Champion
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A Champion is a senior leader who sponsors Six Sigma projects, removes organizational barriers, and ensures resources and support for project success.
Definition
A Champion is a senior leader who sponsors and supports Six Sigma projects within their area of responsibility. Champions don't execute projects directly but ensure projects have the resources, access, and organizational support needed for success. They select projects aligned with business strategy, assign Black Belts and team members, remove organizational barriers, and hold tollgate reviews to monitor progress. Champions bridge the gap between Six Sigma methodology and business leadership.
Examples
A plant manager serving as Champion for a yield improvement project ensured the Black Belt had access to production data, engineering resources, and operator time for experiments. When a proposed solution required capital investment, the Champion expedited approval and secured funding.
Key Points
- Champions are typically senior leaders (VP level or above)
- Responsibilities: project selection, resource allocation, barrier removal, progress review
- Should understand Six Sigma methodology enough to ask good questions
- Success often depends more on Champion engagement than technical excellence
Common Misconceptions
Champions just approve projects and check in at the end. Effective Champions stay actively engaged throughout projects—attending key meetings, removing barriers in real-time, and visibly supporting the team. Absent Champions correlate strongly with failed projects.
Any senior leader can be a Champion. Effective Champions need basic Six Sigma understanding, willingness to engage with data, and commitment to follow methodology even when shortcuts tempt. Champions who don't value data-driven decisions undermine projects.