Category: Certification & Training

What is a Black Belt (BB)? A Six Sigma Black Belt (BB) is a trained and certified professional who has achieved a high level of expertise and experience in the Six Sigma methodology. Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology and management philosophy that aims to improve the quality of processes, reduce defects, and minimize variability […]

What is a Black Belt (BB)? A Six Sigma Black Belt (BB) is a professional who has achieved a high level of expertise in the Six Sigma methodology. Six Sigma is a disciplined, data-driven approach to process improvement that aims to eliminate defects and improve the quality and efficiency of business processes.  The Benefits of […]

In business, when times get tough, the knee-jerk reaction is to have layoffs. What follows is a remarkable example of one company that decided to make a further investment in its people by getting them trained toward Six Sigma Green Belt certification and having them put their focus on saving money for the organization. Even […]

Widely recognized as one of the most prestigious certifications in the industry, PMP validates your knowledge and experience in project management, opening up new opportunities for career advancement and higher salaries. Overview: What is Project Management Professional (PMP) Project Management Professional (PMP) is a globally recognized professional certification that is granted by the Project Management […]

Will having a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt help you break boards? No. But a trained and experienced Green Belt will help improve what your organization does so you can defeat waste, process defects, and much more. Let’s see how.

The first Black Belt project is just that – a training project.  It is not a platform from which to attempt solving world hunger, or the like.  The purpose of a training project is two fold.  The first purpose is related to the reinforcement of learning.  The second purpose is to realize an operational objective […]

I do not believe that any of the Six Sigma roles should constitute a career, as they are temporary job assignments.

The following references will provide a very nice overview of the field – from general theory to in-depth case studies: 1) Six Sigma: The Breakthrough Management Strategy Revolutionizing the World’s Top Corporations by Mikel J. Harry, Ph.D. and Richard Schroeder, Doubleday 2000. 2) Six Sigma Leadership Handbook by Rath and Strong Staff, John Wiley & […]

By the nature of your question, I would assume you are a quality professional of some type or form – especially now that you provide consulting services within this arena.  I find it most interesting that you have only three years experience as a quality practitioner, but now serve as a quality consultant.  Given such […]

Having originated the term “Black Belt” at Unisys Corporation in 1986, pioneered its development at Motorola’s Six Sigma Research Institute in 1990, focused its purpose at Asea Brown Boveri in 1993, delivered its promise at Allied Signal in 1994, and set its destiny at General Electric in 1995, it should stand without saying that this […]

No, this is not a challenge; it’s called “dreaming.”  You have to be joking – a six sigma project (over the phone) with little management support – and you are asking me if it will be successful?  My best advice is for you to; a) approach your management in a courteous way, and then b) […]

The following references will provide a very nice overview of the field – from general theory to in-depth case studies: 1) “Six Sigma: The Breakthrough Management Strategy Revolutionizing the World’s Top Corporations” by Mikel J. Harry, Ph.D. and Richard Schroeder, Doubleday 2000. 2) “Jack Welch and the GE Way: Management Insights and Leadership Secrets of […]

Sometime in the not too distant past, I recall that Quality Progress magazine reported on a study that considered annualized Black Belt earnings.  For the exact information on this, you would obviously have to reference the original article.  However, my less-than-perfect memory seems to inform me that a Black Belt earns about $9K(US) to $10K(US) […]

Personally speaking, I agree with all your points – and many others that are not specifically called out.  For example, it is my humble opinion that the recent trend of certifying Black Belts (not excluding Green Belts) has the potential to alienate the various roles of Six Sigma from the pressing needs of a corporation. […]

Please reference this previous question.  This question and answer examines how to select a “good” Six Sigma consultant.  In summary, you must consider the consultant’s credentials.  In the consulting business, credentials are everything – plain and simple.  If a consultant does not have the necessary credentials, they should not be considered (for anything).  Following is […]

A Black Belt curriculum cannot, by any stretch, be considered to possess the same level of tool mastery as, say, statisticians or quality engineers (CQE).  In true self-fulfilling manner, the more certain professionals try to circumscribe the Black Belt role with the notion of tool mastery, the more they form the notion that Black Belts […]

Personally, I believe you should consider a “train-the-trainer” program – especially if you have no prior teaching experience.  Its one thing to know the material, its quite another to teach it.  Believe me, you quickly discover how much you don’t know about a subject when you first start teaching.  You will simply be amazed at […]

I would strongly recommend that you do some “personal due diligence” on the Internet.  Reference such words as “Six Sigma Training.”  Many articles have been written on the support roles of Six Sigma.  Past issues of such magazines as “Quality Progress” will have information on the subject.  Pick up the phone and call a Six […]

In principle, I am rationally opposed to Black Belt certifications, as are many other business executives.  However, I do believe that it is important to document the scope and depth of one’s knowledge in a given field of study.  But to the counter of this, we must concede that the position of a Black Belt […]

Plain and simple, the illusive key to the realization of six sigma is knowledge. In today’s economy, the capability to harness and deploy knowledge constitutes an essential form of power. It is a form of power than can develop the momentum for and delivery of quantum change. Knowledge represents a corporation’s greatest source of leverage, […]

Please bear in mind that Six Sigma (per se) is not a career.  Although certain roles have been well defined (such as Black Belt, Green Belt, Champion, and so on), these positions are not permanent jobs or career positions.  They are temporary assignments for those classified as being “high potential.”  Having a degree in business […]