How to Avoid Six Sigma Gantt Chart Problems

A Gantt chart helps a Six Sigma project manager schedule and track a project from beginning to end. It shows visual representations of time frames for individual tasks on a horizontal bar chart. While it can be extremely useful in completing the project, there might be some problems to get over, especially if it's first-time using this beneficial Six Sigma Tool.

Overload

Gantt chart software makes overloaded charts a challenge in some cases, because it is possible to simply input the data for 100 tasks or more into the same chart. This appears like an advantage, and in some cases it's. However, in the event the tasks overlap with time considerably or come in at slightly different times, the chart can be very puzzling rapidly.

If you try to create a very large chart using software which is virtually unreadable, try breaking it into smaller charts of 30 or less tasks. Then, a person can be used on watch over each smaller part. Furthermore, an overview Gantt chart can be created to represent the whole project management timeline, using less detailed tasks. The project manager may want to oversee the master diagram.

Uneven Representation

A Gantt chart simply shows each task by identifier of the task, the time it will require to accomplish it and its particular projected time frame during the overall project. Additionally they show the percentage of work done on the task, or at best this is the assumption. In reality, the work is probably not carried out a level, steady flow, but could be more work-intensive in the beginning or end from the task. This diagram will not account for this.

The primary reason this can be a concern is that, if the project is behind schedule, it will become hard to see which tasks are considered behind and by just how much. The important thing to evaluating this example is to update it - an easy task with software.

Single Focus

The main focus of the Gantt chart is on scheduling. The triple constraints, which can be scope, time, and value, the Gantt only covers time. In this way, it really is lacking being an overall tool for the Six Sigma project. However, other tools enables you to supplement it. The job Breakdown Structure chart (WBS) is generally done ahead of the Gantt chart, cover up the price of individual tasks. A synopsis Gantt can easily accumulate the whole of these costs. It may also help define the scope with the project. This particular tool is very useful, as long as you learn how to overcome its specific limitations.