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Top 10 Six Sigma Tools

Six Sigma is a fact-based, data driven philosophy of quality improvement used to drive business process improvement, customer satisfaction and bottom-line results. The Six Sigma expert uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to drive process improvement. With the right tools, not only will there be an elimination of waste, but also an increase in profits and productivity of employees. Although the tools themselves are not unique, the way they are applied and integrated as part of a system is.  In this article, we present the top ten statistical and graphical tools commonly used in improvement projects. Value-Stream MappingValue stream mappingThis tool, part of the lean six sigma methodology performs outlining of the materials and information neededto take the product to market, all the way to the customer. It is useful to streamline the process of production. While lean manufacturing is the predominant industry where value-stream mapping is used, it finds application across other several other industries as well. The primary focus of this tool is to visualize the information as error rate, time period, and unnecessary delays that occur within the process. The value-stream map has three parts: Process Map: This contains all the steps included in the business process. Timeline: It comes from the process map for summarizing all the data that was used during the process. Information Flow: It explains the interaction that every step has with one another. Cause-and-effect Analysis  One of the most common six sigma tools, cause and effect analysis allows for brainstorming the different causes of a problem. The cause-and-effect analysis diagram is also referred to as the fishbone diagram due to its resemblance to the fish’s skeleton.  Fishbone diagram aka Cause-and-effect diagramThe first step in this is to analyze and identify the problem for which the solution is being sought. Make sure that you note down where and when a process is occurring and who is working on it. In the next step, write down the issue on the left side in a box. Now, make a horizontal line that extends to the other side. From there, you will be making vertical lines that will be extending off giving a view like a spine. On each of these lines, you will be writing the major cause that can be behind this problem and the reason behind that cause. Next, you will be breaking down these causes into sub-causes. Once you are done with the diagram, you will have all the possible causes of your issue. You need to test and analyze this result. The Five Whys  Sometimes, organizations mayfind an issue occurring repeatedly and no matter how many times it is fixed, it bounces back after some time. These problems are the result of a deeper underlying issue at the core. This is where a tool such as the Five Whys is useful. The Five Whys method Created in the 1930s during the Japanese Industrial Revolution, this method involves asking the question ‘why’ five times. It is best suited in dealing with moderately difficult issues. Although it sounds like an unsophisticated method, when used in conjunction with other six sigma tools, the method yields impressive results.  Onedoes not necessarily need to ask ‘Why’ five times and may reach the root cause sometimes in one or two Whys itself. However, one may also end up going up to seven to eight Whys. In general, however, five Whys are observed. As a caveat, you are not to proceed further if you find the root cause going beyond your control. In these cases, you must take a step back and work on the root cause. Kanban System  This is a supply chain control system focusing on cost reduction. This is done through the implementation of the inventory control system. Because of its potential benefits and ease of use, Kanban is one of the most famous six sigma tools.   Kanban methodLet us take the example of a supermarket. When the refrigerator at the supermarket is stocked, the store does not stock it up for months or years.Neither does the store keep products that it doesnot expect to sell right away. Similarly, in Kanban, you create a shopping list of products that you need, based on the customer's demand. Kanban uses this arrangement and makes the firm’s output controlled by its inventory supply.  The Kanban system is known for limiting the inventory-holding for all the business processes. This frees up additional resources which can be used better. There is a simple idea behind the Kanban system: activate the supply chain only when there is a demand for it. This brings focus to the business process and improves its efficiency.  Pareto Chart  This is a graphical representation of the Pareto Principle. It states that in any given situation, 20 percent of input will produce 80 percent of output. There are a line graph and a bar graph on the chart. The bar graph is representing the different metrics of the different components of the business processes. The line graph is representing the cumulative total of the metrics. Example of a Pareto chartWith this tool, you will be able to visualize which part of the process will be influencing the output most. For creating such charts, the first step is figuring out all the processes’ components and measuring them. After you have completed this, you put the data into the Pareto chart. Every component has a big influence on the outcome. You will also be able to get an idea of what requires immediate attention. Process Mapping  This is a method of visualizing the business process and having a better understanding of how it works. A map will be outlining the standard, roles, and responsibilities that are involved in the process. All the data is presented in a structured way displaying the steps of the process. This also includes what the inputs/outputs are, who is responsible for what, and what is the relevant information for the processes.  When it comes to process solving, business process mapping helps a lot. With this, you visualize the complete process which makes it easy to identify the issue, thus allowing you to get directly to the cause. Also, you will be visualizing the roles of the people that are involved in the process. With business process mapping, you will be able to find the potential risks created by the processes. While creating the map, you will have to rethink every step and look for any hidden liabilities. Example of a high-level Process mapThere are several maps from which the most appropriate one can be chosen for your business processes:  A flowchart is a less flexible process map. You can either draw it by your hand or use a software like MS Office. It is used for creating workflow diagrams. Swimlane diagram is just like generic flowcharts, only it has a better structure. The value stream map provides an in-depth option. It is hard to analyze it at first glance. Supplier Inputs Processes Outputs Customer (SIPOC) diagram is a simplified map focusing on the important aspects of the people and the process involved. It strips the extra information.  Project Charter  This is a document defining the scope and purpose of the project. You can use this as a blueprint of the business process and the project’s legal authorization. It contains the project’s scope and overview, details of the resources and the team, and its timeline. With this, you will have all the basic information regarding the project.  Project charterThe best thing about the project charter is that it keeps everything less chaotic. Once the team starts working on the project, it is easy to forget who is responsible for what, what deadlines need to be met first, etc. Things will get messier if the company doesn’t have a better managerial hierarchy.  With the project charter, you will be able to focus on what the project is all about. You will get a clear understanding of the structure of the project and what is the relationship among the people involved in it. It will help you bring order to your project and firm. This document is dynamic and undergoes evolution as and when project progresses. RACI Matrix RACI Matrix or Responsibility Assignment Matrix is a table describing the responsibilities of every member of the team regarding all the tasks involved in the business process. The full form of RACI is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.  Responsible is referring to who is going to achieve a specific task. Accountable is the one who assigns the tasks to everyone and monitors their progress. There is one accountable for every task. Consulted are a group of experts who will be providing their opinion to those who are working on the task. Informed are the people the team will be notified to after completing the task. Example of a RACI matrixThe RACI matrix contains tasks and team members on the left side and the top row of the table respectively. The intersecting cells will contain a letter about what a person is handling in the task. This matrix helps all the team members to understand their role in the process. Also, it makes seeing the gaps in the structure of the team easy and what roles must be filled. Regression Analysis This is a statistical process used to eliminate and understand the relationship between the different variables. You can use it for defining the relationship between the input and the output variable. With this tool, one can visualize patterns or deviation from the patterns in the workflow. Example of regression analysisRegression analysis is a reliable method of identifying which variables have impact on a topic of interest. The process of performing a regression allows you to confidently determine which factors matter most, which factors can be ignored, and how these factors influence each other. While working on regression analysis, one needs to be cautious in avoiding statistical illusions. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a structured approach to discovering potential failures that may exist within the design of a product or process.Failure modes are the ways in which a process can fail. The Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) approachEffects are the ways that failures can lead to waste, defects, or harmful outcomes for the customer. The Failure mode and effects analysis is designed to identify, prioritize, and limit these failure modes. Lean Six Sigma practitioners often use this method to improve the quality of their services, processes, and products to detect and fix their problems even before they have occurred. In conclusion, of the many tools available to green belts, black belts, and master black belts, these ten tools are the most common. While every project is different and may require a unique application for its own purposes, you will be hard pressed to find a project managed by a six sigma professional that does not use at least four of these ten effective six sigma tools. 
