Page 161 - The Six Sigma Project Planner

What Will the Future State Be?
The future state is the reality that will be created when the project is successfully
completed. It is a vision of the future. In this new future, progress will have been made.
In this section, the team will define the future state in explicit terms. Doing so will
provide the project team and the sponsor with a common vision of their destination.

What Are the Best Practices in This Area?
Before setting goals for the future state, it is helpful to know what the best-in-class
performance is for similar processes. The study of best-in-class process performance is
known as benchmarking. Benchmarking involves research into the best practices at the
industry, firm, or process level.
Benchmarking goes beyond identifying “industry standards.” A standard isn’t a best
practice; it’s a standard practice. There is no competitive advantage gained from
standard performance. Benchmarking breaks the firm’s activities down to process
operations and looks for the best-in-class for a particular operation. Black Belts should
conduct research as follows: TEAMFLY
Worksheet 57. Benchmarking Step 1: Identify What Is to Be Benchmarked

Express the activity in generic terms—e.g., delivering packages, handling highly erratic workloads,
storing dangerous materials, moving delicate equipment, order fulfillment.

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