Saturday, November 22, 2008

Incorporating Six Sigma Into Your Company Philosophy

By Craig Calvin

If you are one of the few who have not worked with Six Sigma, you need to read this. Six Sigma is a way of creating a more proficient employee base. Some parts of management may be taken aback, because they may not get how it works. The following illustrates the guidelines to the program.

1. The Executive level is made up of the corporate officers and upper level management. They should approve the Six Sigma training and encourage employees toward change.

2. Champions. This includes those from the executive level picked to concentrate their energy on the Six Sigma training and implementing the process. They also make sure Six Sigma programs are put into place in a structured manner throughout all departments. These people should mentor the chosen black belt trainees, as well.

3. Master Black Belts. These are usually chosen by the Champions. They receive a full gamut of Six Sigma courses and then devote all of their time to managing the Six Sigma implementation process. As their name implies, they are masters of quality management and process improvement.

4. Black Belts get similar training as the Master Black Belts, but often are to implement Six Sigma on a departmental level, instead of an organizational level. In place of making goals, they concentrate on reaching them. They work closely with Master Black Belts, and use all of their work time on the Six Sigma process.

5. Green Belts. Six Sigma Green Belts still undergo Six Sigma training, but on a smaller scale than the roles above them. They act as the Black Belts' right hand people, taking Six Sigma philosophy to the worker's level. Although they still have functions outside of the Six Sigma realm, they are instrumental in implementing a Six Sigma program because they set the tone for their peers and can report any difficulties in the process. - 15359

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