Top 10 Six Sigma Tools
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Top 10 Six Sigma Tools

Six Sigma is a fact-based, data driven philosophy of quality improvement used to drive business process improvement, customer satisfaction and bottom-line results. The Six Sigma expert uses qualitative and quantitative techniques to drive process improvement. With the right tools, not only will there be an elimination of waste, but also an increase in profits and productivity of employees. Although the tools themselves are not unique, the way they are applied and integrated as part of a system is.  In this article, we present the top ten statistical and graphical tools commonly used in improvement projects. Value-Stream MappingValue stream mappingThis tool, part of the lean six sigma methodology performs outlining of the materials and information neededto take the product to market, all the way to the customer. It is useful to streamline the process of production. While lean manufacturing is the predominant industry where value-stream mapping is used, it finds application across other several other industries as well. The primary focus of this tool is to visualize the information as error rate, time period, and unnecessary delays that occur within the process. The value-stream map has three parts: Process Map: This contains all the steps included in the business process. Timeline: It comes from the process map for summarizing all the data that was used during the process. Information Flow: It explains the interaction that every step has with one another. Cause-and-effect Analysis  One of the most common six sigma tools, cause and effect analysis allows for brainstorming the different causes of a problem. The cause-and-effect analysis diagram is also referred to as the fishbone diagram due to its resemblance to the fish’s skeleton.  Fishbone diagram aka Cause-and-effect diagramThe first step in this is to analyze and identify the problem for which the solution is being sought. Make sure that you note down where and when a process is occurring and who is working on it. In the next step, write down the issue on the left side in a box. Now, make a horizontal line that extends to the other side. From there, you will be making vertical lines that will be extending off giving a view like a spine. On each of these lines, you will be writing the major cause that can be behind this problem and the reason behind that cause. Next, you will be breaking down these causes into sub-causes. Once you are done with the diagram, you will have all the possible causes of your issue. You need to test and analyze this result. The Five Whys  Sometimes, organizations mayfind an issue occurring repeatedly and no matter how many times it is fixed, it bounces back after some time. These problems are the result of a deeper underlying issue at the core. This is where a tool such as the Five Whys is useful. The Five Whys method Created in the 1930s during the Japanese Industrial Revolution, this method involves asking the question ‘why’ five times. It is best suited in dealing with moderately difficult issues. Although it sounds like an unsophisticated method, when used in conjunction with other six sigma tools, the method yields impressive results.  Onedoes not necessarily need to ask ‘Why’ five times and may reach the root cause sometimes in one or two Whys itself. However, one may also end up going up to seven to eight Whys. In general, however, five Whys are observed. As a caveat, you are not to proceed further if you find the root cause going beyond your control. In these cases, you must take a step back and work on the root cause. Kanban System  This is a supply chain control system focusing on cost reduction. This is done through the implementation of the inventory control system. Because of its potential benefits and ease of use, Kanban is one of the most famous six sigma tools.   Kanban methodLet us take the example of a supermarket. When the refrigerator at the supermarket is stocked, the store does not stock it up for months or years.Neither does the store keep products that it doesnot expect to sell right away. Similarly, in Kanban, you create a shopping list of products that you need, based on the customer's demand. Kanban uses this arrangement and makes the firm’s output controlled by its inventory supply.  The Kanban system is known for limiting the inventory-holding for all the business processes. This frees up additional resources which can be used better. There is a simple idea behind the Kanban system: activate the supply chain only when there is a demand for it. This brings focus to the business process and improves its efficiency.  Pareto Chart  This is a graphical representation of the Pareto Principle. It states that in any given situation, 20 percent of input will produce 80 percent of output. There are a line graph and a bar graph on the chart. The bar graph is representing the different metrics of the different components of the business processes. The line graph is representing the cumulative total of the metrics. Example of a Pareto chartWith this tool, you will be able to visualize which part of the process will be influencing the output most. For creating such charts, the first step is figuring out all the processes’ components and measuring them. After you have completed this, you put the data into the Pareto chart. Every component has a big influence on the outcome. You will also be able to get an idea of what requires immediate attention. Process Mapping  This is a method of visualizing the business process and having a better understanding of how it works. A map will be outlining the standard, roles, and responsibilities that are involved in the process. All the data is presented in a structured way displaying the steps of the process. This also includes what the inputs/outputs are, who is responsible for what, and what is the relevant information for the processes.  When it comes to process solving, business process mapping helps a lot. With this, you visualize the complete process which makes it easy to identify the issue, thus allowing you to get directly to the cause. Also, you will be visualizing the roles of the people that are involved in the process. With business process mapping, you will be able to find the potential risks created by the processes. While creating the map, you will have to rethink every step and look for any hidden liabilities. Example of a high-level Process mapThere are several maps from which the most appropriate one can be chosen for your business processes:  A flowchart is a less flexible process map. You can either draw it by your hand or use a software like MS Office. It is used for creating workflow diagrams. Swimlane diagram is just like generic flowcharts, only it has a better structure. The value stream map provides an in-depth option. It is hard to analyze it at first glance. Supplier Inputs Processes Outputs Customer (SIPOC) diagram is a simplified map focusing on the important aspects of the people and the process involved. It strips the extra information.  Project Charter  This is a document defining the scope and purpose of the project. You can use this as a blueprint of the business process and the project’s legal authorization. It contains the project’s scope and overview, details of the resources and the team, and its timeline. With this, you will have all the basic information regarding the project.  Project charterThe best thing about the project charter is that it keeps everything less chaotic. Once the team starts working on the project, it is easy to forget who is responsible for what, what deadlines need to be met first, etc. Things will get messier if the company doesn’t have a better managerial hierarchy.  With the project charter, you will be able to focus on what the project is all about. You will get a clear understanding of the structure of the project and what is the relationship among the people involved in it. It will help you bring order to your project and firm. This document is dynamic and undergoes evolution as and when project progresses. RACI Matrix RACI Matrix or Responsibility Assignment Matrix is a table describing the responsibilities of every member of the team regarding all the tasks involved in the business process. The full form of RACI is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.  Responsible is referring to who is going to achieve a specific task. Accountable is the one who assigns the tasks to everyone and monitors their progress. There is one accountable for every task. Consulted are a group of experts who will be providing their opinion to those who are working on the task. Informed are the people the team will be notified to after completing the task. Example of a RACI matrixThe RACI matrix contains tasks and team members on the left side and the top row of the table respectively. The intersecting cells will contain a letter about what a person is handling in the task. This matrix helps all the team members to understand their role in the process. Also, it makes seeing the gaps in the structure of the team easy and what roles must be filled. Regression Analysis This is a statistical process used to eliminate and understand the relationship between the different variables. You can use it for defining the relationship between the input and the output variable. With this tool, one can visualize patterns or deviation from the patterns in the workflow. Example of regression analysisRegression analysis is a reliable method of identifying which variables have impact on a topic of interest. The process of performing a regression allows you to confidently determine which factors matter most, which factors can be ignored, and how these factors influence each other. While working on regression analysis, one needs to be cautious in avoiding statistical illusions. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) is a structured approach to discovering potential failures that may exist within the design of a product or process.Failure modes are the ways in which a process can fail. The Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) approachEffects are the ways that failures can lead to waste, defects, or harmful outcomes for the customer. The Failure mode and effects analysis is designed to identify, prioritize, and limit these failure modes. Lean Six Sigma practitioners often use this method to improve the quality of their services, processes, and products to detect and fix their problems even before they have occurred. In conclusion, of the many tools available to green belts, black belts, and master black belts, these ten tools are the most common. While every project is different and may require a unique application for its own purposes, you will be hard pressed to find a project managed by a six sigma professional that does not use at least four of these ten effective six sigma tools. 
