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SOX Compliance with Consensus Strategy’s Six Sigma Team Helps Houston Businesses Save Money  In a recent interview, Consensus Strategy’s CEO Mona Draper discussed how utilizing Six Sigma and Lean Tools to become Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) compliant can help companies use a third to less than a half of the resources normally used. Preparing for SOX compliance using Consensus experts can save companies money in three ways.
First, using these techniques to map SOX relevant processes can uncover many quick-hit process improvements which can be quickly, easily, and inexpensively implemented in cut process costs. A second way these techniques save money comes from integrating forward controls into the SOX processes designed to prevent errors and reduce future reporting requirements. The third way companies can achieve savings is to identify process improvement opportunities that are beyond the scope of the quick-hit. These opportunities could be subjected to cost/benefit analysis, prioritized, then set aside for future implementation.
 Ms. Draper also discussed Six Sigma’s growing positive press which leads to the impression that success with Six Sigma is universal and easy.
Of course, Six Sigma implementation can have problems or fail to produce the desired results, particularly, if the company commits one of the Six Sigma “sins.” Two of these “sins” are briefly explained below:
Failure to treat Six Sigma as an organizational change effort. Employees resist changes in their work processes when processes are improved, so to have a successful Six Sigma implementation the change process must be well managed. Consensus Strategy helps companies identify barriers to change and create action plans for overcoming them, making change management a major thrust of the implementation. Selecting initial projects that are too complex and difficult.  Some companies want to run before they can walk when implementing Six Sigma by taking on the most difficult and complex projects first. When selecting an initial project, it is essential to consider the probability of success based on the Six Sigma experience of employees as well as the financial payoff.
The other Six Sigma “sins” are 1) inappropriately scoped projects, 2) teams composed solely of managers and executives, 3) too many tools too early, 4) inadequate infrastructure, and 5) a lack of top management leadership. Mona Draper is the only GE certified Six Sigma trainer in the Houston area and holds an MS in statistics. She has published papers in regression analysis, forecasting, facilitation, and Six Sigma-based process improvement. For comprehensive information on Six Sigma, go to the Consensus Strategy website at www.consensusstrategies.com . On the about us page are a number of Ms. Draper’s published papers. |
