PROJ08021 2019 Project Six Sigma Black Belt

Identify a problem which needs to be addressed of importance to the organisation.

Lead the Six Sigma project meeting the goals of Time, Financial Savings and Requirements.

Utilise the Six Sigma DMAIC structured approach to manage the project. Apply appropriate Lean and Six sigma statistical tools in reducing process variation, optimising the process and realising financial savings.

Prepare a written report which outlines in detail the background to the project, a literature review outlining current knowledge in the project area, the methodology used to address the problem, discussion, conclusions and recommendations.

Present project results with Executive Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations and discuss the approach taken and results achieved.

The online teaching and learning strategy will follow the guidelines as developed by Quality Matters: http://www.qmprogram.org/

Unique to the Quality Matters Rubric is the concept of alignment. This occurs when critical course components - Learning Objectives (2), Assessment and Measurement (3), Instructional Materials (4), Learner Interaction and Engagement (5), and Course Technology (6) - work together to ensure students achieve desired learning outcomes.

The Project will be assessed by the student preparing interim and final written reports along with a presentation by the student. The project supervisor may also require a log book to be completed regularly by the student.

Project: Six Sigma Black Belt DMAIC

The Interim Report and Final Report are to be prepared in a structured format using Microsoft Word. The Final report should be at least 5000 words (20pages) and contain the following major sections.

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Background & Objectives
• Method (DMAIC)
• Results
• Conclusions & Recommendations

Six Sigma Projects will be assessed taking into consideration the following:

1. Report Structure & Format

• How clear were the aims and objectives?
• Is the report well structured with logical flow and
• Was supporting data available
• Good use of charts and graphs

2. Students contribution

• Individual Vs Team contribution
• How critical was the student to success of overall project?

3. Problem solving methodology used

• Was methodology appropriate to this project?
• How many tools were used? - Six Sigma, Lean, Project Management, etc.
• Should additional tools have been chosen?

4. Value to the company

• Did the project meet its goals?
• What metrics were improved?
• How much money, time was saved, quality improved?

5. Level of innovation and technical difficulty

• How innovative were the solutions proposed?
• How technically difficult was the project?
• Was the project complex, cross-functional?

Repeat Project / Assessments

Syllabus Content

• The student should bring the learning from the subjects covered in the course to conceive, define and agree a project which is appropriate to the Black Belt standard.

Six Sigma DMAIC - Black Belt Project

The Six Sigma black belt project will be undertaken by the student and should address a substantive issue in the workplace. The project will test the student's ability to define a real-life problem of concern to the organisation, design a strategy for addressing the problem, gather data, formulate and evaluate options and make recommendations. The project should follow the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. It is important that the student leads the Black Belt project and makes a significant contribution to the success of the project. A financial saving must be identified. The Black belt is normally expected to contribute annualised savings from €50,000 - €100,000. The amount of savings will depend on the size of the company, sales revenue, number of employees and opportunities for improvements.

The Six Sigma project will also cover the following areas:

1. Project management basics

•· Project charter and problem statement

•· Define and describe elements of a project charter and develop a problem statement, including baseline and improvement goals.

•· Project scope

•· Assist with the development of project definition/scope using Pareto charts, process maps, etc.

•· Assist with the development of primary and consequential metrics (e.g., quality, cycle time, cost) and establish key project metrics that relate to the voice of the customer.

•·  Use project tools such as Gantt charts, critical path method (CPM), and program evaluation and review technique (PERT) charts, etc.

•· Provide input and select the proper vehicle for presenting project documentation (e.g., spreadsheet output, storyboards, etc.) at phase reviews, management reviews and other presentations.

•· Describe the purpose and benefit of project risk analysis, including resources, financials, impact on customers and other stakeholders, etc.

• Describe the objectives achieved and apply the lessons learned to identify additional opportunities.

 2. Team dynamics and performance

•·  Define and describe the stages of team evolution, including forming, storming, norming, performing, adjourning, and recognition. Identify and help resolve negative dynamics such as overbearing, dominant, or reluctant participants, the unquestioned acceptance of opinions as facts, groupthink, feuding, floundering, the rush to accomplishment, attribution, discounts, plops, digressions, tangents,

•· Describe and define the roles and responsibilities of participants on six sigma and other teams, including black belt, master black belt, green belt, champion, executive, coach, facilitator, team member, sponsor, process owner, etc.

•· Define and apply team tools such as brainstorming, nominal group technique, multi-voting, etc.

•· Use effective and appropriate communication techniques for different situations to overcome barriers to project success.