Do you ever run into trouble with your Green Belt project? Do you wish someone had given you a heads up? After training and certifying hundreds of Lean Six Sigma Green Belts, retired UC San Diego and San Diego State instructor Jerry M. Wright, PE, MBA has seen what works and what doesn’t. There is a clear distinction between successful projects and those that are lacking and Jerry has seen the trend repeat for decades. To help you avoid these traps, Jerry will cover the 10 most important tips to achieving a “right-first-time” Green Belt project. He will highlight crucial advice throughout each phase of the DMAIC method (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Come join us as Jerry lets us in on how to avoid the pesky pitfalls that can derail a project.

1. 10 TIPS FOR A STANDOUT
LEAN SIX SIGMA
GREEN BELT PROJECT
Presented by Jerry Wright, PE, MBA
1
Where are you
from? Let us know
in the Chat area!

2. FEATURED SPEAKER
2
Jerry M. Wright, PE, MBA
• Master Black Belt
• CEO and Principal Consultant,
LEANwRIGHT, Inc.
• LEANwRIGHT.com
• SoCalLeanNetwork.org

3. • Introduction
• Start Right: Manager/Sponsor and Project Selection
• DEFINE: Scoping your project
• DEFINE: Your A3 draft and buy-in
• DEFINE: Prepare to learn as you go
• MEASURE: Don’t jump to Analyze or Improve
• MEASURE: Before state baseline / photos
• ANALYZE & IMPROVE: Deploy only the logical Lean
Six Sigma tools
• CONTROL: Measures sustain the gains
• Finish Strong: Make it look good, review/revise
• Momentum: Keep on pace; don’t procrastinate
• Wrap-up
TODAY’S AGENDA
3

4. START RIGHT: MANAGER/SPONSOR AND
PROJECT SELECTION
• Who will be your project Sponsor?
• Which project should you choose?
• What if I am between jobs?
4

5. DEFINE: SCOPING YOUR PROJECT
• How can I select a process that’s not too big or
too small in scope?
• What’s the best approach to take?
• Who can help me?
5

6. POLL #1
6
Which of these is the
biggest challenge for you?
A. Finding a Sponsor
B. Getting approval from your manager
C. Selecting a good project
D. Scoping your project
E. Finding time to work on your project

7. DEFINE: YOUR A3 DRAFT AND BUY-IN
• With whom should I draft my A3 project
charter or mandate?
• How can I develop Buy-in?
• Who can help me?
7

8. A3 Title: A3 Owner: Date:
I. DEFINE - Background (complete with Mentor/Leader)
Why are we talking about it?
II. DEFINE - Current Conditions - GO TO GEMBA and do LAM V. IMPROVE - Proposed Countermeasures to achieve Targets
Where are we today and what is the problem? What is our plan to reach the future state? Will our countermeasures work?
III. MEASURE - Targets to Improve (complete w/ Mentor/Leader) VI. IMPROVE - Action Plans - who will do what by when (ACTion)
Reduce Lead Time and/or WIP by 50%?
Reduce process steps/touches by 50%?
Reduce Distance Traveled and/or space by 50%?
Establish and/or Improve Standard Work and 7S?
IV. ANALYZE - Go to GEMBA and Look, Ask, Model, Discuss VII. CONTROL - Follow-up and ensure actions are complete or ACT
What issues can be anticipated? Ensure actions are completed/shared.What is the root cause(s) of the problem? Use diagrams to illustrate.
IV. ANALYZE - (continued)
List who will do what by when to implement the necessary changes.
A3 MANDATE / CHARTER
8

9. DEFINE: PREPARE TO LEARN AS YOU GO
• Should I finish the class before I start on my
project?
• If I already know the best solution, why should
I still follow DMAIC?
9

10. MEASURE: DON’T JUMP TO ANALYZE OR
IMPROVE
• Which measures should I gather for my
project?
• When should I take photos for my project?
10

11. ANALYZE & IMPROVE: DEPLOY ONLY THE
LOGICAL LSS TOOLS
• Which Lean Six Sigma Tools should I use for
my project?
• Isn’t using most of the tools better than using
just a few?
Which Tool Should I Use?
11

12. CONTROL: MEASURES SUSTAIN THE GAINS
• How can I ensure that the process stays
“improved?”
• How often should I “follow-up” on the process?
• Who really owns the project “win?”
12

13. QUESTION FOR YOU
13
Is there a Green Belt Project issue
you experienced that we have not
touched on?
Please enter your
response in the
Chat area!

14. FINISH STRONG: MAKE IT LOOK GOOD,
REVIEW/REVISE
• Should I go with my first draft or revise it at
least once?
• What’s the best way to present my Green Belt
project?
14

15. • Keep font sizes and types consistent wherever
possible
• Maintain some white space around images so that
focus goes toward the key elements
• If using bulleted points, keep them to about 4-5 per
page
• Try for more images, charts, less words wherever
possible
• Make sure that the presentation flows:
Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve – Control
(in that order)
FINISH STRONG (CONT’D): MAKE IT LOOK GOOD
15

16. MOMENTUM: KEEP ON PACE; DON’T
PROCRASTINATE
• Where or when do most Green Belt projects
suffer?
• What’s the key to making sure my project is
great?
16

17. THE 10 TIPS
1. Start Right: Manager/Sponsor and Project
Selection
2. DEFINE: Scoping your project
3. DEFINE: Your A3 draft and buy-in
4. DEFINE: Prepare to learn as you go
5. MEASURE: Don’t jump to Analyze or Improve
6. MEASURE: Before state baseline / photos
7. ANALYZE & IMPROVE: Deploy only the logical Lean
Six Sigma tools
8. CONTROL: Measures sustain the gains
9. Finish Strong: Make it look good, review/revise
10. Momentum: Keep on pace; don’t procrastinate
17

18. NEXT STEPS
18
To download the A3 Mandate, and for the full
10 Tips for a Standout Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
project article, go to:
leanwright.com/resources.html
For questions or help, please go to:
leanwright.com/contact.html

19. QUESTIONS?
19

20. CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ON LINKEDIN!
20
GoLeanSixSigma.com/Forum/
• Get help with your project or change management
• Help others with their projects or change
management
• Network and build our problem-solving
muscles together
• Get Lean Six Sigma updates on newly
released guides, webinars and more!

21. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
@GoLeanSixSigma/company/GoLeanSixSigma-com /GoLeanSixSigma 21
Questions about registration? Email us at
contact@goleansixsigma.com
Questions about today’s webinar topic?
Check out our LinkedIn Group:
GoLeanSixSigma.com/Forum/
Download free tools, templates,
infographics and more!