What is the most important Lean Six Sigma change to make?

Most important thing which I want to quote is Project charter, which is the backbone of any project. A strong project charter helps to understand the problem statement, existing pain area, gap assessment, improvement objectives, measurement of goal etc. Financial assessments adds additional benefits. Tools as per project requirements can be chosen at every steps. Risk assessment and plan for sustainance marks a better conclusion.

As important a task it is to understand your current base, data integrity and validation should form part of the foundation. Many a focused group have been led astray by incorrect data and the team should find adequate resources to ensure this is correct prior to conducting the relevant loss analysis.

In Lean methodology, the Project Charter is the North Star guiding successful initiatives. Its first rule? Don't rush to solutions! ?? Instead, the Charter sets the course, aligns stakeholders, and defines the problem thoroughly. With a clear path, Lean teams achieve true efficiency and lasting results. Remember: patience in planning yields excellence in execution.

Defining your goals and priorities is essential for effective Lean Six Sigma change. Clearly outline the specific outcomes you want to achieve and establish how you will measure them. Ensure these goals align with your strategic vision and mission, and demonstrate the benefits for customers and stakeholders. Use tools like SMART goals, KPIs, balanced scorecards, and stakeholder analysis to set and communicate objectives and expectations. This approach helps create a shared vision and a sense of urgency, driving focused and meaningful change.

This is probably the most difficult but most important aspect. As a Lean Six Sigma leader, I used to spend countless hours on the shop floor to understand the problem, understand people's concerns, source of their resistance and potential benefits if things improved. Lean Six Sigma can not be top down, it is a collaborative effort involving all layers of the organization. Mindset shift is super important and that happens when leaders role model, listen to front line, adopt the changes after considering concerns from front line and incentivize the performance.

Engaging people and culture is crucial for successful Lean Six Sigma change. Involve, empower, and motivate employees and managers by fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and innovation. Overcome resistance by using change management models, clear communication plans, and ongoing training. Implement feedback loops to address concerns, and establish recognition programs to reward achievements and contributions. By actively engaging your people and nurturing a supportive culture, you create a positive environment that ensures sustainable, long-term change.

To ensure the success of a Lean Six Sigma change, it's crucial to monitor and evaluate your results. Track progress and performance using tools like control charts, dashboards, and audits. Verify and validate improvements by measuring against your goals, and address any issues or gaps that arise. Standardize and control new processes to maintain consistency, and capture best practices and lessons learned. Regular reviews and case studies can help share insights and demonstrate the value and impact of the change, ensuring long-term success and continuous improvement.

I used to be Lean Six Sigma leader for our site. For me, The most important part of Lean Six Sigma is adoption of improvement actions and sustainability of the same. It requires mindset and behavior changes, in addition to technical aspects.

Value stream mapping , 5S , difference between value added and non value added operations with any case study would be added advantage