getting people excited and motivated about the Six Sigma initiative should be done through training and communication. Everyone in the company should understand how Six Sigma will benefit themselves as well as the company.

Selecting Six Sigma projects

• Primarily, Six Sigma projects should focus on key problem areas with strategic alignment in terms of high customer satisfaction impact and critical to business success in terms of faster or larger financial return (higher revenues, lower cost, etc.).
• Selecting Six Sigma projects at the beginning is very important and therefore plays a key role in the success of Six Sigma projects. The company should carefully consider the expected impact of the project as well as if there may be easier ways of solving the problem, other than a Six Sigma project.