Six Sigma Implementation - Common Reasons For Failure

However, some initiatives fail on deployment withconducted at regular intervals.
varied causes, such as lack of commitment fromIf review and evaluation of project progress is not
project leaders and misalignment of the project toundertaken regularly, there are chances of the initiative
business goals.fading away into the background. Review committees
Factors Causing Failure Of Six Sigma Projectso Lackthat include senior management should review and
of commitment of leadership: Commitment to Sixoffer feedback on the project.
Sigma is necessary from the top to the bottom levelThere also needs to be a reward and recognition
of the organization. Top leadership is expected to leadpolicy that helps instigate a sense of co-ownership of
from the front and put principles into action, which canthe project among employees.o Copy and paste
help motivate and guide the team during Six Sigmadeployment: Deployment of project cannot be
deployment.undertaken by reading out of a book. Any deployment
Projects cannot succeed if the CEO considers Sixwithout understanding and awareness of needs of the
Sigma to be the responsibility of a few Master Blackorganization cannot work.
Belts and Black Belts. They should have thoroughThe needs of the organization's environment and
knowledge about the methodology as the deploymentprocesses have to be understood and deployment
leader.o Part time Black Belt duties: Organizations maycustomized for the organization. Flexibility in the usage
also fail if Black Belt positions are considered to beof various statistical tools is very necessary.
part time jobs. However, it is necessary to concentrateStatistical tools that would suit the needs of the
full time on areas of improvement that are linked toorganization and are necessary to drive improvement
achievement of organizational objectives.have to be well understood and used accordingly.o
It is necessary that the best people from theExpecting too much too soon: Six Sigma also requires
organization be selected for Black Belt training anda large investment initially; but, there are savings that
certification. They may be seen and groomed ascan be achieved from such projects.
future leaders.It is not practical, however, to expect high returns right
A part time Black Belt cannot be any better than ain the beginning. Expecting too much too soon with no
Green Belt.o Alignment to Organizational Objectives:results may lead to the organization's leadership to feel
The improvement project has to be properly aligned todiscouraged and go on the defensive.
objectives of the organization. The project should beThis often puts deployment efforts off course.
aimed at overall improvement of the processes in theIt is very important to keep in mind such factors that
organization.may lead to the failure of Six Sigma deployment. The
A project that is grossly disconnected will beaim of Six Sigma is reduction in variation and
destructive rather than constructive for organizationalimprovement of performance.
growth. If quantity were achieved at the cost of quality,By understanding the possible pitfalls, the likelihood of
the project will have the least impact.o Lack of reviewfailure of Six Sigma implementation can be reduced to
and reward & recognition mechanism: It isa large extent.
important that a review of the progress of project is