Black Belt Project Storyboard Template

Can be used in combination with

Black Belt Storyboard Submission Guide

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 Storyboard: The 5 Tenets
1. Tell Your Story Succinctly
Use a maximum of 15 Slides (plus as title page) to describe your project
Make sure the flow is logical
Let visuals (graphs, charts, maps, pictures etc.) do most of the work
Add a Key Take Away to each slide to make it clear to the reader what you learned at each step
2. Use the Tools Wisely
Show that you understand the DMAIC method by selecting the right tools for the right reasons
during each Phase.
3. Label Your Graphs Clearly
List the metric name, the time frame and the axes names/units for each chart (along with the Key
Take Away)
4. Show the Improvement in Full
Make accomplishments clear list each measureable waste reduction, savings, margin increase,
cycle time reduction, increase in customer satisfaction, etc.
5. Use the Appendix for Overflow
Include up to 10 slides for visuals that may help readers who would like more background on your
project
Include a Key Take Away for every slide in the Appendix
 Executive Summary
Questions & Activities
to Address:

Use the Executive Summary template to

create a one-page summary of the project
that includes
Business Case: Explain the reason the
project matters to the organization
Root Cause Analysis: Describe project
discoveries
Solutions Implemented: List the
countermeasures used for root causes
Project Results: List the project savings,
gains, cost avoidance, cycle time reduction,
customer satisfaction, etc.
Graphical Display of Improvement:
Provide a visual that proves you made a
positive difference in the process
 Key Words
(Specific To Your Industry)

List all words and acronyms

that are specific to your industry
and key to understanding your
project
Provide a brief description or
definition of each term
List in alphabetical order
Keep in mind that this
document will be viewed by
those who are not in your
industry or familiar with your
process or industry
 Define Phase
Questions & Activities to Address:

How and why the project was selected?

Who was the customer and what did they require?
Was the process data or process driven?
What kind of map did you use (Swimlane, Value Stream, etc.)
Did you complete an 8 Wastes assessment of the process?
Did you complete a 5S Assessment (or in the Improve Phase)?
 Potential Define Visuals*
Project Charter or A3
SIPOC
Swimlane Process Map, Value Stream Map, other
VOC Translation Matrix
Primary Metric Chart (Baseline data if available)
8 Wastes Checksheet
5S Transactional Assessment
5S Manufacturing Assessment

*Final Storyboard will include a restricted selection of templates/visuals

Define Phase - Bahama Bistro
 Define Phase Tollgate
Verify the project has a Champion/Sponsor and leadership backing
Get approval from a finance partner for the potential savings or
projected revenue
Complete the elements of the Project Charter
Collect the Voice of the Customer and uncover any unknown
requirements
Make customer requirements measurable
Create a high-level map of the process
Facilitate a team a Process Walk
Develop and verify a detailed map of the process
Conduct Stakeholder Analysis and develop an influence and
communication plan
 Measure Phase
Questions & Activities to Address:

What was the approach to Data Collection? (Who measured, when,

for how long?)
What was the approach taken to validate that data collection method
produces accurate results? (Measurement Systems Analysis?)
What is the understanding of the process baseline(s) measures and
what is the gap between the baseline and the goal?
What were the results of the Process Walk?
What is the understanding of the potential issues?
 Potential Measure Visuals*
Data Collection Plan
Operational Definitions
Efficiency and Effectiveness Matrix
Sample Data Collection Sheet Checksheet used
Results of Measurement Systems Analysis
(MSA, Gage R&R)
Graphic Display of Baseline Data - Time Series Plots, Control Charts,
Box Plots, Histograms, etc.
Before Work Area Layouts
Photos, diagrams, Spaghetti Maps
Include distance travelled and time involved
Cost Of Poor Quality (COPQ) Calculations
Threats & Opportunities Matrix
*Final Storyboard will include a restricted selection of templates/visuals
Measure Phase - Bahama Bistro
 Measure Phase Tollgate
Select Baseline Measurements
Develop a Data Collection Plan with Operational Definitions,
stratification factors and checksheets if needed
Develop a Sampling Plan and calculate data needs
Conduct Measurement Systems Analysis
Collect Baseline Data
Determine Process Capability
Update Project Charter and inform Stakeholders
 Analyze
Questions & Activities to Address:

