Six Sigma Tollgates. When And How Are They Used?
In a Six Sigma project, tollgates are critical checkpoints that help ensure the project is on track and delivering the desired results. Tollgates are milestones used to assess the project’s progress and determine whether it is meeting its objectives. They are used to measure the project’s quality and the process’s outcomes. Tollgates are typically implemented at different stages of the project to ensure that the project is progressing as planned.
The tollgates in a Six Sigma project are usually divided into four phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, and Control. These phases help to break down the project into manageable steps and ensure that each phase is completed before moving on to the next. Tollgates are used at the end of each phase to determine whether the objectives of the phase have been met.
All project practitioners should be familiar with tollgates, although only the project Black Belt and Champion will actively use it to track project progression. The tollgates are shared with project stakeholders at each stage.
Tollgates at each stage of Six Sigma
Define Stage
During the Define phase, tollgates are used to assess the project’s goals, objectives, and scope. The tollgate in this phase ensures that the project is aligned with the company’s strategic goals and that the project team clearly understands the project’s scope. It also ensures that the project’s goals are achievable and measurable. It is common for a SWOT analysis to be included in this tollgate.
Here is an example:
Tollgate: Project Charter Approval – This tollgate is used to approve the project charter, which includes the scope, objectives, and goals of the project. The project charter is critical as it defines the boundaries and expectations of the project.
Measure Stage
During the Measure phase, tollgates are used to evaluate the data collection process and determine whether the data collected is accurate and reliable. This phase is critical to the project’s success since it provides the baseline data required for the analysis phase. The tollgate in this phase ensures that the project team has collected the required data and that it meets the project’s objectives.
Here is an example:
Tollgate: Data Collection Approval – This tollgate is used to approve the data collection plan, including the data sources, sampling methodology, and data collection tools. This ensures that the data collected is accurate and reliable.
Analyze Stage
During the Analyze phase, tollgates are used to assess the data analysis results and determine the root causes of the problem. The tollgate in this phase ensures that the project team has analyzed the data correctly and that they have identified the root causes of the problem.
Here is an example:
Tollgate: Root Cause Analysis Approval – This tollgate is used to approve the root cause analysis, which identifies the underlying causes of the problem. This ensures that the project team has identified the true root causes and not just the symptoms.
Improve Stage
Before the solution is implemented, the project team should present a detailed plan for implementing the solution, including how it will be tested and validated, how risks will be managed, and how the benefits will be measured. The project team should also present the expected timeline and the resources needed for implementation. Once the solution implementation plan is approved, the team can proceed with executing the plan.
During the solution implementation, the project team should monitor the progress, document the results, and report the status to the stakeholders. The project team should also identify and address any issues or challenges during implementation. Once the solution is fully implemented, the project team should conduct a final review to ensure that the solution has achieved the desired outcomes and that the process has been improved as expected.
Here is an example:
Tollgate: Solution Implementation Approval – This tollgate is used to approve the implementation of the solution(s) identified during the Analyze phase. The solution should be based on data and evidence and address the problem’s root causes. This tollgate ensures that the solution(s) are ready for implementation and that the project team has a plan to execute the solution(s) effectively.
Control Stage
During the Control phase, tollgates are used to evaluate the solutions’ effectiveness and determine whether they are sustainable. The tollgate in this phase ensures that the project team has implemented the required control measures and that they are sustainable over the long term. This tollgate is typically the final tollgate before the closeout report is completed.
Here is an example:
Tollgate: Control Plan Approval – This tollgate is used to approve the control plan, which includes the control measures, process monitoring, and feedback mechanisms. This ensures that the project team has implemented the required control measures and that they are sustainable over the long term.
Conclusion
In conclusion, tollgates are essential in Six Sigma projects as they provide a way to measure the project’s progress and determine whether it is meeting its goals. They help ensure that the project is on track and that the objectives of each phase are met before moving on to the next phase. Tollgates provide a way to assess the project’s quality and the process’s outcomes. The use of tollgates is critical to the success of a Six Sigma project and ensures that the project delivers the desired results.
