A Leaders Guide to Achieving Business Improvement

UNICOM a leading conference organiser, also provide training courses run by selected companies. onesixsigma.com were invited to attend and review the one day course.

Martin Brenig-Jones of Catalyst Consulting gave a warm delivery of content and provided an excellent opportunity for individuals wishing to increase their basic Six Sigma knowledge.

A broad overview on DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) with "True life case-studies or examples helps make the information really sink in", said one of the attendees. Others felt it made the training more interesting when such examples have been used in business, thus, they felt they could apply it in their own projects when such problems arise.

Topics included: an explanation of Six Sigma; what it can deliver; the basic principles (CTQs, DPMO, Defects); different types of Six Sigma i.e. Design for Six Sigma and Process Management; planning a Six Sigma Business Improvement Campaign; minimum requirements to start implementing Six Sigma in your business; and other material including various terminologies, tools, techniques and graphs.

Being a one day course it is difficult to cram everything in, yet students commented that "a lot was covered in such a short space of time and Martin kept it to everyone’s purpose by asking what we wanted out of the course". He did this by listening to the VOC (Voice of the customer) through asking all the attendees to write their expectations on a post-it note at the beginning of the session.

The course study material included a copy of the presentation, Catalyst's ‘The Champion’s Guide’ and ‘The Six Sigma Improvement Journey’ with key principles and a step by step guide (or Process map) in DMAIC and Tools for Management and planning. These are great reference tools, allowing the value of the workshop continue past its one day duration.

Overall, the students felt "it was more than just going to a course: it was great to meet and talk to people who are trying the same techniques by implementing Six Sigma in their business and that they are too, facing challenges."