5 Do’s and Don’ts for Lean and Six Projects

by Al Leigh, Master Black Belt and Rutgers Adjunct Professor

Anyone who has led a Lean Six Sigma project, or any continuous improvement project, has experienced highs and lows. Here are some DOs and DON”Ts for Projects.

1. DO set a measurable goal for your project. How else will you know when it is done?
2. DO work on projects that are important to your sponsor AND the process owner.
3. DO manage the scope of your project so that it can be completed in 2-3 months. Large drawn-out projects have a higher failure-rate.
4. DO use sound change-management techniques to help the organization embrace the improvements you and your team are bringing to the area.
5. DO communicate-communicate-communicate. Communicate to your team, to your sponsors, to your process owner, and to the organization. Communicate progress, issues, successes, etc.

1. DON’T expect the project to go smoothly. There will be time issues for you and team, unexpected obstacles, and perhaps resistance. Just like riding a bike, 2/3’s of the time you and your team will be going uphill.
2. DON’T try to do it all yourself. Your team will be instrumental in helping you implement the improvements. And sustain the results. Use them.
3. DON”T expand the scope in the middle of the project. Stick to the original scope for now, and start a second project to pick up the proposed extra work.
4. DON’T use every tool in your tool kit. Use the simple graphical tools like fishbone and pareto and mapping. Save the statistical stuff for when it’s really needed.
5. DON’T expect everyone to embrace your new-and-improved solution. Change is scary and you will need to use your leadership and change management skills to influence the organization.

You can probably think of others. What key DO’s and DON’Ts would you include?