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Top 10 Six Sigma Tools
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

What is Six Sigma Green Belt? A Six Sigma Green Belt is a professional who has a thorough understanding of the advanced elements of the Six Sigma Methodology. Green Belts lead improvement projects and also act as team members to be part of more complex improvement projects that are led by Black Belts.  Being well versed in all aspects of Six Sigma Methodology, a Six Sigma Green Belt is competent in subject matters of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). A Green Belt certified professional is highly proficient in implementing, performing, interpreting and applying Lean Six Sigma. Who is eligible for the Six Sigma Green Belt? Being a people-driven process, the performance levels of a Six Sigma project are dependent on the expertise, commitment, and persistence of individual team members. When considering the roles that provide a contribution to the project, only the higher roles like that of Black Belt are often considered. However, Green Belts also have a crucial role in improving the performance of projects. Green Belts are efficient team members and their objective is improving process quality. They help in bridging the gap between the real-world application and theory behind Six Sigma. They play an important role in process improvement, project management and data inspection. A Green Belt certification training teaches the candidates about the basic tools that a project team uses and application of DMAIC skills relative to a Six Sigma project. Six Sigma Green Belt certification is meant for candidates who have work experience in business management or supply chain and have an interest in terminologies like waste reduction and continuous improvement. Earning the certification improves the proficiency of the candidates, making them more desirable for employers. The certification is best suited for professionals who are responsible for improving outputs, controlling costs and helping in improving results. How to get certified in Six Sigma Green Belt? Six Sigma certificate can be earned through different providers. Some major certification providers include ASQ, IASSC etc.  The following section explains the process for you to get certified in Six Sigma Green Belt,  Learn the relevant subject matter You will first need to learn the relevant subject matter, appear for and pass an examination that tests proficiency and competency in a hands-on environment. You will then need to purchase learning materials to train online or enrol into a classroom training course provided by an accredited training school.  Pass a written examination The next step is to pass a written examination consisting of multiple-choice questions and secure For the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam™, you will need to attempt a 100 question, closed book, proctored exam within a 3-hour period.  Complete Quality projects On securing a score of 70% or more, you must complete quality projects related to the concepts of Green Belt. You will then be awarded the professional designation of IASSC Certified Green Belt (IASSC-CGB™) from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification. What are the roles and responsibilities of a Six Sigma Green Belt? A Green Belt is an employee of an organization who has training on the improvement methodology of Six Sigma. The main aspect of their full-time job is leading the process improvement to get high-quality products or services. Green Belts spend a considerable amount of time on strategy building and decision-making components of the Six Sigma project planning process.  With a thorough knowledge of the overall process, they help deliver feedback and driving performance goals by working with centralized project managers. The main responsibilities of a Six Sigma Green Belt are:Lead the project team of Six Sigma improvement Work under a Six Sigma Black Belt’s supervision. Analyze quality problems and solve them Work in coordination with the project’s data collection process team and provide validation to the measurement system Green Belts operate within the limits of their functional area Assist in the improvement of team facilitation skills Develop Project charter along with Supplier, Input, Process, and Output (SIPOC) Diagram for the project What are the benefits of Green Belt Certification? Professional development Earning Green Belt certification equips you with different skills that help the organization you are working for. These skills are useful in day-to-day interactions as well. The training for Six Sigma Green Belt makes you capable and confident enough to discuss complicated subjects, solve problems in an effective manner and provide helpful recommendations Financial advantages When you earn Green Belt certification, you have the confidence of finishing projects effectively and reducing costs of operation for your organization. Generally, organizations need to pay reserve funds for every project for timely completion of project and getting positive output from the project. However, it might not be needed to use reserve funds if Six Sigma Green Belt principles are implemented properly. Benefits to the customer A Green Belt expert can help in providing better products and services, thus ensuring the loyalty of the customers. A lot of clients look for companies making use of Six Sigma. Green Belt experts improve the reliability of an organization, attracting new customers with the assurance of best quality products or services. Competitive advantage Six Sigma can be applied in the sales pitch and advertisement of your business too. By getting a Six Sigma Green Belt certification and implementing Six Sigma, you can help maintain a performance level that is ahead of the competitors. Six Sigma provides you with the required confidence and expertise. It revolves around accumulating information and investigating, which is why the decision-making process won’t be that complex. Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Exam Requirements The requirements to get Six Sigma Green Belt certified are mentioned below: Work experience A Green Belt is an employee who spends some time as a part of process improvement teams. They perform the job of analysing and solving quality problems. They are usually involved with quality improvement projects like Six Sigma. To get Green Belt certified under ASQ, you need to have a work experience of at least three years in an area or more in the Body of Knowledge of Six Sigma Green Belt. The IASSC certification does not have any prerequisites. The job has to be a paid, full-time one. Co-op, paid intern or other course works are not applicable for the work experience requirement.For the CSSC certification, there are no prerequisites. Education:There are no educational waivers granted. Expectations A certified Six Sigma Green Belt is expected to: Operate in the supervision of or in support of a Six Sigma Black Belt Solve and analyze quality problems Be involved in quality improvement projects Has a work experience of minimum three years Be capable of demonstrating their understanding of tools and processes of Six Sigma. Exam format Six Sigma Green Belt Here is the exam format for Six Sigma Green Belt for all the Accrediting bodies: ASQType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ110 for computer 100 for paper-based Four and a half hour Four hoursOpen bookIASSCType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ and True/False100Three hoursClosed bookCSSCType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ and True/False100Non-TimedOpen bookHow to apply for Six Sigma Green Belt exam? In the section to follow, we guide you through the certification process through the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) and the American Quality for Quality (AQS). Certification from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)  For the IASSC Certified Yellow Belt, you have to apply for the ICYB exam, take the exam, and achieve a passing score. To apply for the exam, you will be contacting your KnowledgeHut representative who will order the exam voucher. The certification fee is not included in the course fee. After this, you will be able to take the exam. Certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) While applying for the ASQ Six Sigma Green Belt exam, you have two options: Computer-based exam This is a one-part exam is offered only in English and it consists of 110 questions and has a duration of four and a half hours. Paper-based exam This one-part exam consists of 100 questions and has a duration of four hours. This exam is offered in English, Mandarin and Spanish, based on specific locations. Depending on what you prefer, you can visit your exam provider’s website and apply for the exam by following relevant steps. Prometric is one such testing partner. Here is how you can schedule your exam. Go to Prometric’s official website. Click on Schedule Your Exam present under the Test Takers section. Search for ASQ in the search bar. Click on Read More. Under the Actions table, select the Schedule option. Select your Country. On the next page, Read Information Review and hit Next. Agree to the Privacy policy and click on Next. Enter your Eligibility ID and other details. Next, select Yellow Belt in the appointments section. Select a suitable date and time for the exam. Your exam will be scheduled. Certification from the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) For the CSSC Six Sigma Green Belt exam, follow the below-mentioned steps: Visit the link. Click on ‘Add to cart’. A pop-up will appear. You will see the options ‘View Cart’ or ‘Checkout’. Select the Checkout option. Fill in the details.  