| Six Sigma Black Belt certification is the gold standard | | | | focuses on designing sustainable solutions. In the spirit |
| qualification for practitioners of this leading process | | | | of Occam's Razor, the simplest and most elegant |
| improvement methodology. It consists of progressive | | | | solution is typically preferred. Finally, Control training will |
| and rigorous training in the DMAIC (Define, Measure, | | | | stress the importance of project handover to |
| Analyse, Improve, Control) methodology. | | | | operational management and ensuring ongoing |
| A Six Sigma Black Belt acts as a lead change agent | | | | process performance. |
| and expert in a quality focused organisation. He or she | | | | All the technical knowledge in the world will however |
| is personally charged with scoping, planning and | | | | be of limited use if the Black Belt cannot influence, |
| executing projects to reduce process variation and | | | | persuade and motivate line managers and process |
| enhance quality in core business processes. A Black | | | | owners to change the way they operate their |
| Belt is dedicated entirely to project execution and is | | | | business. Consequently, the Six Sigma certification |
| typically discharged from ongoing operational | | | | process typically involves "soft" skills training and |
| responsibilities in the business. He or she has to be a | | | | general instruction in change management. Proficiency |
| resilient and technically proficient communicator and | | | | in project management software and statistical |
| project manager. The Six Sigma certification program | | | | analysis packages is typically imparted by |
| is designed to impart both the "hard" and "soft" skills | | | | supplemental training. Another pivotal element in the |
| necessary to meet this objective. | | | | course is instruction in training Green Belts. These are |
| The highest quality in-house corporate Black Belt | | | | often line managers who can assist Black Belts on |
| training is often delivered in four weekly blocks, running | | | | projects and can also complete smaller initiatives within |
| in four consecutive months. This avoids the risk of | | | | their own business areas. Green Belts require a basic |
| information overload and allows the Black Belt to | | | | but effective working knowledge of core Six Sigma |
| reflect on and absorb the technical detail. Each week | | | | concepts and tools to apply them quickly and simply |
| typically correlates to one stage of the Six Sigma | | | | within their functional role. |
| DMAIC process. | | | | At its heart Six Sigma is not a theoretical philosophy, |
| The Define phase tuition covers the core concepts of | | | | but a call to consistent and intelligent action. It is |
| Six Sigma. The aim is to explain critical ideas such as | | | | therefore no surprise that the final phase of Six Sigma |
| the bell curve, defect definition and the methodology of | | | | Black Belt certification is project delivery. Typically a |
| drilling down to root causes. In the Measure phase, the | | | | candidate will have to complete between two and four |
| focus is on developing a robust and effective | | | | DMAIC projects in order to attain certification. There is |
| measurement system, without which a project cannot | | | | no room for spin or evasion; each project must deliver |
| succeed. The Analyse week forms the crucible of | | | | a quantified and measurable result as indicated by the |
| Black Belt certification training. The content will vary | | | | sigma score and Defects Per Million Opportunities |
| depending on the company and provider. In an | | | | ranking. The Master Black Belt, who is the lead Six |
| engineering or industrial context, there will be intensive | | | | Sigma authority and champion in the organisation, will |
| instruction in inferential statistics, analysis of variance | | | | review the evidence and reach a decision. The |
| and other quantitative methods. In a service orientated | | | | journey to Six Sigma Black Belt certification is then |
| environment, simpler and powerful techniques such as | | | | finally complete. |
| Pareto analysis will be prioritised. The Improve phase | | | | |