List of supplies for Lean Six Sigma Event Facilitators

If you are just getting started leading or facilitating lean or six sigma events, you need to be prepared with a list of kit supplies to have during the event.

Each event will have different objectives and require different supplies, but here is a list of items to consider (Note: Amazon affiliate links):

Write On - Cling On Reuseable Static Easel Pad - Better for the environment than paper easel pads, but if you want paper, at least use the recycled paper version, and you might need a easel pad stand.

Post-it Recycled Sticky Notes - A must have for any event. Select the recycled paper version.

Digital Stopwatch - If you are doing anything related to time, you need real measurements from the process, not data from a system. Timings also allow you to see the waste first hand.

Clipboard with calculator - Useful for taking notes, and doing quick math, such as takt time, yield, or DPMO.

"Butcher" paper roll - Good for taping to wall for process mapping with post-it notes

Recycled Perforated Note Pads - Good for taking notes during walk throughs, tours and process reviews

Colored pencils - Useful for showing multiple flows on spaghetti diagrams

Flip chart markers - Write on dry erase boards or easel pads

Name tents - These are reusable with dry erase markers, to save paper.







Other items that you will need, but should not require ordering online:

• Scissors
• Rulers
• Tape (masking and scotch)
• Pencils and pens
• Digital camera - someone should have a smart phone that takes good pictures
• Tape measure
• Glue sticks
• Sharpies (permanent markers) - bold enough so words are legible when posted on the wall

The following items are not required, but you might find them helpful:

Pedometer - Easy way to capture actual walking distance of people, instead of what it should be on paper

Label maker - For making signs and labels in work area

Laminator - For making signs to hang in work area or metric sheets that can be wiped clean each day

Measuring wheel - An easier way to calculate square footage and distance than a tape measure













These items above are generic for most events, not specific to a VSM or 5S event, which would require additional items, such as VSM data box sheets or 5S red tags.

Did we forget something important off the list? If so, leave a comment below...

6 resources for Six Sigma Black Belts to save time and improve effectiveness

Sigma Black Belts and Master Black Belts often have too much on their plate, especially when there aren't many other Black Belts in your organization.

Here are some resources that you can use to be more efficient and effective, giving you more time to spend coaching and mentoring your Green and Black Belts.

1. Project Tracking System - Free web-based DMAIC project tracking system, with email reminders for overdue milestones and actions, and upload required artifacts and documents with each phase. This will help you keep projects on track and increase the chance of success.
2. Green Belt Exam Reminder System - Free reminders sent to Green and Black Belts planning to take the ASQ exam. The emails will provide tips, tricks, materials, and expected progress for key dates and milestones leading up to the ASQ exam, so you don't have to remember to stay in touch with your mentees and make sure they are staying on track.
3. Lean Six Sigma News - Stay up to date on the latest Lean and Six Sigma trends, tips and tricks. Top blogs, articles, tweets and posts from the top experts and consultants across the web, all displayed on one webpage with no effort.
4. Lean Six Sigma Skills Assessment - Use this assessment tool to provide your mentees with a way to evaluate their skills and experience on a 1-10 rating scale, based on four major categories: Lean, Six Sigma, DfSS and Soft Skills.
5. Training Material Powerpoint Templates - Download powerpoint training templates to avoid wasting time creating training material from scratch. Simply add your company logo, review the slide notes, and you're ready to teach topics such as: DFSS, Control Charts, Capability Analysis, 5S, Lean Six Sigma, Cost of Poor Quality, and Root Cause Analysis.
6. Facilitation Tools - Order items to help you facilitate lean events, such as resusable dry erase sheets, post-it notes, clipboards, VSM data box templates, and more.

Here are some new resources we are working on this year:

Training Reminder System - For each class you teach, setup a checklist to send email reminders as your training class progresses towards the date of the class. Tasks such as:

• Check attendance list/sign ups (2 weeks prior)
• Print training materials (1 week prior)
• Send reminder email and attachments to attendees (2 days prior)
• Send contact information to attendees (1 day after)
• Send survey to attendees (2 days after)

UPDATE 7/5/14: The class reminder system is now up and running! Check it out at LeanSixSigmaProjects.com >>>

Cause and Effect Prioritization Matrix - Project hopper tool to prioritize projects based on customized criteria and ranking scores, to help determine the best Green and Black Belt projects to work on.

If you are interested in the new tools, sign up for our mailing list to get notified when they are released. If you have other resources you need to make your job easier or more effective, post your ideas below in the comments.

15 last minute tips before taking an ASQ Green or Black Belt exam

You've been studying for the ASQ Green or Black Belt exam. You think you're ready, but you're nervous that you overlooked something, or will make a mistake that prevents you from getting certified. Here are some last minute tips to consider, to put your mind at ease. Many of these tips can be used for any exam, but we're targeting those taking an ASQ exam.