Complete the payment. Your order will be placed. How long does it take to get my Green Belt certification exam results? It is always important to be promptly notified of the exam results. The results are usually provided in quick time. If you have taken the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam™, you will be provided your results through email within 1 to 2 days after giving the exam. If you pass the exam, you will be getting a certification from the IASSC. What is the average salary of Six Sigma Green Belt certified professionals? The Green Belt certification is for a mid-managerial role that involves implementation of Six Sigma methodologies. Positions that a Green Belt may undertake include: Process Engineer Quality Assurance Manager Quality Manager Supplier Quality Engineer Continuous Improvement Manager. According to a study revealed by Indeed.com over 12 months from more than 222,000 data points, the range of average annual salary for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified professional is from $71,381 per annum to $101,869 per annum. A Six Sigma Green Belt earns around $72,000 per year on an average. According to PayScale.com the average annual salary for a Green Belt certified individual is approximately between $65,000 per annum and $79,000 per annum. The annual salary also tends to vary based on the Green Belt role. Average salary for a Process Engineer is $73,166, Quality Manager is $79,141, Continuous Improvement Manager is $77,141, and a Quality Assurance or Quality Control Engineer is $66,030 per annum. *All the figures are from Indeed.com's salary estimation based on job advertisements and 512,851 employees.
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification

What is Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification?The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is the first step for people/professionals into the world of process improvement. The Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is meant for those who wish to gain a basic understanding of Six Sigma and the phases of DMAIC, Define, Measure, Analyze, Measure, Control. Six Sigma is a step-by-step process of statistical tools and interventions, with the help of which companies can interpret the business processes requiring attention, find the root cause of problems, and sustain improvement gains.Yellow Belt certified professionals can serve as entry-level representatives. They use their understanding of the Six Sigma concepts to help with the Green Belt projects within the organizations. Essentially, they have the responsibility of administering small projects using the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) methodology.Who can take up the Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification?The Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is ideally suited for candidates aspiring to get started on a career in the sector of Quality management. The certification training will help them implement the methodologies of Six Sigma in their organization for ensuring the success of their projects. A Yellow Belt certified professional would serve as a Project team member for the project, helping Black and Green Belts in maintaining the quality of the project. The Yellow Belt professional would have to use Lean tools and techniques for driving basic improvement projects.How to get certified in Six Sigma Yellow Belt?In the section to follow, we guide you through the certification process through the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) and the American Quality for Quality (AQS).Certification from the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC)There are two different paths to earn your Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. The first path is simply sitting for a standard comprehensive exam and it is suited for candidates who already have the required training and considerable understanding of the topics covered in the Body of Knowledge for Yellow Belt Certification. The second path allows individuals to sit for multiple short exams to progress through different sections, rather than a single large comprehensive exam.Path 1 (Standard Exam)This standard examination is a single comprehensive exam consisting of 50 questions. It is an open book format and a non-timed examination.The exam consists of true/false and multiple-choice questions from the major sections of the Body of Knowledge for Six Sigma Yellow Belt.Candidates who achieve a score of 140 points or higher successfully obtain the official Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification.The exam can be taken either at a designated test center or even online. Applicants are given 3 attempts within 12 months of registration to pass the exam successfully if they fail to do so in the first attempt. Students would be required to pay the examination fee again after 3 unsuccessful attempts.Path 2 (Self-paced exams)This is a flexible option that provides the ability to earn different levels of certification (White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt) through progression, without any additional exam fee being incurred.There is an exam for each chapter of the self-study guide. Upon completing a chapter, the candidate has to take a short online exam that consists of approximately 10-15 questions. These exams are non-timed and open-book and can be taken any day at any time. To pass each exam, 70% of the minimum score is required. A new level of Six Sigma Certification is awarded after passing multiple exams.The exam for Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification consists of 11-chapter examinations.Applicants can attempt the exams for an unlimited number of times within 12 months of registration.Certification from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)If you are planning on taking up the IASSC Certified Yellow Belt™ (ICYB™) from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification, then you are required to clear a 2-hour closed book proctored exam, with 60 questions which are in the multiple-choice format.Certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ)You can also get certified by the ASQ, which offers the exam in computer-based and paper-based formats.Computer-basedThe CSSYB examination is a one-part, 85-question, two-and-a-half-hour exam and is offered in English only. 75 questions are scored and 10 are unscored.Paper-basedThe CSSYB examination is a one-part, 75-question, two-hour exam and is offered in English only.What are the roles and responsibilities of a Six Sigma Yellow Belt?The Yellow Belt certification provides an overview of the Six Sigma techniques and its metrics and basic methodologies for improvement. A Yellow Belt Certified individual is expected to know how to integrate the methodologies of Six Sigma to improve transactional systems and production for meeting of organization objectives and customer expectations better.For a project, Yellow Belts participate as core team members. They often have the responsibility of running small process improvement projects with the use of PDCA. With the help of PDCA, a Yellow Belt can identify a process that could benefit improvement. These small projects can get escalated to the level of Black Belt or Green