What are the most important criteria for selecting Six Sigma projects?

1 Alignment with strategy

Your Six Sigma projects should align with your strategic goals and vision. They should support your customer satisfaction, operational efficiency, innovation, and growth objectives. You should also consider how your projects fit with your organizational culture and values. For example, if you are in a highly regulated industry, you may want to prioritize projects that ensure compliance and risk reduction.

2 Impact on performance

Your Six Sigma projects should have a significant impact on your key performance indicators (KPIs). They should address the most critical issues and opportunities that affect your bottom line, customer loyalty, and competitive advantage. You should also estimate the potential benefits and costs of each project, and compare them to your available resources and budget. For example, if you are in a manufacturing sector, you may want to focus on projects that reduce defects, waste, and downtime.

3 Feasibility and scope

Your Six Sigma projects should be feasible and manageable in terms of scope, time, and resources. They should have a clear problem statement, measurable objectives, and realistic expectations. You should also define the boundaries and scope of each project, and avoid trying to solve too many problems at once. For example, if you are in a service sector, you may want to limit your projects to specific processes, functions, or locations.

4 Availability of data

Your Six Sigma projects should have sufficient and reliable data to support your analysis and improvement. Data is the foundation of Six Sigma, and you need it to identify the root causes, measure the current state, test the solutions, and monitor the results. You should also ensure that you have access to the relevant data sources, tools, and methods for collecting, storing, and analyzing data. For example, if you are in a healthcare sector, you may want to use electronic health records, surveys, and statistical software.

5 Stakeholder support

Your Six Sigma projects should have the support and involvement of your key stakeholders. Stakeholders are the people who are affected by or have an interest in your project, such as customers, employees, managers, suppliers, and regulators. You should also communicate with them regularly, solicit their feedback, and address their concerns. For example, if you are in a retail sector, you may want to involve your store managers, sales staff, and customers in your project team.

6 Innovation potential

Your Six Sigma projects should have the potential to generate new ideas and solutions that can enhance your products, services, or processes. Innovation is the ultimate goal of Six Sigma, and you should foster a culture of creativity and experimentation in your organization. You should also use various tools and techniques to stimulate innovation, such as brainstorming, benchmarking, design thinking, and prototyping. For example, if you are in a technology sector, you may want to explore new ways to improve your software, hardware, or user experience.