If the exam date is months away, or you're just considering the exam, we have provided some tips and reference material for those taking the Green Belt exam on our website at: http://biz-pi.com/certification.asp

If you've decided to take the exam, check out our newly launched "ASQ Six Sigma Exam Reminder System," which provides you with timely updates in your inbox leading up to the exam date. Learn more at: http://biz-pi.com/exam_reminders.asp

The exam is coming up soon. Am I overlooking or forgetting something?

Here are the last minute tips I tell people a couple days before the test.

1) Know your reference material
Don't forget your reference materials and books. You can bring as many items as you want, but if you bring more than 3 things, you have too many. Definitely bring your Primer booklet, however any sample questions and answers from the practice exam must be removed. For reference books (see list of recommended Green and Black Belt books), you should have post-it notes or colored flags to mark and label important sections (see image at left), so you don't waste time searching for the answers.

2) Bring the correct supplies
Bring at least two pencils with good erasers and plenty of lead, and a calculator you are familiar with that has newer batteries. You will be provided with scratch paper that you will need to turn in when you're done, so you don't need to bring paper.

3) Pace yourself

Bring a watch or cell phone, so that you can properly pace yourself, so you don't lose track of time. Here is the takt time for both tests, which is how much time you have to complete each test. You should check after every 30-60 minutes where you are at to make sure you are ahead of schedule.

Green Belt: 144 seconds per question (2:20)

• 100-question, 4-hours
• 240 minutes / 100 questions
• 2.4 minutes per question, or 2:20 or 144 seconds

Black Belt: 96 seconds per question (1:36)

• 150-question, 4-hours
• 240 minutes / 150 questions
• 1.6 minutes per question, or 1:36, or 96 seconds

So you need to be quicker than you were with the Green Belt exam, in addition to the tougher questions. If you don't know what takt time is, review the section on Lean. 

4) Stay positive

If you think you are going to pass, you will be more relaxed and more likely to succeed. Maintain a positive attitude even when you're struggling, and try to stay relaxed. If you start to feel nervous take a few deep breaths to relax, or stretch for a few seconds.

5) Start with the easy questions

Don't stay on a problem that you are stuck on, especially when time is a factor. Since it is multiple choice, if you run low on time, you can always guess at the hard ones. All questions are equally weighted, so the easy questions are worth the same as the hard ones. If you skip a question, put a star or mark it so you can quickly find it (both on the question booklet and the answer sheet).

6) Take your time 

Pace yourself, don't rush. Read the entire question and pay attention to exactly what they are asking for, which might not be what you read the first time. The exam will have questions that seem tricky or worded in a way that may be confusing. Don't skim it or make assumptions about what the question might be asking.

7) Focus on you

Don't worry if others finish before you. Focus on the test in front of you, and how you are doing. Use the full time allotted if possible, to increase your chance of getting the best score possible, as exams are ranked based on complexity/difficulty. Learn more at: http://asq.org/cert/faq/exam-grading-process-detailed

8) Inspect your work

If you have time left when you are finished, look over your test answers. Make sure that you have answered all the questions, since there is no penalty for guessing. Watch out for careless mistakes (misaligned answers with the question number, especially if you skip questions). Ensure that you fully fill in the ovals so you get proper credit, and fully erase answers you decide to change.

9) Eliminate poor answers

Since the exam is multiple-choice questions, the process of elimination can help you choose the correct answer. Start by crossing off the answers that couldn't be right. Then spend your time focusing on the possible correct choices before selecting your answer. I prefer to cross out the ones I eliminate, so it's more visual.

10) Breaks may be worth the time

Take a break during the test if you need it. A five minute break may seem costly, but it can refresh your mind, and help you break from a stressful situation. Even standing up and doing a quick stretch can be enough to get your mind back on track.

11) Get to bed early

This seems obvious, but many people try to get as much studying in the night before, and it can do more harm than good. Your brain and body need sleep to function well, so don't stay up late!  In fact, go to bed earlier than you normally do, as you may be nervous or have trouble falling asleep, so the extra time might come in handy. Cramming is not helpful for these exams, since memorization is not important.

12) Know your exam location

Do you know where the exam is taking place? If you have never been there before, go visit the location so you know how long it takes to get there. This includes finding the actual exam room, not just the building. The exam date is not the time to get lost or take the wrong road.

13) Eat a good breakfast

Don't skip breakfast the morning of the test. Hunger can cause distractions, and drain your energy. Consider bringing something to eat like power bars, candy, snacks and/or something to drink.

14) Arrive early

Get there early to allow for unforeseen problems (accidents, construction, car issues, etc) that can stress you out or make you late. This will also give you time to review your notes right before the test, so your brain is ready to go.

15) Set multiple alarms

The last thing you want is to oversleep and stress out getting there, or worse, arrive late and not have time to finish. Set multiple alarms, and have someone else make sure you are up by a certain time. This is a significant and important test, so take every precaution you can.

 Hope these tips are helpful to you. Did we forget some tips that you feel are important? If so, leave a comment below. Good luck!!