Belt, where the use of DMAIC methodology is done for maximizing cost savings with the use of Statistical Process Control.The training for Six Sigma Yellow Belt introduces the basic tools of Six Sigma and process management. This provides candidates with a better knowledge of processes, allowing them to provide the necessary assistance to achieve the overall objectives of the organization. In a Six Sigma Organization, employees who take Yellow Belt Training courses are considered as support staff. They get an overview of the methodology, allowing them to be aligned with the intentions and goals of the company. They have sufficient knowledge to assist Black and Green Belts with their projects.What are the benefits of Yellow Belt certification?A lot of people wish to get certified at the highest level, which is why they directly skip to the Black Belt. While this approach isn’t necessarily wrong, earning a Yellow Belt certification has its benefits that include:Better understanding of the rolesFor getting Black Belt certification, it is important to understand the Green belt and Yellow belt roles as well. Being certified with Six Sigma Yellow Belt is an indication that you know what the job is all about. The certification exam is particularly aimed at the Yellow Belt level. It will provide you with an overview of the specific tasks performed by Yellow Belts for a project. They do not have the statistical abilities of a Green Belt, so it is not expected of them to perform such tasks. However, yellow belts do understand the basic Six Sigma principles such as y=f(x), Process Variances, DMADV variation, ISO, Needs Analysis, and more.Great for your resumeIt is not necessary to have a high-level certification in Six Sigma. With a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, you show your employers that you are dedicated towards the DMAIC process and have earned the certification to ensure quality. Employers are always looking for employees to know how to minimize wastage and save money. Even having your certification listed on LinkedIn will earn you more visibility as it allows employers to search for people with the traits they need.Potential for high salaryEarning the certification doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a higher salary, but it does make you a more valuable employee to your employer. Amidst such high competition, employers are always on the lookout for candidates with varying skill sets. They will always value someone who can get more tasks done. Your Yellow Belt certification will certainly give you an advantage over those who don’t have Six Sigma certification.Of course, apart from the above-mentioned benefits, there are other reasons to get certified as well. One great reason is that you get to learn something new and develop your skills to a great extent. Regardless, the Yellow Belt certification is beneficial for yourself and your organization.Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Exam RequirementsHere is the exam format for Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification Exam:ASQType of questionsNo of questions  Duration  Open/closed  MCQ  85 for computer75 for paper-basedTwo and a half hourTwo hoursOpen bookIASSCType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedPassing scoreMCQ and True/False60Two hoursClosed book230/300CSSCType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedPassing scoreMCQ and True/False50Non-TimedOpen book140/200How to apply for the Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam?For the Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam, there are no prerequisites. To get the IASSC Certified Yellow Belt, you have to sit for the ICYB exam and pass it. You can contact your KnowledgeHut representative for ordering a voucher. You will have to pay extra for it as it is not included in the course fee. After this, you will be able to give the 2 hours long, closed-book exam. To gain the certification, you have to score 230 out of 300 points.ASQFor the ASQ, there are two ways to apply for Six Sigma Yellow Belt Exam, depending on your preference:Computer-based testingThe exam is delivered on-site and it is a popular option for environments like classroom training where a group of candidates can be organized into one location.Paper-based testingIt is a more conventional form of testing as opposed to computer-based testing.Prometric is the testing partner that delivers the certification exam. Here are the steps you need to follow for scheduling the exam:Visit the official website of Prometric.Under the Test Takers section, click on Schedule Your Exam.Search for Six Sigma Yellow Belt in the search bar.Click on Read More.On the left side of the page, under the Actions table, click on Schedule option.On the next page, select your Country.Read the Information Review and click on Next.On the next page, agree to the Privacy Policy.Enter your Eligibility ID and other details.Next, you will be asked to make the Appointment selection where you will have to select the Yellow Belt.On the next page, select the date and time for your exam.Your exam will be scheduled.CSSCFor the CSSC Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification exam, follow these steps:Visit the official website of CSSC by clicking here.Click on ‘Add to cart’.A pop-up will appear asking you to either ‘View Cart’ or ‘Checkout’. Select the latter.Enter the details and make the payment for placing your order.What is the average salary of a Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified professional?Since Yellow Belts have a comprehensive understanding of the Six Sigma methods, they are eligible for roles like:Operations ManagerQuality EngineerProcess EngineerSupply Chain ManagerBusiness Process Analyst.The average annual salary of Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified professional ranges from $67,000 to $99,000 per annum. The salary also depends on experience. The average salary is $49,539 per annum for people with 1-4 years of experience. The salary increases to $67,580 per year for those with 5-9 years of experience. Professionals with 10-19 years of experience earn $90,000 per annum on average. The salary can even reach more than $99,000 per annum for those with more than 20 years of experience. Other factors like job profile also have an impact on the salary.All the figures are from Indeed.com's salary estimation based on job advertisements and 512,851 employees.
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The DMAIC Methodology in Six Sigma

Six Sigma is a quality improvement approach created in early 1980s. Thanks to the efforts of engineer, Bill Smith, working in Motorola in the 80s, this approach has found its way into mainstream business. Today, it has become one of the most common methodological practices used to improve business processes, product quality, enhance customer satisfaction and increase overall profitability. Over the years, although the Six Sigma approach has been refined, the goal has remained the same: to improve business processes by eliminating the causes of errors leading to defects in a service or a product.To accomplish this, a combination of management philosophy, a set of statistical tools and a problem-solving approach must be employed to eliminate errors and provide systems. People who work with Six Sigma practices work at different levels of accomplishment: Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt.The Six Sigma methodology was based on the bell curve created by Carl Frederick Grauss in the 19th century. In the 1920s, a founder member of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, statistician Cark Shewhart, showed that the process had deviated from the mean by 3 sigmas and had to be corrected. Fast forward to the 1970s, Art Sundry, Senior Executive at Motorola, complained that there was a lack of consistent quality products in the company. Bill Smith responded to the complaint by implementing the six sigma methodology in 1986. Over time, other management improvement strategies influenced the system like Zero Defects and Total Quality Management.In this article, we discuss the DMAIC framework and provide an overview of the steps in each phase and the tools that can be used in each phase.The DMAIC frameworkTo improve business processes systematically, the DMAIC framework can be used. DMAIC is a data-driven and effective five-step approach that works on eliminating expensive variation from the manufacturing and business processes. It stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. This