Internal Communications - Quality Systems vs. Six Sigma Training

[SteelMaiden]

OK friends and neighbors, I am not sure if I am just venting, or maybe there is hope (and solutions) yet.

I am putting together our quarterly review report and I asked the folks on our newly implemented 6 sigma team (black belt trainees, working on their first project for certification) to send my a summary of their projects, along with any data they may have to show progress towards meeting our objectives and continual improvement.

I got the following response from one of the "black belts" in waiting: "Why does ISO need to review 6-sigma projects in detail anyway? Isn’t it enough to say for now that we’re developing these projects?"

Now, to give you some background. I was not aware that we were implementing/sending people to six sigma training until the teams were already on their way to the training site(no coordination of information by management?) My job is not "ISO", it is Quality Systems Coordination (um, coordination, does that not imply that there is more than one thing that I am responsible for?)

So my question(s) -
How can anyone not understand how quality management and six sigma are related?
How can someone go through a six sigma training course for black belts and not understand how quality management and six sigma are related?
Am I overly sensitive to be offended by the fact that management AND "trained" six sigma black belt candidates are so oblivious to the fact that quality systems and six sigma are related? You would think that six sigma was the end all-be all, instead of an organized approach to improvement???
What am I missing?

Thanks for any info, hints, or recomendations anyone can give.

[M Greenaway]

Steel

I have also experienced this, almost exactly as you say. Production sending their people on six sigma or lean manufacturing training programmes without even notifying the quality department, and then thinking that they are doing something 'real' outside of the quality system, a term I loathe - very annoying isnt it !!

I sympathise completely, but have no answer to the madness.

[Atul Khandekar]

Steel,

No ready answer here. Just a question. What does your 'champion' say?

[David Hartman]

Originally Posted by SteelMaiden

So my question(s) -
How can anyone not understand how quality management and six sigma are related?
How can someone go through a six sigma training course for black belts and not understand how quality management and six sigma are related?
Am I overly sensitive to be offended by the fact that management AND "trained" six sigma black belt candidates are so oblivious to the fact that quality systems and six sigma are related? You would think that six sigma was the end all-be all, instead of an organized approach to improvement???
What am I missing?

SM,

I too have witnessed this phenomenon, in a similar situation (developing management review report). I chose to take the opportunity to provide management with some education, by including a summary of the BB projects as a part of the "improvement" activities portion of the report. I received several comments on the fact that it appeared to be an appropriate forum in which to discuss these projects, and maybe discuss other areas where Six Sigma could be of benefit. Think about it - a quality forum discussing improvement initiatives. Now that's a novel idea.

[SteelMaiden]

Originally Posted by Atul Khandekar

Steel,

No ready answer here. Just a question. What does your 'champion' say?

Ah, therein lies the problem....LOL I feel much better now after seeing your, M's and d's replies, I was really afraid that we were a long way from normal.

Anyway....Management had stated at a previous review meeting (upon my recommendations that 6sig is really a set of tools to be used in quality and business systems) that we would review the projects. I guess that they management, and BB's have missed not communicated well? champion, huh? Gosh, like d says, what a novel concept.

Oh well, it's been that kind of day, I spent all of yesterday helping these same BB's get prepared for a management presentation and feeding them motivators to keep management committment high. No good deed goes unpunished

[Atul Khandekar]

Originally Posted by SteelMaiden

Anyway....Management had stated at a previous review meeting (upon my recommendations that 6sig is really a set of tools to be used in quality and business systems) that we would review the projects.

That looks like a good start...

I would recommend you go through the article:
How To Complement ISO 9001:2000 With Six Sigma

And a very interesting discussion Six Sigma Compared To ISO 9000?

-Atul.

[SteelMaiden]

Thanks, Atul, I will read these thouroughly this afternoon! I really do want the program to suceed, and am willing to jump in and help wherever I can, I just think that the BB's should respect and champion the quality systems also.