Six Sigma Project Review (Tollgate, Milestone) Sample Agenda

Timing/Duration
Each project should be reviewed after a single phase has been completed. For the DMAIC Six Sigma improvement process, a review would be established after each of the phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. For the DMADV Six Sigma improvement process, a review would be established after each of the phases: Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify. The duration of such a review can last as little as half an hour or as long as an hour, depending on the level of discussion around tool use, findings, etc.

Project Review Preparation
In preparation for the presentation, the team should perform the following:

Project Review Agenda
1. Introduction by Project Champion or Sponsor
This would allow the Champion to set the stage for the review, as well as highlight the importance of the project.

2. Project Team Presentation
By determining the level of formality prior to the meeting, the team will know if questions will be reserved until the end or if they should prepare to be interrupted. In the presentation, a quick summary of previous reviews should be presented, but the bulk of the time should be spent on the recently completed project phase.

3. Reviewer Comments (if formal presentation, otherwise this is intertwined with #2)
Reviewers should now identify the positive work the team has completed on the current phase, both in their logic and utilization of the tools to achieve the current results. Clarification questions and suggestions for the team to consider should also be presented at this time. If the team did not properly use a tool or did not extract the proper information from a tool, it is appropriate to postpone sign-off of the phase. The sign-off authority may be granted to the Master Black Belt once certain requirements are met.

4. Closing by Project Champion or Sponsor
As with the introduction, the Champion -- who has the most to gain or lose from the project -- will set the stage for the project going forward. Encouragement and support is always a necessary ingredient for success.