What are some of the best practices for visualizing and communicating Lean Six Sigma metrics?

This article is plain stupid. There is no such thing as Lean Six Sigma metrics. There are business metrics which LSS tools help improve.

The metrics that work best for you will evolve as your maturity, etc. evolves. Starting with standard metrics is a good idea - they are standard for a reason, and are more easily understood outside of your org. As you review your metrics, you will learn what is working for you and what is not. Do not be afraid to change them. Review the metrics that you use at least annually. Automate what you can. If you are not looking at a specific metric regularly and it takes a lot of effort to generate it, consider whether the cadence should be changed, it should be omitted, etc.

Most of the time the metrics are already there in conventional practice, it is a difficult task to change the metric if requied. Because, the conventional metrics are already in the blood and musscle of the team.

This and the prior section of the article can be a bit confusing as the other critical element is really pinning down the "right" metrics to highlight, and that's where the true power of the tools come to play. To detail that a bit, process metrics, are many...but the critical ones are the ones that should be readily available and visible to leaders. And depending on "impacts" of that metric, other supporting tools can then be added into the visual to tell the story of what's going on in the process. Just throwing a bunch of process metrics into a dashboard is not the way.

Be sure to consider accessibility! Many colours that look good together blend together for colour-blind people. Also consider font size and alternate text. Above all, make the metrics easily accessible and visible to the intended audience and their stakeholders (if appropriate). Do not make people go looking for them!

By adhering to these design principles, you can create visuals that are both stunning and informative. This can help you communicate your metrics more effectively to your audience, whether it is senior management or your team members. Ensuring the accuracy, validity, and reliability of the data is of utmost importance. Thoroughly checking these factors helps maintain the integrity of the visuals and instills confidence in the audience.

In review meetings, it is crucial to address the metrics and any significant changes observed. If there are notable improvements, it is important to discuss the underlying causes and how they were accomplished.

In review meetings, it is crucial to address the metrics and any significant changes observed. If there are notable improvements, it is important to discuss the underlying causes and how they were accomplished.

This is most important factor in my opinion. If you can’t get honest buy in from those involved, the effort is likely to not completely succeed.

Define why your audience needs to know the information you are presenting. Is it to make strategic decisions, identify improvement opportunities, or track progress towards goals? Understanding the purpose will help you frame your communication in a way that aligns with their objectives. Customizing your communication approach, you can effectively visualize and present metrics in a way that resonates with your audience, promotes understanding, and drives the desired outcomes.

Absolutely, it's vital to focus on this aspect. When presenting to top management or stakeholders, sharing a real-life story alongside the data can have a powerful impact. This approach makes communication easier and more persuasive, helping to drive the point across effectively.

Ask for input not only on what the data is telling you, but on the metrics themselves. Make sure that your stakeholders understand what the metrics mean and that they agree with the calculations and data source. When your stakeholders buy into the metrics they are more likely to be engaged and active in discussions and actions.

We can create a dedicated section in our regular journals to publish articles about the project and its improvements. This way, we can effectively communicate the results to stakeholders and also inspire others to take on similar projects. It provides a platform to share our successes and spread the knowledge gained from the project to a wider audience.