methodology was designed for delivering the best performance without any defects and with competitive quality costs.The five steps of the DMAIC frameworkLet us discuss the five phases of DMAIC:DefineThis is the first step in which we identify the customers, internal and external deliverables of the customer and the goal of the project will be defined. The primary focus of this phase is selecting high-impact projects and metrics that will be reflecting the success of the project. During this phase, questions like who the targeted customers are, what their requirements regarding products and services are, and what their expectations are, are asked. Also, the boundaries of the project are defined. Along with this the start and stop points, as well as the process flow, need to be mapped out during this phase.Steps in the Define phaseDefining Customers and requirements (CTQs)Defining resourcesDeveloping a high-level process mapDeveloping milestones and project planDeveloping problem statement, benefits and goalsPrepare a project charterEvaluating key organization supportIdentifying team, process owner, and champion  Tools that can be used in the Define phaseCTQ DefinitionsDMAIC Work Breakdown StructureProcess FlowchartProject CharterSIPOC DiagramRACI DiagramStakeholder AnalysisVoice of the Customer gathering MeasureThis is the second phase of the DMAIC where the current process must be documented. This also includes validating the forms of measurement and assessment of the performance of the baseline. This step is similar for determining shortfall by using a customer survey. In this phase, we collect data from different sources for determining the type of defects and metrics. The most important tools that can be used in this phase are basic Pareto charts, process capability measurement, Gage R & R, and process flowcharts.Steps in the Measure phaseDeveloping data collection planCollecting the dataBeginning Developing y = f(x) relationshipDefining unit, opportunity, and defectDetailing the process map of different, appropriate areasDetermining sigma baseline and process capabilityValidating the measurement systemTools that can be used in the Measure phaseBenchmarkingData Collection Plan/ExampleMeasurement System AnalysisProcess Flowchart & Value Stream MapProcess Sigma CalculationVoice of the Customer GatheringAnalyzeThe primary focus of the Analyze phase is the filtration of the topmost causes of the Critical-to-Quality Characteristic or the CTC metric for examination. Usually, for being successful, there should not be more than three causes that require control. If there are more than three causes, it means that the isolation of the critical causes was not done properly. The other reason behind this can be that the project’s goal is way too ambitious. In this step, you will have to identify if there is any gap present between the goal performance and the current performance. Sources of variation and opportunities for priority improvement needs to be identified as well. There are several tools that can be used for this phase including scatter diagrams, hypothesis testing, multi-vari analysis, time series plots, fishbone diagrams, histograms, and Pareto charts.Steps in the Analyze phaseDefining performance objectivesDetermining important few x’s and y=f(x) relationshipIdentifying value as well as non-value added process stepsIdentifying sources of variationDetermining root causesPrioritize the root causesTools that can be used in the Analyze phase5 WhysCause and EffectFishbone DiagramHistogramHypothesis TestingNon-Normal Data AnalysisPareto ChartProcess Map Analysis and ReviewRegression AnalysisRun ChartScatter PlotStatistical AnalysisTime SeriesImproveThis is the fourth step of the DMAIC framework that ensures an understanding of all the causes that were identified in the Analyze phase. The aim of this phase is eliminating and controlling the causes for achieving the required breakthrough performance. Now, discipline and technology are used for designing creative and innovative solutions that will be fixing as well as preventing problems. You will also have to develop and deploy an implementation plan. For this phase, you can use tools like Hypothesis Testing, Regression Analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).Steps in the Improve phaseAssessing potential solution’s failure modesCorrecting or re-evaluating potential solutionsDefining the potential system’s operational tolerancesDeveloping potential solutionsPerforming design experimentsValidating potential improvements through pilot studiesTools that can be used in the Improve phase5 SBrainstormingDesign of ExperimentsFailure Modes and Effects AnalysisHouse of QualityMistake ProofingPugh MatrixQFDSimulation SoftwareControlIn this last phase, you have to ensure that all the improvements that were made must be controlled for ensuring sustained changes and lasting results. In the case of best controls, there will be a need for little to no monitoring such as irreversible product changes and process design. But there are always some process setting, setup procedures, or some other improvements that will make the daily operation and monitoring requirements necessary. Steps need to be taken for ensuring that the process doesn’t revert to the old way.Steps in the Control phaseCommunicating to businessClosing project and finalizing documentationDefining and validating control system and monitoringDetermining process capabilityDeveloping handoff to process owner and transfer planDeveloping procedures and standardsImplementing statistical process controlVerifying cost savings/avoidance, benefits, and profit growthTools that can be used in the Control haseControl ChartsControl PlanCost Savings CalculationsProcess Sigma CalculationEach of the five DMAIC phases come together in the implementation of six sigma, which can turn the business around for any organization.Implementation of DMAICIn this section, we will take a look at two examples of DMAIC implementation that use varied continuous improvement models for specific applications:Floor yield improvement in a manufacturing shopThe first example is of a repetitive manufacturing process, where the yield is increased by making products:Define: Identify the product flow, the specific products, and the goalMeasure: Define the metrics that will be used as the first-pass yield, rolled first-pass yield, or OTIFNE; it will also include monitoring for time to gather baseline data that is statistically meaningful.Analyze: Look for trends, assess the standard deviation and mean from data, address, and identify outliers; this also includes identifying variables impacting the yield using root cause analyses.Improve: Define and put in place countermeasures o address the identified root causes; monitor the process to confirm the achievement of desired yield improvement.Control: Implement measures to maintain improved performance.Impact on Hospital outcomes through evidence-based careThe second example shows how improvements can be driven in a hospital through observation and usage of principles of Lean in a DMAIC framework:Define: Ask questions like how often infections occur in a hospital, over what time frame will infection’s treatments will improve.Measure: Measuring the current stateAnalyze: Determine the root cause like the procedures introducing contamination and specific process steps.Improve: Implement a checklist like basic hygiene steps, sterile barriers, disinfectants, enhancing equipment, and avoiding susceptible areas.Control: Incorporate reinforcement and training to internalize the process and improve the culture; this can also include empowerment of nursing staff to ensure enforcement of the measures introduced.ConclusionAccording to the six sigma level, only 3.4 defects out of one million products or services are acceptable. To achieve this, continuous efforts are made to the point where predictable results and stable products are achieved.As discussed above, the six sigma methodology deconstructs the process of manufacturing to its smallest, essential parts. It then works on defining and evaluating every step of the process and searches for ways to improve efficiencies in the structure of the business. This is done to both improve the process quality and increase the bottom-line profit.With a good overview of the DMAIC framework, you can now work towards becoming proficient in the six sigma methodology. Start with the Yellow Belt or move up the Green Belt and Black Belt to the Master Black Belt.
