Why They Fail ... and the Simple Key to Success!

From Blackhawk Cockpits to Real Lean Six Sigma Success

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pg4puhMBgDeslvLOavqtj https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1815368583 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80df90bb-a743-4170-afa7-8b4dd6bf0992/why-they-fail-and-the-simple-key-to-success Over 90% of corporate deployments fail within eighteen months. One of the most common reasons is the creation of continuous improvement silos. When process improvement is locked inside a single department or treated as a leadership checklist, cultural transformation becomes impossible. In this episode of the Why They Fail Podcast, Kevin Clay sits down with Emilio Natalio, a retired military aviator and seasoned aviation safety officer. Emilio shares his journey from piloting Blackhawk helicopters to managing complex business processes. Throughout the conversation, they explore how leadership teams unknowingly restrict their own growth. Instead of building a unified team, they create artificial barriers that prevent value from flowing across the organization. BREAKING DOWN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT SILOS  Continuous improvement silos form quickly when deployments lack an underlying infrastructure. For example, many companies train a single employee and expect that person to single-handedly fix everything. As a result, these newly certified belts often end up acting like corporate police officers. Frontline operators become defensive. Communication breaks down completely. To overcome this, organizations must dismantle their continuous improvement silos and build shared operational sidewalks. Emilio discusses his unique approach to teaching Lean Six Sigma through an interactive, choose-your-own-adventure style process map. This methodology focuses on real-world project decision-making. Consequently, practitioners learn how to navigate scope creep and sub-optimization by looking directly at the data rather than guessing.   SHIFTING FROM PAPER BELTS TO TRUE CULTURAL IMPACT  Another critical failure point is the rise of "paper belts." These are individuals who complete short online courses and pass simple tests without gaining any practical project experience. However, real process improvement requires hands-on battle scars and direct mentoring. Furthermore, organizational excellence can only be sustained when decisions are based on objective metrics. Subjective leadership agendas destroy deployment momentum. Therefore, eliminating continuous improvement silos means establishing clear, visible key performance indicators that cascade all the way down to frontline operators. Additionally, building a collaborative project hopper gives every employee the power to identify operational waste. When you capture the Voice of the Operator and align improvement projects directly with primary business targets, you build a sustainable house of excellence that delivers long-term, measurable value. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS PODCAST:   High-stakes military aviation safety principles parallel true Lean Six Sigma methodologies.    Training a single employee to save the world without support infrastructure sets them up for failure.    Online-only click-through courses create ineffective "paper belts" who lack practical deployment experience.    Business metrics and key performance indicators must be clear, well-defined, and visible to everyone.    Capturing the Voice of the Operator is essential to break down internal division and sustain changes.   FREE COPY OF MY BOOK "WHY THEY FAIL … AND THE SIMPLE KEY TO SUCCESS"  90% of continuous improvement initiatives fail or are abandoned within eighteen months. Kevin's book explains exactly why and how to stop it. "Why They Fail and the Simple Key to Success" details the warning signs to watch for, including executive lip service, random project prioritization, and fuzzy targets, and lays out a seven-step blueprint for building an enduring operational culture. Claim your free digital copy here: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR, SIX SIGMA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS.  This episode of "Why They Fail" is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing "Operational Excellence" Around the Globe! Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others. Key Certification Training: * View all our Lean Six Sigma certifications in one place ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/sixsigmadsi-com-lean-six-sigma-certifications/ ) * Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/ ) * Lean Six Sigma Black Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/ ) * Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/ ) * LEAN Certification ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/ ) Flexible options: self-paced online, live virtual, or in-person at any of 52 training centers worldwide, including a free White Belt course. What is LEAN? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/ ) What Is Six Sigma? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/ ) What is a Green Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/ ) What is a Black Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/ ) What is a Yellow Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/ ) Contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ or call 866-922-6566

