Six Sigma Certification

• Introduction
• What is the Six Sigma Certification?
• What is the concept of six sigma?
• Six Sigma Certification Levels
• What are the requirements For Six Sigma Certification?
• Why should you get a Six Sigma Certification?
• Benefits For Organizations To Have Six Sigma Certified Professionals
• Tips to ace Six Sigma Certification
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Introduction

Six Sigma Certification is one of the highly sought-after certifications in the professional world. The certification can be easily obtained through online mode and helps professionals make significant progress in their careers. The process of obtaining a six sigma certification and its various levels can be confusing and might need to be understood well first. This detailed article will serve as a guide if you are interested in this discipline and to help advance your careers.  

What is the Six Sigma Certification?

Six Sigma Certification is a methodology that includes a set of tools and techniques to eliminate any errors or risks and improve the process during various phases of project management. The certification helps professionals to equip themselves with necessary skills that enable them to identify risks or defects and improve the quality of end products or services within a business process. 

Learning Six Sigma has helped many individuals and businesses enhance the quality of their manufacturing. Some reputed businesses that found success utilizing methodologies of Six Sigma include giants like Amazon, Ford, US Army, 3M, GE, and Boeing. 

Six Sigma certification has different levels that professionals can earn as per their professional requirements. These include different Six Sigma philosophies, techniques, systems, and tools. Adding Six Sigma Certification to your resume can make a huge difference. It sets you apart from others and proves you as a skilled individual committed to the success of the business or where you work. The analytical skills that you will gain after your Six Sigma Certification will provide you with a better edge and enhance your credibility.  

What is the concept of six sigma?

Six Sigma was first introduced by an engineer in the US named Bill Smith in 1986. He was working at Motorola when he developed Six Sigma to improve the efficiency and output of his company’s devices. Based on statistical methods, Six Sigma came into existence as a technique to ensure product quality and enhance product design. The idea was to start production only when the designs adhered to the specifications of the product control. Their success promoted IBM also to adopt Six Sigma practices, and companies like Kodak, GE, and Xerox also followed suit.

Hailed as a concept that involves stringent standards of quality, Six Sigma helped businesses across the globe save plenty of money and time. Therefore, getting a Six Sigma certification requires an individual to have a certain level of expertise beforehand. Once you complete the certification, you can become a specialist in improving business processes and mitigating risks in the early stages.  

Six Sigma has five stages –

• Define
• Measure
• Analyze 
• Improvise
• Control 

Six Sigma Certification Levels

There are various certification levels of Six Sigma, including –

• Six Sigma White Belt
• Six Sigma Yellow Belt 
• Six Sigma Green Belt
• Six Sigma Black Belt
• Six Sigma Master Black Belt

Six Sigma White Belt 

This is the basic level of Six Sigma certification that helps professionals familiarize themselves with the key concepts of Six Sigma. It is ideal for individuals who support change management and are involved in problem-solving with the team that usually assists projects. After completion of this certification level, you must take an exam and score appropriately to earn the certification. White belt certification is ideal for beginners or those who are unfamiliar with Six Sigma and want to explore more about its methodologies and how it can impact the organizations. 

Six Sigma Yellow Belt

This level comes after the basic level or Six Sigma White Belt. At the Yellow Belt level, individuals can explore the tools and methodologies of Six Sigma and how it can help in the improvement of quality processes in any business. This level also teaches individuals techniques to improve the profitability of the business. You will be trained to identify risks and monitor profit-eating practices. Since you have an introductory knowledge of the fundamentals of Six Sigma, you will work on advanced problems and support project teams of green and black belts.   

Six Sigma Green Belt 

At this level, you will be trained to develop advanced problem-solving skills and apply statistical methods for project improvement. This level trains professionals that lead projects and assist teams with black belts. It is ideal for professionals who want to advance in their career and make the most of it within all industries or environments. Six Sigma Green Belts are proficient in increasing profitability and customer satisfaction. They usually work on large-scale projects while assisting black belts in their endeavors. 

Six Sigma  Black Belt

This level will drastically improve your problem-solving skills and enhance your career opportunities. Black Belts are trained thoroughly in the methodologies encompassing Six Sigma and are leadership efforts. A certified black belt leads teams within the organization and manages team dynamics by assigning responsibilities. Individuals are also responsible for coaching team members and advising management to pursue common organizational goals. 

Six Sigma Master Black Belt

This is the topmost level of Six Sigma certification that requires successful completion of all the previous levels – white, yellow, green, and black belt. This is a highly advanced level of the course that enables professionals to lead teams, manage teams, and oversee the successful completion of various projects. They are also responsible for developing strategies and improving key metrics for the growth of an organization. They also coach green and black belts and act as a consultant to facilitate key decisions for the organization’s success. 