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The DMAIC Methodology in Six Sigma
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What is Six Sigma: An Essential Guide

Six Sigma is a methodology providing the organization with the tools to improve the quality of business processes. It leads to a decrease in process variation and increase in performance helping in reducing defects and improving employee morale, profits, and quality of services or products. There have been different definitions proposed for Six Sigma with the following common threads:  Using teams that have been assigned well-defined projects and can directly impact the bottom line of the organization Training people of all levels in statistical thinking and providing extensive training in project management and advanced statistics to key people Emphasizing on the DMAIC approach for solving problems Creating a management environment supporting the initiatives as a business strategy In this article, we will provide you with a brief overview of the Six Sigma methodology. We introduce the philosophy, the tools, the methodology and the metrics and then dive deeper into how Lean and Six Sigma complement each other by understanding their key elements and principles. We then examine the success factors involved while introducing the Six Sigma methodology and what you can do to enhance your career prospects in Six Sigma. Six Sigma: A Quick Guide Philosophy Six Sigma defines all the work as processes that follow the DMAIC approach of defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling. For the processes, you require inputs (x) which will produce outputs (y). To control the outputs, you need to control the inputs. This can be expressed as y=f(x). Tools For implementing the six sigma approach, certain tools or quantitative and qualitative techniques are required for driving process improvement. These tools include process mapping, control charts, statistical process control (SPC), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).  Although, no specific set of tools have been selected as the tools for six sigma. Methodology In this view of six sigma, there is recognition of the rigorous and underlying approach named as DMAIC. It involves defining the steps a practitioner must follow. This includes identification of the problem and implementing a long-lasting solution. There are other six sigma methodology but DMAIC is the most recognized and adopted. Metrics The quality performance according to six sigma is 3.4 defects per million products or services.  Lean and Six Sigma Lean is another methodology that focuses on starting up the process emphasizing on the business model over the business plan. It also includes encouraging the process of development and customer discovery and iterating for achieving the right market fit or product.  There is no significant difference between lean and six sigma. More often than not, the term ‘lean six sigma’ is used because, for process improvement, both approaches are used for attaining positive results. The focus of six sigma is to enhance process control and reduce process variation. Lean works on promoting work flow and standardization and driving out waste like non-value added procedures and processes. Lean six sigma is a data-driven philosophy that believes in preventing defects over detecting defects. It reduces waste, variation, and cycle time for driving bottom line results and customer satisfaction and promoting the use of work flow and standardization.  Three key elements of Lean Six SigmaThere are three main elements of lean six sigma which reinforce each other:  Process and Methodology: These are a series of phases organizing the problem-solving tools for ensuring that all the root causes are found a solution can be implemented. Tools and techniques: There is a comprehensive set of analytical techniques and tools that are used for identifying and solving problems. Mindset and culture: This is a way of thinking relying on processes and data for achieving continuous improvement and operational performance goals. Principles of Lean Six SigmaTo achieve quality improvement goals, the following principles must be kept in mind: Focus on the customer If you are taking an approach to Six Sigma, it is important that you know what you are doing and why you are doing it. When you are working for making improvements on a single process, the scope will be limited with limited concentrations. But, when we work on six sigma, we don’t work with a single process. We use the principles of six sigma for driving the business forward.  The primary thing of what we want to achieve through six sigma is delivering the value and improving the value for the customer. You don’t have to optimize the production process for a product or a service that no one wants.   Understand how the work is done To make any improvements to the process, you must know how the process occurs. There are documentation for processes and workflows that you can use for business process management. You can use a technique named process mining where software is used for analyzing the work done by the team so that you can find how tasks are done.  Once you have documented the process, you must use some tools for checking that the work is done in the correct way. This is known as conformance checking. Make a smooth flow of processes One of the main aspects of six sigma is making everything process driven. For achieving this you need to figure out what the problem is and understand it. Bottleneck is a common problem occurring within a process where a certain process is performing below the standard. There are tools that can be used for identifying and highlighting bottlenecks. Reduce waste and concentrate on value If you want to prioritize value, then you need to eliminate everything that doesn’t add to the value. According to Rene T. Domingo, professor at the Asian Institute of Management and author of several books on Quality Management, you can eliminate waste by following these five steps: Making it visible Being conscious of it Being accountable for it Measuring it Reducing or eliminating it  Remove variations by stopping defects To reduce defects, you need to optimize a process and run it right every time. For this, you need to standardize your processes. For cutting more defective output, you need to remove variation had let the process run every time at its best level.  Standardization is the key thing to focus on while manufacturing products and working with industrial and mechanical styled production systems.  Collaborate and get the buy-in from the team While it is the job of analysts and managers to make decisions, employees that are involved in the process can have some important insights as well. Different team members involved in the process improvement project are titles like process owner, process champion, green belts, and black belts. For getting buy-in, involving the staff is essential, at least through consultation. Make your efforts scientific and systematic There is a scientific quality to six sigma resonating in the data-driven world we are currently living in. Now that we have so much data on how things are operated, you have to find ways for leveraging that data for creating and maintaining improvements.  Success factors in implementing Six Sigma Once you have implemented the principles of six sigma, be aware of other key factors that determine the success of the methodology, such as: Leadership responsibility The leader of a project plays an important role in making a project successful. They are responsible for prioritizing all the business activities and ensuring that the team has the resources to begin the production process.  Resource allocation A project manager is responsible for employing the right members of the team. It the employed members are six sigma certified members, they can be assigned with the task of monitoring the process of project development. Also, they will already be familiar with the techniques and methods of six sigma.  Training It is important that all the employees of the organization go through a proper training session to get all the required information regarding the project. Also, they must be familiar with the tools that will help in the successful completion of the project. Project approach The status of the project should be reviewed regularly by a senior management team, stakeholders through team meetings. All the members working on the project can share their suggestions and feedback in these meetings.  Reporting All the procedures involved in the six sigma must be documented correctly. This will help the organization know about the financial impact made by the implementation of six sigma methodologies.  In conclusionIn this article, we have discussed the various definitions of Six Sigma and the key principles to achieve quality improvement goals. We introduced the philosophy, the tools, the methodology and the metrics and then took a deeper dive into how Lean and Six Sigma complement each other. We  also examined external success factors in implementing Six Sigma.Whether you are a graduate in any stream, an engineer, or an MBA professional, if you want to enhance your career prospects and salary gains, then make sure to get certified in Six Sigma courses. Begin with a Green Belt and climb your way up to master the Black Belt.
