SIX sigma is not only about techniques, tools and statistics, but the main thing depends upon people. In SIX sigma there five key players:-
Let’s try to understand all the role of players step by step.
Executive leaders: - They are the main person who actually decides that we need to do SIX sigma. They promote it throughout organization and ensure commitment of the organization in SIX sigma. Executive leaders are the guys who are mainly either CEO or from the board of directors. So in short they are the guys who fund the SIX sigma initiative. They should believe that SIX sigma will improve the organization process and that they will succeed. They should be determined that they ensure resources get proper training on SIX sigma, understand how it will benefit the organization and track the metrics.
Champions: - Champion is a normally a senior manager of the company. He promotes SIX sigma mainly between the business users. He understand SIX sigma thoroughly , serves as a coach and mentor , selects project , decides objectives , dedicates resource to black belts and removes obstacles which come across black belt players. Historically Champions always fight for a cause. In SIX sigma they fight to remove black belt hurdles.
Master Black-Belt: - This role requires highest level of technical capability in SIX sigma. Normally organizations that are just starting up with SIX sigma will not have the same. So normally outsiders are recruited for the same. The main role of Master Black belt is to train, mentor and guide. He helps the executive leaders in selecting candidates, right project, teach the basic and train resources. They regularly meet with black belt and green belt training and mentor them.
Black-Belt: - Black belt leads a team on a selected project which has to be show cased for SIX sigma. They are mainly responsible to find out variations and see how these variations can be minimized. Mast black belt basically selects a project and train resources, but black belt are the guys who actually implement it. Black belt normally works in projects as team leads or project manager. They are central to SIX sigma as they are actually implementing SIX sigma in the organization.
Green Belt: - Green belt assist black belt in their functional areas. They are mainly in projects and work part time on SIX sigma implementation. They apply SIX sigma methodologies to solve problems and improve process at the bottom level. They have just enough knowledge of SIX sigma and they help to define the base of SIX sigma implementation in the organization. They assist black belt in SIX sigma implementation actually.
Figure: - SIX key players