
There are three steps in the Measure phase, as well. “Define” Tollgatesīefore teams finish the Define phase, seasoned Six Sigma managers will ensure that three major milestones have been completed – (1) the team needs to agree on a project charter, which defines the scope and direction of the project (2) the team needs to agree on the customer’s needs and requirements and (3) someone needs to map out, step-by-step, how the product or service will eventually reach the customer. They’re milestones that occur at every stage of DMAIC, and they ensure the project is on the right track from beginning to end. Tollgates are brilliant quality assurance measures, baked right into the DMAIC framework. Have you ever tried to assemble furniture without instructions? Have you ever tried to cook a meal for the first time, using only your memory of the recipe? It sounds obvious, but it’s a mistake that many businesses make – moving forward with an initiative, like Six Sigma, isn’t going to work if you don’t have a plan. The primary cause of failure, PMI reported, was a lack of clearly defined objectives and milestones to measure performance. Strategic initiatives were actually part of the problem, because they failed so frequently. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Īnd for many organizations, strategies like Six Sigma aren’t the answer. That’s about the equivalent of 2,200 annual salaries for full-time employees in the United States, according to data from the U.S. No big deal, right? Well, let’s scale that up and say it in a different way:Īccording to the report, organizations waste $99 million of every $1 billion they invest. Organizations, on average, waste almost one cent of every dollar they invest.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) published some startling numbers in their 2018 Pulse of the Profession report…
