SOFTWARE DESIGN FOR SIX SIGMA (DFSS): A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR SUCCESSFUL DEPLOYMENT - Software Design for Six-Sigma: A Roadmap for Excellence - page 228

subsystems. Later, when DFSS becomes the way of doing business, system-level
DFSS deployment becomes the norm and the issue of synchronization with PMS will
diminish eventually. Actually, the PMS will be crafted to reflect the DFSS learning
experience that the company gained during the years of experience.

9.3.3 Deployment

This phase is the period of time when champions are trained and when they select
initial Black Belt projects, as well as when the initial wave of Black Belts are trained
and when they complete projects that yield significant operational benefit both soft and
hard. The training encompasses most of the deployment activities in this phase, and
it is discussed in the following section. Additionally, this deployment phase includes
the following assignment of the deployment team:

Reiterate to key personnel their responsibilities at critical points in the deploy-
ment process.
Reinforce the commitment among project champions and Black Belts to exe-
cute selected improvement projects aggressively. Mobilize and empower both
populations to carry out effectively their respective roles and responsibilities.
Recognize exemplary performance in execution and in culture with the project
champion and Black Belt levels.
Inform the general employee population about the tenets of Six Sigma and the
deployment process.
Build information packets for project champions and Black Belts that contain
administrative, logistical, and other information they need to execute their re-
sponsibilities at given points in time.
Document and publicize successful projects and the positive consequences for
the company and its employees.
Document and distribute project-savings data by business unit, product, or other
appropriate area of focus.
Hold Six Sigma events or meetings with all employees at given locations where
leadership is present and involved and where such topics are covered.

9.3.3.1 Training. The critical steps in DFSS training are 1) determining the con-
tent and outline, 2) developing the materials, and 3) deploying the training classes.
In doing so, the deployment team and its training vendor of choice should be very
cautious about cultural aspects and to weave into the soft side of the initiative the
culture change into training. Training is the significant mechanism within deployment
that, in addition to equiping trainees with the right tools, concepts, and methods, will
expedite deployment and help shape a data-driven culture. This section will present a
high-level perspective of the training recipients and what type of training they should
receive. They are arranged as follows by the level of complexity.