What are the requirements For Six Sigma Certification?

The International Association for Six Sigma Certification is the body that offers Six Sigma certification. There is no prescribed or set eligibility for opting for Six Sigma certification. However, individuals may be required to have a certain level of expertise and experience before enrolling in different levels of certification. At the end of the course, every candidate has to take the test, and only those who clear it will be awarded the certification of their respective belt. 

According to the IASSC, here are the details on the prerequisites to enroll in different levels of Six Sigma certification –

• Six Sigma Yellow Belt – There is no prerequisite to enrolling in the Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification course. Also, there is no test at the end of the course.
• Six Sigma Green Belt – The candidate must have at least three years of experience in the respective field of expertise. Additionally, the candidate has to take the test of 100 marks and complete it within four hours. To earn the certification, the candidate must achieve 70% of the minimum score.
• Six Sigma Black Belt – The candidate must have three years of experience in their field and have completed two or more projects in their career. They need not have Six Sigma Green Belt certification. At the end of the course, they have to pass the examination that carries 150 marks and needs to be completed within four hours.
• Six Sigma Master Black Belt – The candidate should possess Six Sigma Black Belt certification to enroll in this course. They should also have at least five years of professional experience and should have completed 10 or more black belt projects in their career.  

Why should you get a Six Sigma Certification?

Implementing Six Sigma in business offers a range of benefits. That’s why businesses are always on the lookout for professionals who have the relevant certification and a thorough understanding of Six Sigma tools. The scope varies as per organizational or business demand basis of its implementation. The industries that should be on your radar for employment after the Six Sigma certification course includes –

• Engineering
• Construction
• Supply Chain
• Health care
• Finance 

There are plenty of career opportunities after Six Sigma certification. We have summarized some reasons to get your Six Sigma certification to climb up the professional ladder –

1. Career progression 

The biggest advantage of earning Six Sigma certification is to progress in your career by leaps and bounds. It positions you as a reliable candidate with an explicit skillset that sets you apart from your competitors. By acquiring analytical and risk management skills, you will be well-equipped to work in a competitive environment and position yourself as a leader. Later, you can even progress to middle or senior-level positions and have the career of your dreams. 

2. Nurture leadership skills 

After earning the Six Sigma certification, you will gain expertise in solving problems and proactively making decisions for the betterment of the organization. A thorough understanding of different Six Sigma tools and techniques will make you ready for leadership roles in your career. Those with Six Sigma Master Black Belts train and coach others and lead projects to become change agents within the organization. Six Sigma certified professionals have better chances of growing to managerial level positions than the rest. 

3. Improve and standardize business processes

Professionals with Six Sigma certification have proven knowledge of improving business processes. They are able to analyze, measure, control and manage various aspects of business processes to reduce churn and overhead costs. By better understanding the ways to reduce wastage and increase revenue, they can standardize business processes for quality improvement. More so, the takeaways from the certification will help you make valuable decisions for sustained growth. For example, Six Sigma helped GE to increase its allocated savings from $350 million to $1 billion from 1998 to 2008.

4. Rise to managerial roles 

One of the prominent advantages of Six Sigma certification is for those aspiring to take managerial or senior management level positions in their existing or new job. Professionals with Six Sigma certification are experienced in a variety of helpful methods to help elevate business processes. Risk management is a desirable skill for many top companies in the business. You can apply the knowledge gained through certification to streamline business processes and get promoted to senior positions.  

5. Competitive salary 

This goes without saying – Six Sigma certification is one of the best ones to help you get a competitive salary in the market. Six Sigma professionals are among the highest-paid professionals across the globe within various industries. However, this depends on the level of certification that you have and how much you manage to score. 

For instance, you can expect a salary up to 20 lakhs in India as a Six Sigma certified black belt professional. In the US, certified professionals can earn up to $121,000 depending on the level and industry. In Singapore, a certified professional can make anywhere between SG$53,000 and SG$220,000, depending on the overall experience. A Six Sigma certified professional in the UK can earn over £60,000 per year. In Canada, Six Sigma professionals can expect C$78K per year.    

6. Positions you as an asset. 

With the applications of Six Sigma across top industries like airlines, manufacturing, finance, health care, and marketing, certified professionals get an edge over others during the selection process. They are viewed as experts in dozens of methodologies necessary for optimizing business processes and increasing revenue. Companies hire professionals who can offer their valuable insights to implement corrective measures in their new and upcoming projects. This positions Six Sigma certified employees as assets to the company. 