Gen Z Grit: How Cheer Stunts Breed Future CEOs

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pg4puhMBgDeslvLOavqtj https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1815368583 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80df90bb-a743-4170-afa7-8b4dd6bf0992/why-they-fail-and-the-simple-key-to-success GEN Z GRIT: HOW CHEER STUNTS BREED FUTURE CEOS  Welcome to another episode of Why They Fail. In this episode, we tackle an exciting angle on organizational health: gen z leadership development. Many corporate leaders wonder how the next generation will handle complex business dynamics. However, looking at the discipline required in competitive youth environments reveals a clear trend. This episode explores how elite competitive cheer practices correlate deeply with standard work, cross-training, and system optimization.  Our host, Kevin Clay, Master Black Belt, sits down with thirteen-year-old elite athlete Claire Clay. Claire is a high-achieving student and the current Junior Miss Emerald Coast. She steps away from the pageant stage to pull back the curtain on her Level 4.2 Senior Elite cheer team. Together, they discuss why corporate teams drop the ball, while youth teams consistently hit their marks.  SOPS AND GENERATION Z LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT  Many companies struggle to sustain their continuous improvement initiatives because they rely on a single superstar to save the day. Consequently, when that person leaves or gets sick, the entire system crashes. In contrast, Claire explains an unspoken rule enforced by her coaches: every single stunt group must be capable of switching out athletes seamlessly.  This strict focus on interchangeability is a perfect real-world application of process capability and standardization. In order to achieve this level of performance, the team removes all tribal knowledge. Every base must hold the foot exactly the same way, and every back spot must utilize identical grips. Therefore, the only thing that changes is the face you are looking at. This standard work creates deep muscle memory, allowing the team to perform under immense pressure.  SYSTEMIC FLEXIBILITY AND GEN Z LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT  True resilience requires comprehensive cross-training. On Claire's team, athletes are systematically trained to manage multiple roles. This flexibility prevents the entire operation from crashing during major competitions. In addition, when technical breakdowns occur, these young leaders do not waste time blaming individual shortfalls. Instead, they leverage structured communication to look at the process itself.  By evaluating whether a dropped stunt was a breakdown in timing, standard technique, or communication, they naturally practice root cause analysis. This mature approach to problem-solving shifts the culture away from finger-pointing. As a result, the entire team absorbs the feedback and shares the accountability. This operational mindset demonstrates how early exposure to structured systems accelerates generation alpha leadership development, preparing them to guide complex corporations in the future.  KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS PODCAST:   Gen Z is building an elite foundation for future corporate leadership through high-level athletic systems.   Process standardization means refining a technique so thoroughly that any qualified team member can step in and execute.    Comprehensive cross-training creates a resilient, crash-proof operational matrix capable of handling sudden disruptions.    Sustainable teamwork requires abandoning individual finger-pointing in favor of structured root cause analysis.    Introducing structured change management concepts early prepares the next generation to step into leadership seamlessly.    FREE COPY OF MY BOOK "WHY THEY FAIL … AND THE SIMPLE KEY TO SUCCESS"  Did you know that over 90% of continuous improvement efforts completely fail or are abandoned within 18 months? My book, "Why They Fail… and the Simple Key to Success," details the hidden operational traps that cause corporate deployments to collapse, such as executive lip service, fuzzy targets, and treating improvement methodologies like temporary toys. Read this book to learn exactly how to align your project hoppers with visible KPIs and construct a sustainable culture of excellence. Get your free copy here: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/]    A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR, SIX SIGMA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS.  This episode of "Why They Fail" is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing “Operational Excellence” Around the Globe!    Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others.    