organization.
-They should take adequate responsibility for writing projects, documenting them and making decisions for the project.
-They should be able to lead the projects and facilitate conferences.
-Six Sigma consultants should also be able to make presentations to associates and contribute to a company's change of process.

Selection Criteria

-The key to selecting a good Six Sigma consultant is becoming aware of the specific needs and work culture of your firm.
-Companies hiring a Six Sigma Consultant should initially perform a careful assessment of their internal environment and then formulate a team that can oversee the whole process.
-The company should know whether it requires a full Six Sigma service implementation or whether it only requires training.
-The main reasons for hiring Six Sigma Consultants should be their expertise on certain subject matters, are skilled at communication, be it written or verbal, are unbiased and can implement their skills within the company in a non-partial manner.
-Accountability is also an important consideration; if the implementation doesn't work then it can be placed squarely as the responsibility of the consultant. From an owner's point of view, it's easier to blame an external consultant than to take sides within the company itself.
-Cost is certainly a major factor while choosing a consultant but it should not be the only one. The professional fees charged by Six Sigma firms can vary from reasonable to very expensive and the key consideration should be the value that the consultant brings to the organization.

Pre-Hiring Measures

-It is advisable for companies to identify about 10 Six Sigma Consultants and ask for a proposal, based on which, they could shortlist 3 to make a presentation. This method of selection has worked very well for many companies.
-Background information about a consultant can be obtained from other businesses that have been through the process before.
-It is important to select a firm with more than a few years of Six Sigma experience.
-During the selection process, team leaders must decide what role the consultant has to play during the project. The consultant can be a strong facilitator and an experienced practitioner, a team member or a subject matter expert.
-To fit into any of these roles, a consultant has to have strong facilitation skills, in-depth process knowledge, industry exposure and should be able to perform specific tasks for the team.

Article Source: http://www.articleblender.com

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution's Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.


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