What was the approach to process and data analysis along with key
insights?
Provide the list of prioritized root causes (critical Xs and their impact
on Y or primary metric)
What are the Hypothesis Statements Null and Alternative?
What were the results of Hypothesis Testing?
Were there any Quick Wins and if so what were the results?
 Potential Analyze Visuals*
Fishbone Diagram
Value and Cycle Time Analysis wait time vs. work time
Value Stream Map
Hypothesis Testing Plan
Root Cause Hypothesis Worksheet
Hypothesis Test Results
Graphs that show relationships or findings (e.g. Box Plots, Pareto
Charts, Histograms, Time Series Plots, Control Charts, etc.)

*Final Storyboard will include a restricted selection of templates/visuals

Analyze Phase - Bahama Bistro
 Analyze Tollgate Checklist
Conduct Value and Cycle Time Analysis of the process to identify
opportunities to reduce waste
Identify root causes using data analysis, process maps, Five Whys
and Fishbone Diagrams
Develop a Root Cause Hypothesis and formal hypothesis
statements
Collect data to run statistical tests and prove or disprove Root
Cause Hypotheses
Check if the team has enough confidence in the analysis to move to
the Improve Phase
Update the Project Charter and inform Stakeholders
 Improve
Questions & Activities to Address:

Provide a list of improvements made and to-be made

Describe the approach to prioritizing and selecting solutions that
eliminated root causes
Barriers and efforts to overcome them
Mistake-proofing and other risk management methods employed
Pilot results and changes made to solutions
Describe the Implementation Plan and results
 Potential Improve Visuals*
5S Transactional Assessment
5S Manufacturing Assessment
Impact Effort Matrix
Weighted Criteria Matrix
Final Workplace Layout (updated Spaghetti Map)
Cross Training Matrix
Training Plan
Pilot Checklist
FMEA
Implementation Plan
Graphic display of change to Primary Metric (before and after)
Future State Map

*Final Storyboard will include a restricted selection of templates/visuals

Improve Phase - Bahama Bistro
 Improve Tollgate Checklist
Use team brainstorming to generate solutions to address the root
cause
Run a pilot of the solutions if needed
Create a Design of Experiments where appropriate
Assess and mitigate risk of process changes
Implement solutions to address root cause
Confirm that implemented solutions sufficiently affect the output Y
Celebrate with the team and recognize them for their efforts
 Control
Questions & Activities to Address:

How the project will be monitored and what are the Response Plans?
Who is doing the monitoring, how often and how
Are the Trigger Measures based on Control Charts?
Will there be ongoing 5S inspections?
Describe the Control Plan that ensures the gains are maintained over the long term
What documentation and standardization has been completed regarding the improved
process?
What visual management techniques will ensure adoption of process changes? (include
pictures where appropriate)
How will you demonstrate improved process performance over baseline?
Control Charts, other
How has the Process Owner been prepared for hand-off and what is the Communication
Plan?
What were the lessons learned?
Control - Bahama Bistro
 Potential Control Visuals*
Monitoring Plan
Response Plan
Control Plan
Control Chart and/or other graphical tacking methods
New Procedure Audit
Communication Plan
Innovation Transfer Opportunities

*Final Storyboard will include a restricted selection of templates/visuals

 Control Tollgate Checklist
Create a system and/or process to monitor results
Utilize Control Charts for ongoing monitoring of the output and key
leading indicators
Finalize visual management of the process
Create Response Plans in case there is a drop in performance
Complete the Storyboard of the project
Assess innovation transfer opportunities
Hand over formal ownership to the process owner
 Appendix
Include supporting documentation, process maps and data charts
provide evidence of tool applications or helpful project background
Keep to 10 Slides maximum
Add the Key Take Away for each slide

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Appendix Bahama Bistro
Appendix Bahama Bistro