Key Certification Training we provide:   ○ Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/])   ○ Lean Six Sigma Black Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/])   ○ Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/])   ○ LEAN Certification ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/])  We offer a variety of flexible training options to fit your needs! You can learn at your own pace with our Online Self-Paced, On-Demand courses, including our free Online Lean Six Sigma White Belt. We also offer comprehensive online programs for Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt certifications. If you prefer in-person instruction, we can come onsite to your organization or you can join our public training sessions, available live virtually or in person at any of our 52 training centers. Every one of our courses can be delivered either live virtually or live in person, ensuring you get the learning experience that works best for you.  Answering the Question "What is ...":   ○ What is LEAN? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/])   ○ What Is Six Sigma? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/])   ○ What is a Green Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/])   ○ What is a Black Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/])   ○ What is a Yellow Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/])  For more information, ☎️ contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/] or call us at 866-922-6566

Inside Amazon: Why Process Engineers Are Guides, Not Sages

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pg4puhMBgDeslvLOavqtj https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1815368583 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80df90bb-a743-4170-afa7-8b4dd6bf0992/why-they-fail-and-the-simple-key-to-success INSIDE AMAZON: WHY PROCESS ENGINEERS ARE GUIDES, NOT SAGES Most companies build their continuous improvement programs the wrong way. They train a single green belt or black belt and expect that one person to fix everything. However, studying Six Sigma principles in Amazon's operations reveals a completely different model. At Amazon, process engineers do not own the solutions. Instead, they build the capability for frontline teams to find the answers themselves. In this episode of the Why They Fail Podcast, Kevin Clay sits down with Mariam Abdalmasih, Senior Process Improvement Engineer for London Fulfillment Operations at Amazon. Mariam brings nearly a decade of cross-functional experience across automotive, food manufacturing, and retail logistics. As a result, she offers a rare inside look at how a structured metric environment functions at genuinely massive scale. HOW SIX SIGMA PRINCIPLES IN AMAZON'S OPERATIONS ACTUALLY WORK Amazon treats process excellence as a foundational part of daily operations. It is not a standalone department. It is not a temporary initiative. Therefore, continuous improvement is built directly into the operational infrastructure from day one. During the conversation, Mariam explains how corporate metrics cascade down to visual display screens on the fulfillment floor. Every individual operator can see exactly how their work connects to larger corporate performance indicators. Furthermore, Amazon relies on an independent system of Gemba walks to verify those numbers on the ground. This prevents data from being analyzed in silos. Instead, operations and process safety teams work together in real time to validate what the dashboards are actually showing. SHIFTING FROM SAGES TO FRONTLINE ENABLERS A major theme of this episode is how Amazon develops its organizational culture around enabling rather than dictating. Mariam outlines how prioritizing leadership capability in hiring allows continuous improvement professionals to serve as true guides. Consequently, ownership of improvement stays exactly where it belongs: with the subject matter experts on the floor. Additionally, the episode unpacks Amazon's "one-way door vs. two-way door" decision-making framework. This operational model actively encourages calculated risk-taking. It empowers frontline teams to make faster, independent improvements while keeping the customer experience completely protected. Understanding Six Sigma principles in Amazon's operations means understanding that sustainability comes from infrastructure first, not individual practitioners. KEY TAKEAWAYS Applying these principles is what separates a lasting continuous improvement culture from one that fades within 18 months. First, process improvement practitioners must act as frontline enablers, guiding teams rather than dictating solutions. Second, metrics must cascade from corporate targets down to visual management systems on the floor so every operator understands their impact. Third, data trends and control chart signals must always be verified firsthand through structured Gemba walks. Fourth, evaluating actions as reversible two-way doors empowers teams to move faster and innovate without fear. Fifth, sustainable deployments require building a mature operational infrastructure before training individual practitioners. PODCAST CHAPTERS 00:00 Career Catalysts: From Tire Manufacturing to Global Supply Chains 01:50 Continuous Learning and the Tip of the Iceberg Reality of a Master Black Belt 02:36 