Lean Six Sigma Black Belts are professionals who are trained to lead complex improvement projects within organizations. Despite their advanced knowledge and skills in process improvement methodologies, they are still prone to making mistakes. It's interesting to see how the nature of mistakes has changed over the years. If we rewind 15 years back, most mistakes were related to data, data collection, data analysis, and not fully understanding the customer's voice. However, today, thanks to the availability of technology and data, data collection and analysis are no longer a concern. Today's challenges are different, and the application of Lean Six Sigma and the leadership's expectations have changed. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by Lean Six Sigma Black Belts in the current scenario:
One of the most significant mistakes in Lean Six Sigma is not securing adequate support and engagement from organizational leadership. Without strong backing from leadership, Black Belts may face resistance, struggle to secure resources and encounter challenges in implementing changes effectively. It's essential to understand that leaders are interested in Lean Six Sigma because it is a methodology that can save money. Many Black Belts are hesitant to report financial savings, but it's important to note that financial savings are the driving factor for leaders. If financial savings are not visible, leaders may lose interest in Lean Six Sigma. Significant financial savings of $500K or more will automatically align leaders with the project and gain their support.
Choosing the wrong projects or failing to prioritize them effectively can lead to wasting valuable time and resources. Therefore, it's the duty of Black Belts to ensure that the projects they undertake align with organizational goals, have clear objectives, and offer significant savings of at least $500K. When prioritizing projects, it's crucial to give high importance to financial savings as they are the driving factors for leaders to embrace the Lean Six Sigma methodology.
Black Belt projects in Lean Six Sigma tend to be more complex than either Yellow Belt or Green Belt projects. They often involve cutting across multiple functions and require significant changes to be made to the process. However, Black Belts are often not familiar with change management principles, which can result in employee resistance, lack of sustainability, and, ultimately, project failure.
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