Although Six Sigma concepts and methodologies make use of foolproof statistical tools and techniques, the importance of existing work culture and the support and cooperation of employees cannot be undermined - because ultimately it is the employees and the implementation teams who have to work together in order to make the project implementation a

In effect, we can say that Six Sigma is applicable in any organization, irrespective of the actual number of processes that might be there in the organization. To understand how this process is helping insurance firms, it is essential to talk about some of the main processes where it has been successfully deployed. Policy Conversion Process

The new emphasis on quality is why businesses have now become more concerned about maintaining the quality of products and services than ever before. This in turn has created a huge demand for quality-assurance professionals who have the necessary domain knowledge and expertise to ensure the desired level of quality. It is then not surprising t

The deployment however is not an easy task because, in most companies, there is a huge communications gap between people who actually run the business and people who might be responsible for designing, developing, and deploying the desired IT systems. What this implies is that if the people who actually run the day to day operations fail to conv

The problem is that today's CIOs (Chief Information Officer) and CTOs (Chief Technical Officer), who are mostly delegated the task of managing the implementations, fail to understand the importance and benefits of Lean Six Sigma. Thinking that the implementations will be an unnecessary drag on the organization, they often try their best to convince

If risks inherent to Six Sigma implementations are not eliminated, it could easily lead to project failures or redundancies, which will then become a drain on the organization's resources and competencies. Explained below are some suggestions and techniques that business organizations can use for avoiding risks in Six Sigma implementations. Sta

For a better understanding, let us discuss some of the most common barriers that business organizations might have to deal with while implementing "Lean" Six Sigma projects. The Human Barrier This barrier relates to the inherent psychological bent of the human mind that tends to resist change, even when the change might aim at benefiting the

The size of the business is also not an issue anymore, as is evident from the ever-growing number of sole proprietorships and small and medium sized businesses that have successfully deployed Six Sigma. So, how is it that Six Sigma is so very versatile? Well, there are many reasons for this, but the main reason is that even after years of evolution

However, that should not cast doubt on the effectiveness of Six Sigma - because the truth is that there are many instances where this process has proved its worth in the non-corporate business domains. For better understanding, let's discuss the above proposition with the help of a case study. Six Sigma Implementations in Canada Post Prior to

It is true that Six Sigma is based on scientific theories, but you should not forget that a lot more depends on the employees who are entrusted with the task of implementing Six Sigma. You need to realize that Six Sigma project implementations require regular communications between the implementation team, middle and top management, as well as othe

The tool allows for hypothetical testing of real-time problems and also the applicability of the suggested solutions, allowing businesses to take the most appropriate decisions. Proof of its effectiveness is easily evident when you consider the fact that businesses continue to use it even when many new tools and techniques have developed during the

Since most of process improvement projects are targeted at satisfying the needs and requirements of customers, it becomes necessary to give due consideration to the Voice of the Customer (VOC) in order to ensure the success of process improvement projects. Explained below are some of the techniques that can be utilized for ensuring the success of S

Six Sigma concepts and methodologies certainly help in reducing defects and increasing efficiencies, but that does not mean that we can overlook the need for maintaining operational excellence throughout the Six Sigma implementation process and beyond. Explained below are some of the methods and strategies that you can employ for maintaining op

Employees often do not lend their full cooperation and support because they are of the opinion that they will lose their jobs after Lean Six Sigma is finally implemented. Some employees may also think that they may be asked to work more or shoulder multiple responsibilities; as such, they often resist the changes being suggested. Such confusion

The deciding factor for the success of Six Sigma is to have the right people for the right projects. Human resource (HR) professionals are capable of finding the right people. HR can be involved with the Six Sigma projects for varied reasons. By familiarizing them with Six Sigma and giving them basic knowledge on various methods and tools, HR can c