Transforming Your Mindset to Focus on Structural Process Analysis 03:13 Built Systems vs. Guesswork: How Amazon Keeps Metrics Consistent 04:44 Cascading Metrics: Pushing Live Numbers Down to the Fulfillment Floor 05:15 Independent Gemba Walks: Verifying Dashboards with Ground Reality 07:01 Frontline Visual Management and Centralized Portal Visibility 08:03 Data-Driven Principles: Timing and Structuring the DMAIC Define Phase 09:57 The Arbitrary Project Trap vs. Aligning Green Belts with Corporate KPIs 11:29 Smashing the Sage on the Stage Myth: Process Engineers as Enablers 13:53 Long-Term Corporate Planning vs. Localized Management Panics 15:30 Reversible Doors: Navigating One-Way and Two-Way Operational Risks 19:22 Managing Structured Chaos with Data and Control Chart Trends 22:18 Breaking Down Site Silos to Leverage Global Best Practices 24:11 Handpicking Leaders: Solving the Technical Skill Gap on the Floor FREE BOOK Are you watching improvement events succeed only to see the process slide back within weeks? Kevin's book explains exactly why that happens and how to stop it. "Why They Fail and the Simple Key to Success" provides a clear roadmap to move past constant firefighting and build a sustainable culture of baseline accountability. Claim your free copy here: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/] ABOUT SIX SIGMA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS This episode of "Why They Fail" is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing "Operational Excellence" Around the Globe! Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others. Key Certification Training: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/] ) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/] ) Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/] ) LEAN Certification ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/] ) Flexible options: self-paced online, live virtual, or in-person at any of 52 training centers worldwide, including a free White Belt course. What is LEAN? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/] ) What Is Six Sigma? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/] ) What is a Green Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/] ) What is a Black Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/] ) What is a Yellow Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/] ) Contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/] or call 866-922-6566

Beyond the Shiny Kanban: Driving a Real EBITDA Explosion

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pg4puhMBgDeslvLOavqtj https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1815368583 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80df90bb-a743-4170-afa7-8b4dd6bf0992/why-they-fail-and-the-simple-key-to-success BEYOND THE SHINY KANBAN: DRIVING A REAL EBITDA EXPLOSION Most business leaders believe they are running a lean operation. However, if your Kanban cards are still moving to the beat of unstable MRP lead times, you are not pulling. You are running a heavily masked push system. Implementing true pull system vs push operations is what separates an 11% EBITDA crawl from a 30% to 200% financial explosion in year one. In this episode of the Why They Fail Podcast, host Kevin Clay sits down with Toyota Motor Manufacturing veteran Phil Ledbetter. Together, they expose exactly why standard lean initiatives stall out and what a genuine, system-wide pull framework actually looks like. WHY STANDARD LEAN INITIATIVES CRASH AND BURN Continuous improvement efforts frequently turn into corporate toys. Leadership rolls them out, loses interest, and abandons them within months. This happens because most organizations treat Kanban cards as isolated, standalone fixes. As a result, departments remain siloed and every process step continues running to its own localized drum. When you push batches through isolated cells, you create massive workflow imbalances. Furthermore, push methods rely on the false assumption that internal lead times are perfectly accurate and stable. Because push systems cannot anticipate daily machine downtime or quality failures, work-in-process inventory piles up between stations. Consequently, excess safety stock blinds your management team and actively hides the true constraints of your system. THE STRATEGIC POWER OF IMPLEMENTING TRUE PULL SYSTEM VS PUSH FRAMEWORKS Transitioning away from push schedules requires a complete inversion of traditional operational thinking. An authentic pull framework acts as the autonomic nervous system of your entire facility. In this environment, material replenishment is dictated by real-time customer usage rather than rigid weekly schedules. Additionally, a successful pull framework relies on mathematically calculated buffers. These limits are not random piles of extra inventory. Instead, they are specifically engineered to absorb everyday operational variation without disrupting downstream flow. When you commit to implementing true pull system vs push architectures, inventory levels remain constant while finished goods steadily build. Therefore, your teams are forced to address root causes immediately rather than hiding behind safety