7. A better understanding of business processes

Even though there may be professionals who can do the job as someone who is certified, however, earning the certification offers a better and in-depth understanding of the techniques used to fix errors and help companies conform to standards set in the industry. Those without the certification may not be able to identify or fix the issue in the right way. When a business has teams that are certified in Six Sigma, this enhances the overall productivity. By concentrating on the process as a team, they can contribute to consistent growth and fewer issues. 

8. Ensure compliance 

The professionals are taught in detail about the rigorous and stringent quality standards to adhere to for Six Sigma. This knowledge comes in handy when evaluating business processes, products, or services. A significant number of organizations apply Six Sigma standards to oversee their manufacturing processes. Therefore, Six Sigma certified professionals with Green Belt are in high demand. They can help such organizations and vendors comply with international standards while maintaining their profit margins. 

9. Eliminate errors to support organizational growth

Earning Six Sigma certification equips candidates to spot and eliminate errors or risks at the initial stages of the business processes. This offers a crucial benefit from the enterprise’s perspective. Individuals attain the skills and analytical ability to transform organizational revenue and even improve it. Spotting errors early on eventually helps improve customer satisfaction and position your organization for unparalleled growth. This, in turn, also save a ton on cost overruns and sorting customer complaints.  

10. Enhances company culture 

Six Sigma has become a part of company culture in many Fortune 500 companies. Having an improved company culture boosts the confidence of employees. It also enables leaders to manage well and save on training costs. This, in turn, reduces employee turnover and helps contribute to the overall success of the organization. 

Benefits For Organizations To Have Six Sigma Certified Professionals

Apart from professionals, Six Sigma certification offers immense benefits for organizations across various industries and domains. We have enlisted the key benefits here –

1. Improved productivity 

Six Sigma certified leaders can improve the productivity of businesses by applying techniques to cut unnecessary costs. They can become the agents of change and motivate their team members to work for the business objectives. By improving processes, they help improve the revenue and quality of services delivered to the customers. 

2. Boost client confidence

By implementing Six Sigma techniques, businesses can reduce customer dissatisfaction and churn rates. This reflects in the annual turnover of the company and the form of a consistent revenue stream. By identifying errors in the process and implementing relevant strategies, businesses can achieve success in boosting client satisfaction levels. This shows in enhanced repeat business which, in turn, boosts the ROI.

3. Reduced training costs 

By employing Six Sigma certified professionals, organizations can save a ton on employee training costs. They do not have to outsource the training and thereby promote employees associated with the company objectives from early on. Six Sigma certified leaders are apt at reducing errors in pay compensation and help set employee expectations accordingly. They can streamline the hiring as well as training process to achieve optimal productivity.  

4. Reduced employee turnover 

When employees feel valued and happy, they will stay more loyal to the organization. After implementing Six Sigma techniques, several companies have reported a lower employee turnover. These techniques helped address common issues like future career prospects of the employees and expected raises. By imparting value to the employees, businesses can add value to their own processes and hence expect consistent growth. 

5. Gain stakeholder trust 

The success of an organization can be measured by analyzing its numbers and product/service quality. An organization that has hired Six Sigma certified professionals in the key role sets a benchmark for being driven competitively and instills immense confidence in the stakeholders. Trust is the key driver for stakeholders and their association with the company/brand. If investors believe in the success of the company, this will help them prioritize you among others in the market. 

Tips to ace Six Sigma Certification

The following tips will increase your chances of passing your Six Sigma Green and Black Belt certifications with good scores –

• Test practice questions -Make sure that you have tested yourself thoroughly using online practice tests to score well in your final examination. Do not skip through the Six Sigma resources and try to practice as much as possible to sharpen your skills before the actual examination.
• Cultivate an interest in the methodology – The best way to score well in the final exams is to cultivate a keen interest in the Six Sigma methodology. Learn as much as you can through guides, blogs, and other helpful resources at your disposal. There is a wealth of information available on the internet. Make sure that you are well acquainted with the latest developments in this field as well. 
• Join a forum – Another great way to keep yourself well informed with the latest developments in the field of Six Sigma is by joining an online forum for green belt or black belt. You can take advantage of the conversations and find helpful tips or information with various levels of quality.
• Make use of the Six Sigma study guide – There are many study guides available on the internet that offer detailed resources on Six Sigma. These guides are highly informative and have streamlined content that can help beginners as well as advanced learners. You can also take mock tests to determine where you stand and test your knowledge. The interactive material is helpful in giving practical tips for scoring well in the final exam. 

Conclusion

Overall, Six Sigma certification is beneficial for individuals who want to improve their career prospects and for organizations that want to improve their bottom line. The certification provides a framework for individuals to improve their problem-solving skills and for organizations to improve their processes.

FAQs