What Makes a Great Six Sigma Project Sponsor?

A Six Sigma project sponsor is more than just a name on a project charter—they are the driving force behind the success of the initiative. The best sponsors combine strategic oversight with practical involvement, ensuring the team has the support, clarity, and resources needed to deliver results.

Let’s explore the key traits of an outstanding sponsor—with a real-world-style example from a manufacturing setting.

1. Strategic Alignment and Vision

What it Means: The sponsor links the project to organizational goals, ensuring the work being done contributes to business strategy—whether that’s increasing customer satisfaction, reducing cost, or improving compliance.

Example: In a manufacturing company, the sponsor (VP of Operations) supports a Six Sigma project aimed at reducing machine downtime. They clarify that this project directly supports the company’s annual goal to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by 15%, emphasizing that reduced downtime leads to increased throughput and revenue.

Impact: This strategic clarity helps the team stay focused and gain buy-in from other departments.

2. Active and Consistent Engagement

What it Means: Sponsors don’t disappear after project kickoff. They participate in tollgate reviews, provide feedback, and check in regularly to offer guidance and help remove roadblocks.

Example: The sponsor schedules biweekly 15-minute check-ins with the project team to stay updated. When a team member raises a delay in getting maintenance data, the sponsor immediately connects them with the plant IT head and ensures access within 24 hours.

Impact: The project stays on track, and the team feels supported and empowered.

3. Resource Champion and Barrier Remover

What it Means: A great sponsor ensures the project team has the right people, time, tools, and access to information. They are quick to eliminate bureaucracy or departmental roadblocks.

Example: The team identifies that operators are key to understanding failure patterns, but their schedules are packed. The sponsor works with HR to temporarily adjust shift schedules so operators can participate in process mapping workshops.

Impact: Engaging frontline staff leads to practical insights and increases solution adoption.

4. Timely Decision-Making Authority

What it Means: Sponsors are empowered to make decisions at critical points—like approving root causes, authorizing pilot tests, or funding improvement efforts.

Example: After the Analyze phase, the team recommends testing a new maintenance schedule and installing a low-cost sensor system. The sponsor quickly evaluates the business case and approves a $15,000 budget for a pilot in one production line.

Impact: Timely action avoids delays and builds project momentum.

5. Visible Support and Advocacy

What it Means: A strong sponsor speaks up for the project in meetings, communicates progress to leadership, and promotes the team’s efforts—building credibility and morale.

Example: The sponsor shares early results—a 10% downtime reduction—at the quarterly ops review. They recognize the team publicly and request replication of the pilot in two additional plants.

Impact: The project gains visibility, and other teams get inspired to start their own improvements.

6. Coaching and Accountability

What it Means: Great sponsors strike a balance between guidance and autonomy. They encourage data-driven thinking, challenge assumptions, and hold teams accountable to the Six Sigma methodology.

Example: When the team proposes a solution that addresses a symptom rather than a root cause, the sponsor asks probing questions like, “What does your Pareto chart say?” and “Have we validated the root cause with data?”

Impact: The project maintains analytical rigor and leads to sustainable change.

Summary: A Sponsor’s Role in Project Success

Final Thought

A Six Sigma sponsor is the bridge between strategy and execution. Their support and leadership can turn a good project into a transformational one.