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An effective Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion has 3 distinct traits
A good ChampionA Champion in a Six Sigma initiative is the executive sponso... Learn More... is key for a successful Lean Six Sigma deployment.
We teach hundreds of Change Agents (Lean Six Sigma Green Belts, Black Belts, etc.) per year in our private onsite and public classes. Those Change Agents paired with trained and an experienced Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champions have a much greater chance of success in completing their projects. They provide a faster and increased ROI from their projects.
An effective Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion in our experience, has three distinct traits:
Leads by Metrics
These Champions realize the powerThe probability of detecting a real difference, or 100% minu... of Data! Their department or site is governed by well defined KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators). These KPI’s are cascaded down to the operator levelThe value of an input in an experimental run. so each team member knows how they are affecting the success of the organization. The Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion chooses and priorities CI (Continuous Improvement) projects by their effectThe change in the average value of the output caused by a ch... on those KPI’s.
Acts as “the Bulldozer” for Deployment
The easiest way to kill the spirit of a Change Agent is to throw unnecessary road blocks in their way. Without an Effective Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion, the Change Agent will “step in someone’s sand box and get punched in the eye.” The Change Agent will take on a cross functional project that takes them into other departments. Those Departmental Leaders might not be open to that Change Agent.
Enter the Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion who is high enough on the food chain to educate the Department Leaders as to why the KPI’s have identified the project as critical.
Is the “Cheerleader”
I’m sure you have heard the saying “Lead by Example.” If the organization is promoting Lean Six Sigma and your Champions are not “walking the talk,” you will follow their example. The Champion has to be the Cheerleader for the Lean Six Sigma Deployment. They have to promote these methodologies, not as something we might do, but “the way we do things moving forward.” The Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion promotes these methodologies with training and feedback. They promote these methodologies by tying the outcomes with their effect on KPI’s. They educate their teams about “what’s in it for me.”
What is the Key Input for a successful Deployment?
One of the Key Inputs to a Successful Lean Six Sigma Deployment is to have Effective Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champions. These Champions manage the Change Agents. They help to Define and Prioritize Lean Six Sigma Projects by their alignment with KPI’s. They make sure that Change Agents do not fight hierarchical battles. They promote Lean Six Sigma through education and feedback.
What do you think?
Do you agree with the “Three Most Important Traits of a Successful Lean Six Sigma Deployment Champion” that we have identified?
