The Importance of Piloting a Six Sigma Project

Posted by: meikah | 5 March 2008 | 12:46 am

Chapter 7 of The Six Sigma Way book emphasizes the importance of piloting a project. What does piloting mean?

An iSixSigma article gives a definition of “pilot,” which means to test the functional and sigma capabilities of the new process, where critical functions defined in the current generation of the multi-generational plan are operational but on a limited scale.

In other words, it’s like test driving your new vehicle. So what is the value of piloting a Six Sigma project?

According to the article, there are four primary advantages and/or objectives for a pilot:

1. Limit capital and other resource expenditures (managing risk)
2. Assess true performance of design and/or solutions in a controlled but “live” environment
3. Identify additional improvements
4. Identify implementation tips and traps

When and how to do a pilot? Read the rest of the article.

Here’s a sample of a company, Bluvas T-shirt company, that run a pilot project for 10 days. Click here.

*Photo from Stock.Xchng

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