LSS Coaching is a skill that acts as a virtual Master Black Belt mentor for Lean Six Sigma practitioners. It guides Green Belts, Yellow Belts, and aspiring Black Belts through every phase of the DMAIC roadmap — Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control — using a Socratic coaching method that challenges assumptions rather than simply providing answers.
The skill addresses the most common reasons LSS projects fail: scope creep, skipped measurement system analysis, and premature solution selection before root causes are confirmed. During the Define phase it helps produce documented problem statements and SIPOC structures. In Measure it assists with MSA and Gage R&R planning. Through Analyze it coaches root cause analysis using Fishbone diagrams, 5 Whys, and Pareto analysis. For Improve and Control it supports hypothesis testing selection, process capability (Cpk) interpretation, SPC chart reading, and control plan handoffs.
Tollgate readiness is a specific focus: the skill provides checklists and preparation questions calibrated for reviews with Champions and Master Black Belts. It also flags common “Green Belt traps” such as solution-baked problem statements and missing pilot tests.
Expected outputs include clean problem statements, data collection plans, and actionable next steps structured for executive review. This skill is domain-specific to process improvement methodology and is not a general-purpose data analysis or project management tool.