Becoming a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, what is in it for you?

This is a dynamic ever changing world. We are faced such important issues, to name a few: Manufacturing 4.0, Customers, Technology, Rising costs;! All put pressure on companies to strive for an increase in productivity. This requires us to take a close look at the relation between the cost Inputs  versus Outputs or put simply at improving your Business processes. This is the ideal role for a Black Belt, as a change agent you are pivotal in a company’s drive for increasing productivity.

This is evidenced by the increasing amount of Black Belt job positions on offer every day. By providing a practical training built around two simple business cases, you will learn the methodology quickly. We also provide support with your first project. This will enable you to apply your knowledge and skills quickly, so companies can benefit immediately from the value you can add to them.

So what knowledge can you apply. Well let me share some thoughts.

I believe there are four points that need to be addressed if Continuous Improvement programs like Lean, Lean Six Sigma, 8D etc….are to be successful. You must have heard people say, “Yes we have already done that” or “that will never work”. This is what we want to prevent.

1. Resistance

Continuous improvement means change and most of us do not like that. Don’t expect hugs if we are discussing a different way of working! Good news here is that resistance is something positive, at least it opens a dialogue. So what can you do about resistance? How can we get people out of their comfort zone? First there has to be a certain shared need felt to change, call it a burning platform. The responsibility of Leadership is explaining the burning platform and also providing direction, call it a vision. If nobody knows where they are supposed to go, how can you change? How do you do this as leaders? Well many models exist (e.g. Kübler -Ross model) , but key is to listen and try to understand resistance. Your response should reflect the emotional or rational state of those resisting. Some will however never be open to the change , but focus on those you will become focus on it.

2. Structure

An approach to Continuous improvement needs a structure, you need to manage performance, understand what priorities there are to address and then solve problems based on their root cause and the standardize that. Then start all over with managing your performance management. Without this structure you just end up problem solving based on those who scream the loudest or automate broken processes which will just lead to broken automated processes. So focus on one clear structure

3. Sustainment

Once you use a structure with a clear method to solve problems, you need to sustain solutions. Nothing goes according to plan, despite what the A-team loved. Your customer and processes change, so you need to respond. Embed the solutions and track them and then respond accordingly. Here too we should focus, I know it’s busy, but prioritise and focus or you end up with numerous KPI’s you monitor and a plethora of initiatives.

4. Behaviour

If things are to change people will need to change behaviour. This brings us back to the first point. Just talking about it is not enough. You need to walk the talk. This can only be done if we change the mindset of people, if they all perceive a shared need to change behaviour. This, as said before, is all about leadership. Many leadership have come back to me and said what out our margins or cash flow. Well these are results of how we run our business. Margin does just appear but it is the result of how we work and improve the way we work so we maximise our added value whilst becoming more productive. Don’t change everything in one go, it will lead to chaos, again focus on the areas which need most attention. Margin and cash flow will be the result of what you do.

So this is not just about certification, that is the drivers licence, you now need to learn to drive. Don’t worry you will make mistakes, nothing works perfect the first time, but whatever you do, my advice is focus, do one thing at a time.