When selecting a project, start by identifying an issue that is important to your organization. If the issue isn’t meaningful to the organization, it may be difficult to gain leadership support, which is often necessary when implementing improvements.

Next, consider the process that produced the result you want to improve. All work happens through processes, and the results your organization produces are created by those processes. By identifying the process behind the result, you can begin to understand where improvements may be made.

Once the process is identified, determine a measurable result you would like to improve. This result should be something that can be measured directly or is already tracked as part of the process. Common examples include cycle time, total work time, error rate, or the amount produced.

When possible, choose a measure that can be collected frequently. Measuring results every day is often more useful than measuring once a month, because frequent measurements allow you to observe changes sooner and demonstrate improvements more quickly.

After selecting your measure, write a clear Goal Statement using the following format:

Examples include:

The goal statement should be kept simple and concise. It should clearly state the improvement you want to achieve, without adding unnecessary detail or writing a full paragraph.

Q: Do I need to complete a project?

A: A project is required only for courses titled “Green Belt with Project” or “Black Belt with Project.” For all other certifications, completing the training modules and passing the assessments is sufficient.

Q: Is there a Strategic Project Selection Guide?

A: Yes! You may refer to our Guide to a Strategic Project Selection in Lean Six Sigma.

Q: Can I still do a project if I’m unemployed?

A: If you can't complete a project at your current employer (or are not currently employed), we recommend reaching out to a local nonprofit or business you’re familiar with to see if they’ll allow you to make a process more efficient for them or improve the quality of a product or service they provide. For example, a local business, church, community center, etc.

Q: Can I do a home-based process improvement project?

A: We recommend consulting with your Master Black Belt/Coach to ensure your project meets the required scope and aligns with certification standards.

Q: When should I start my project?

A: It is recommended that you start your project as soon as possible! Submitting your project early allows time to receive feedback and make any necessary revisions before your program end date, which would help avoid the need to request an extension. We recommend choosing your project topic while you are doing your Define Phase Training, and submitting your Charter for approval at or before the end of the Define Phase.

Need Help?

If you need additional assistance: