Lean Sigma - It's Not About The Colour

Have you ever noticed how sometimes people have a tendency to ask for the top of the range product because it's the best money can buy when in fact something mid range is actually more than adequate enough for their needs?
Or someone wants something because it's the latest craze and everyone else has got one?
Then there are those who don't even know the product is available and carry on blissful unaware that there is a great product out there that can improve the quality off their life!

When it comes to the Lean Sigma product the above scenario's are all true.

If you've never looked at Lean Sigma or talked to someone about what it is and how it can improve your business or organisation (and it works for ANY organisation, Manufacturing, Schools, Offices, Charities...) then how do you know what it can do for you? Why buy something if you don't yet know you need it!

If you don't fully understand what it is all about don't rush out and get some Lean Sigma training just because the competition have done so!

And if you have looked into it and understand the Yellowbelt - Greenbelt - Blackbelt accreditation process then don't rush out and train half a dozen Blackbelts just so you've outdone the "Jones's" by getting more than they have!

This is beginning to sound like a consumer guide to purchasing and I guess it is a bit like that. If you are going to invest money then it's important that you are clear on what it is you want to achieve, what issues / challenges you have and what a successful outcome would look like.

Lean Sigma training is not about how many Grand Master Purple Belt Wizards you have or how many people you've trained or how many staff have been accredited. Lean Sigma is just a set of tools that can be used to improve your organisation, reduce waste, increase efficiency and reduce variability ensuring quality and profits are improved.

To really get the maximum from these tools you should be thinking about creating a true Lean Sigma culture with empowered, motivated staff who have a "can do " attitude, where Leaders are visible to the teams and Gemba Coaching is the norm and a data driven approach to problem solving is utilised. When this becomes part of the normal way of working you have achieved a true Lean Sigma culture, your very own Utopia!
Lean Sigma tools are just a small part of achieving this. To really embed the ways of working and begin to develop a cultural shift you also need to focus on behaviours (particularly those of the Managers & Leaders) as well as creating Performance Measures that support and drive those behaviours.

The Lean Team Approach

If this sound like something that would benefit your organisation, if you think this might address some of the challenges you currently face or if this sounds like a description of your vision for your organisation then maybe Lean Sigma is worth investigating. However, take heed of our warnings and make sure you buy what you need, and if you're not sure then don't spend until you are! What you want is a sustainable output and that won't happen overnight.

So as Christmas approaches be clear on what you require before adding Lean Sigma training to your list for Santa