stock. This disciplined approach drives a measurable surge in total profitability. KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR IMPLEMENTING TRUE PULL SYSTEM VS PUSH Applying these principles consistently is what separates a genuine lean transformation from another abandoned corporate initiative. First, standard lean initiatives stall because companies treat Kanban as a standalone visual tool rather than an integrated operational system. Second, localized push schedules and faulty lead times create WIP inventory that hides critical process constraints. Third, authentic pull systems consistently generate 30% to 200% EBITDA growth within the first year of proper execution. Fourth, operational buffers must be scientifically calculated based on process distance and flow structure to protect customer pace. Fifth, transitioning to a true pull framework forces organizations to eliminate silos and sync all actions to a unified system drum. PODCAST CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction and Phil Ledbetter's Early Days at Toyota Manufacturing 01:29 Immersive Operational Training and Core Experiences in Japan 02:19 The Structural Evolution of Lean vs. the True Lean System 03:37 Demystifying the Kanban as the Systemic Autonomic Nervous System 05:03 The Destructive Imbalances Caused by Traditional Push Silos 06:32 Exposing the Blind Spots of Modern Push Consultants 07:47 The Rigid Reliance on MRP/ERP Lead Times and Batch-Building Disasters 11:27 The Dice and Chips Simulation: Push vs. Pull in Action 13:58 How Excess Push Inventory Actively Masks Operational Flaws 15:03 The Strict Operational Rules of Kanban Limits and System Buffers 15:57 The Mathematical Science Behind Dynamic Buffering 17:41 Applying Pull Frameworks to Non-Manufacturing and Grocery Models 19:58 The Financial Blindness of the C-Suite: Exposing True EBITDA Metrics 21:36 A Deep Dive Into the European Study of 100 Low-Yield Lean Plants 23:13 Why Treating Kanban as a Standalone Tool Restricts Long-Term ROI FREE BOOK If you want to prevent your continuous improvement efforts from becoming another abandoned corporate initiative, this book gives you the roadmap. "Why They Fail and the Simple Key to Success" exposes the structural mistakes leadership teams make when deploying lean methodologies. It outlines the precise 7-step foundation required to shift from gut-feel management to sustainable, data-driven operational excellence. Claim your free physical copy here: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/] ABOUT SIX SIGMA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS This episode of "Why They Fail" is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing "Operational Excellence" Around the Globe! Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others. Key Certification Training: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/] ) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/] ) Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/] ) LEAN Certification ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/] ) Flexible options: self-paced online, live virtual, or in-person at any of 52 training centers worldwide, including a free White Belt course. What is LEAN? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/] ) What Is Six Sigma? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/] ) What is a Green Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/] ) What is a Black Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/] ) What is a Yellow Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/] ) Contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ [https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/] or call 866-922-6566

Why Continuous Improvement Leaders Pick Crap Projects

https://open.spotify.com/show/0Pg4puhMBgDeslvLOavqtj https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1815368583 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/80df90bb-a743-4170-afa7-8b4dd6bf0992/why-they-fail-and-the-simple-key-to-success WHY CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT LEADERS PICK CRAP PROJECTS Most continuous improvement programs fail within 18 months. The reason is almost always the same: leadership started by avoiding bad Six Sigma projects the wrong way. Instead of using data, they used gut feeling. In this episode of the Why They Fail Podcast, host Kevin Clay sits down with 40-year CI veteran Wade Harper. Together, they expose the systemic failures behind poor project selection. More importantly, they show what a disciplined, data-driven deployment actually looks like. Wade's career is built on real-world results. He engineered nuclear weapons components under Six Sigma pioneer Michael Harry at AlliedSignal. He then rose to Master Black Belt roles at Ford and Honeywell. Additionally, he led the largest Lean Six Sigma deployment in U.S. Army history. All resources, tools, and links discussed in this episode are available at Wade's website: https://ameripie.com/ [https://ameripie.com/] WHY LEADERS FAIL AT SIX SIGMA PROJECT SELECTION Avoiding bad Six Sigma projects starts with understanding why good leaders make poor choices. Most executive teams do not lack