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Black Belt Certification

What is Six Sigma Black Belt?  Black Belts are skilled in analyzing huge chunks of data, managing different projects and organizing the team dynamics within the organisation, with respect to quality improvements in processes. So, in essence, they act as change agents who are dedicated to problem solving and ensuring quality adherence within processes and the organization.  The title 'Black Belt' has been inspired by martial arts and holds an integral meaning within the Six Sigma philosophy. The lean Six Sigma is a problem solving technique that encourages the user to adopt a no-waste approach to enhance the performance and customer satisfaction of the brand. The Six Sigma Black Belt developer measures, structures, and analyses the performance related issues of the system in accordance with the Six Sigma rule.  The basic purpose of this is to lead the project in a way that yields the best results. Black Belt Certification also trains candidates to understand, improve and improvise the concepts of variation, and deploy different roles to different teams in a method that is meticulous and process oriented.  The International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) certified Six Sigma Black Belt Exam is a closed book proctored exam where candidates have to answer 150 questions in a span of 4 hours. The paper has a combination of objective questions, long answers and non-graded questions. With this certification, developers can improve their interpersonal skills, become better managers and apply for better and more prestigious positions in the firm as well.  Who can take up the Six Sigma Black Belt course? Developers and industry professionals with sufficient work experience and industry knowledge can opt for the Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Also, note that only full-time positions are available in the Six Sigma framework. Some other aspects that are considered by recruiters are; Organisational skills and the ability to assign tasks to different departments  Ability to figure out quick and proactive measures to improve performance  Problem identification and solving skills  Understand team dynamics and take initiative for projects Work on extensive databases and find out patterns  Be up to date with the latest trends of the industry  Have the technical skills, understand common DFSS and DFX methods  The candidate must have the basic academic credentials and professional work experience of over 3 years. Other than that, you need the other standard skills like coding, technical knowledge, communication skills and analytical abilities.  How to get certified in Six Sigma Black Belt? The mini-infographic below provides a visual guide to the steps required to get Six Sigma Black Belt certified. In the section to follow, we guide you through the certification process through the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) and the American Quality for Quality (AQS).Process to get certified in Six Sigma Black BeltCertification from the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) To get certified in the Six Sigma Black Belt from the IASSC, you have to first apply for and clear the IASSC exam which consists of 150 questions that you will have to complete in a span of 4 hours. These questions can contain a mix of objective questions, subjective questions and detailed answers. There are about 800 centres all over India where you can opt for giving your exams. All you have to do is contact the KnowledgeHut representative who will order a voucher for you. This is going to cost extra as the certification exam fee is not included in the course fee. Certification from the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC) For the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam from CSSC, you can follow these steps: Visit the official website of CSSC through this link. Click on ‘Add to cart’. A pop-up will appear. Select ‘Checkout’.  Enter the required details. Make the payment to finish placing your order. Certification from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) For the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam from ASQ, you can follow these steps: Go to the official website of Prometric. Click on Schedule Your Exam present under the Test Takers section. Search for Six Sigma Black Belt in the search bar. Once you find it, click on Read More. Under the Actions table, select the Schedule option. Select your Country on the next page. Read the Information Review. Click on Next. Agree to the Privacy Policy. Enter your details like the Eligibility ID. Next, select the Black Belt for the Appointments Selection. On the next page, select the date and time for your exam. Your exam will be scheduled. What are the roles and responsibilities of a Six Sigma Black Belt?  Every Black Belt Six Sigma professional must be proficient in dealing with huge amounts of statistical data along with excellent managerial skills and analytical knowledge. This makes the professional responsible for inter-department management, organizing team dynamics and taking care of the internal setup of the company. Six Sigma certification prepares one to understand processes, reasons for failure and steps for mitigation of errors.  Six Sigma professionals are proficient in the Six Sigma philosophies, which enable them to establish better, more flexible and transparent communication channels between employees and hierarchies. They are also liable for gathering insights, sorting them and storing them in a systematic manner and then analyse it in a way that yields the best results.  The professionals also have to understand the different GAP analysis and SWOT analysis that help determine the strengths, weaknesses, threats and potential opportunities that would help the organization reach new heights.  The Six Sigma Black Belt certified candidates are responsible for the entire management, deployment of the resources and its follow-up within the organisation. This also prepares the professional to anticipate the possible risks and take the initiatives that would help them overcome these liabilities that covers the losses and enhances your profits.  What are the benefits of Black Belt certification? A Six Sigma degree and the Black Belt certification has far reaching career and personal benefits. This degree covers a smart mix of technical, theoretical and practical topics that would help you understand the happenings of the industry in a more detailed way, and how best you can tailor the Six Sigma to suit the needs of your organization and enhance your problem solving skills. Overall the Six Sigma helps you in the following:Improve your managerial and organisational skills  Develop better interpersonal relations with other people and departments  Boost the overall performance of the enterprise in a way that is beneficial to all the parties involved To develop a plan for holistic and sustainable growth of the sector and the company  Helps you gain better deeper insights into the market that gives you an edge over your peers  Formulate better business principles to ensure cost reduction and time saving techniques Six Sigma Black Belt Certification exam requirements There are no specific requirements or academic degrees that you would need to be eligible for the Six Sigma degree. However, recruiters do have a preference for professionals who have a technical background and are well versed with concepts like database management, programming languages, handling statistics and coding.  Candidates should know how to implement Six Sigma across the organization, be aware of quality benchmarks and factors that lead a project to success. Here are some of the other requirements that might be expected from the Six Sigma candidates that you should know about; Basic managerial skills and interpersonal skills Technical knowledge and industry experience Knowledge about the inter department workings Knowledge of tools for tracking project progress Team management Here are the specific requirements of the exam according to the accrediting body: IASSC: There are no prerequisites. ASQ:  One completed project with signed affidavit or two completed projects with signed affidavits Three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge.CSSC: There are no prerequisites. Here are the exam formats from the various certification bodies for the Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Exam: ASQType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ165 for computer 150 for paper based Four and a half hourFour hoursOpen bookIASSCType of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ150Four hoursClosed bookCSSC  Type of questionsNo of questionsDurationOpen/closedMCQ150Non-timedOpen bookHow to apply for the Six Sigma Black Belt exam?  The Six Sigma certification would be a great addition to your resume, opening new opportunities for candidates in a sector of their choice. The Black Belt degree makes you more eligible and capable of handling the internal affairs of the company, build strong teams and set in order processes that will help chart the path to success. It teaches you all about the ways in which you can gather the best of the resources and deploy them in a way that is productive for the organisation.  To get the black belt degree though you need to attempt and pass an exam that requires a fair bit of preparation to clear. The certification exams are conducted by a number of reputed bodies, chief among them being the IASSC, CSSC and ASQ.  The IASSC Black Belt exam paper is divided into 150 questions that cover major sections of the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Body of Knowledge. Studying these topics and appearing for the exam ensures that you have through knowledge of tackling on-the-job situations.  Once you have signed up for the exam by following the relevant procedures and paying the fee, you can sit for the exam and give it your best shot.While this is quite an arduous exam, proper preparation will ensure that you clear at the first attempt. Enrolling for a Lean Six Sigma training that is provided by an accredited body will ensure that you have all the right resources and guidance to clear the exam.    What is the average salary of a Six Sigma Black Belt certified professional? As more and more organizations are going Lean the need for certified Six Sigma Black belt professionals is on the rise. This demand has ensured a subsequent increase in the salary that Six Sigma professionals earn.  Also, as a black belt certified professional, you can take on the following roles: Trainer/Coach Manager Influencer Process/Product/Project Manager Business Analyst Quality Assurance While the average salary of a Six Sigma Black belt certified professional is $104,019 per year, this largely depends on your industry experience, technical expertise and the country you’re working in.  The average salary of a Director of Quality with a Six Sigma Black Belt is $116,169 per year. A Process Manager and a Senior Process Manager can earn an average of $81,013 and $97,997 per year.  *All the figures are from Indeed.com's salary estimation based on job advertisements and 512,851 employees. 
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
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Essential Guide to Six Sigma Black Belt Certificat...

What is Six Sigma Black Belt?  Black Belts are s... Read More