ambition. However, they consistently avoid the hard work of establishing clear performance standards. As a result, corporate deployments measure success using vanity metrics. Total people trained. Total certifications issued. These numbers look impressive. Unfortunately, they say nothing about bottom-line value created. A newly appointed CI practitioner then gets sent off to tackle arbitrary projects. There is no data infrastructure. There is no clear problem statement. Therefore, the project is set up to fail before it begins. Every project charter must be grounded in hard numbers. That is the foundation of avoiding bad Six Sigma projects. Emotion and workplace pain are not valid starting points for a deployment strategy. HOW TO IDENTIFY THE TRUE PROCESS CONSTRAINT One of the most costly mistakes in any CI deployment is optimizing a non-bottleneck step. For example, fixing step three in a seven-step process may look compelling in a presentation. However, if step three is not the true constraint, output at the door does not change. The financial return is zero. Furthermore, when baseline data is absent, executives default to a destructive pattern. They begin managing people instead of managing process capabilities. Consequently, employees get blamed for failures that are actually structural and systemic. Shingo-style process mapping is one of the most effective tools for solving this problem. It separates flow from work in a way that traditional value stream mapping does not. As a result, transactional and service teams gain the granular visibility needed to isolate defects before they move downstream. KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR AVOIDING BAD SIX SIGMA PROJECTS Applying these principles consistently is what separates high-performing CI programs from failed ones. First, every project charter must be grounded in baseline operational data, not emotion or workplace pain. Second, program success must be measured by bottom-line value created, not headcount trained or certified. Third, optimizing a non-bottleneck step yields zero financial return. Therefore, finding the true constraint must come first. Fourth, Shingo-style mapping separates flow from work, revealing defects that value stream maps consistently miss. Fifth, stabilizing process capabilities stops leadership from defaulting to blame when results fall short. PODCAST CHAPTERS 00:02 Introduction and Wade Harper's 40-Year CI Background 02:55 Learning from Six Sigma Founder Michael Harry at AlliedSignal 05:06 Shingo Mapping vs. Value Stream Mapping in Service Environments 07:49 Using Visual Mapping and Red Yarn to Trace Defect Origins 08:56 Deploying Shingo Mapping for the U.S. Army Hiring Process 10:15 The Easy Button and the Rise of Unverified Paper Belts 12:23 The Threat of AI Cheating on Proctored Certification Exams 16:52 Screening Methods for Hiring True CI Experts 21:08 Why Leadership Teams Pick Bad Projects Based on Emotion 24:16 Transitioning from Managing People to Managing Process Capabilities 25:05 Scoping Product Attributes and Tube Dimensions Over End Scrap Results 29:18 Overcoming Executive Lip Service and Establishing Accountability 31:15 The New CI Guy Trap and Failing Without Infrastructure 34:29 The Danger of Blanket Layoffs vs. Understanding Process Workloads FREE BOOK Over 90% of continuous improvement efforts fail or quit within 18 months. Kevin's book explains exactly why, and what to do instead. Grab a free copy of "Why They Fail and the Simple Key to Success" here: https://sixsigmadsi.com/product/why-they-fail-free-copy/ ABOUT SIX SIGMA DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS This episode of "Why They Fail" is brought to you by Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc., providing "Operational Excellence" Around the Globe! Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma certification training, accredited by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) as an Authorized Training Organization. They have transformed over 100 organizations in 52 countries and achieved $100M USD in savings through Lean Six Sigma, certifying over 4000 practitioners. Their partners include Aerojet Rocketdyne, Dropbox, and Mercy Health, among others. Key Certification Training: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-green-belt/ ) Lean Six Sigma Black Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-black-belt/ ) Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/six-sigma-yellow-belt/ ) LEAN Certification ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/lean-certification/ ) Flexible options: self-paced online, live virtual, or in-person at any of 52 training centers worldwide, including a free White Belt course. What is LEAN? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-lean/ ) What Is Six Sigma? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-six-sigma/ ) What is a Green Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-green-belt/ ) What is a Black Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-black-belt/ ) What is a Yellow Belt? ( https://sixsigmadsi.com/what-is-a-six-sigma-yellow-belt/ ) Contact us: https://sixsigmadsi.com/contact-us/ or call 866-922-6566