Six Sigma is a set of tools and techniques for process improvement used by many businesses around the world. Essentially it works by minimising process variability in terms of identifying and removing the causes of defects. Its use also creates a unique infrastructure of people within organisations who are experts at conducting projects and implementing improvements.

Those with Six Sigma certifications are in high demand in different roles across a range of industries. If your role involves being responsible for improving quality and processes at the departmental or organisational level, then our NEW Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow, Green and Black course will add another (enviable) skillset to your CV!

If you are new to the world of Six Sigma certification, you begin by achieving a Yellow Belt certification, then a Green Belt and finally a Six Sigma Black Belt. If you already have Six Sigma qualifications, it’s simply a matter of choosing your next challenging level!

 

Learning Outcomes

Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow Belt

If you are keen to undertake the Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, you will be already familiar with engaging with an organisation’s problem-solving teams to effect change. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

• Exploring the evolution of Six Sigma
• Understanding Six Sigma foundations, principles and core concepts
• Learning how Six Sigma can benefit your organisation
• Discovering Poka-yoke and Kanban-pull methodologies
• Learning about team basics, roles and responsibilities
• Using quality tools, creating charts and interpreting histograms
• Measuring process performance metrics including calculating yield, DPU and DPMO
• Implementing the Voice Of The Customer (VOC) strategies
• Discovering Six Sigma project management basics, including using diagrams and matrix and Gantt charts
• Learning about basic Six Sigma statistics, classifying and collecting data and undertaking a system analysis

 

Certificate of Six Sigma – Green Belt

At the Six Sigma – Green Belt level of your career, you will already be assisting with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

• Exploring Six Sigma methodologies
• Identifying Six Sigma projects and their Lean Principles
• Using DFSS tools for a project
• Uncovering the similarities between DFSS and Six Sigma
• Exploring the IDOV and DMADV methodology stages
• Understanding the Six Sigma Voice of the Customer
• Learning about the FMEA types, characteristics and process steps
• Undertaking RPN calculations
• Understanding DFMEA and PFMEA worksheets and differences
• Gaining insights into Six Sigma project management essentials
• Understanding Six Sigma process and performance capability measurements
• Using Six Sigma control charts, cycle-time reduction and Kaizen Blitz
• Exploring Six Sigma data classification, sampling and collection
• Undertaking Six Sigma hypothesis testing and performance metrics
• Using Six Sigma measurement systems analysis and waste elimination
• Exploring Six Sigma process documentation and analysis

 

Certificate of Six Sigma – Black Belt

At the Six Sigma – Black Belt level of your career, you will be leading problem-solving projects and possibly training and coaching teams. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

• Exploring the fundamentals of Lean and Six Sigma and their applications
• Learning about Six Sigma project selection, roles and responsibilities
• Undertaking Six Sigma strategic planning and deployment
• Discovering the impact on stakeholders and benchmarking
• Using business and financial measures in Six Sigma
• Learning about Six Sigma team dynamics, roles and success factors
• Exploring Six Sigma team facilitation and leadership
• Studying Six Sigma team dynamics and training
• Determining requirements by listening to the Voice Of The Customer
• Undertaking a Six Sigma business case
• Learning about process flow metrics and analysis tools
• Exploring data types, sampling, collection and measurement
• Using basic statistics and graphical methods
• Undertaking probability and probability distributions
• Determining process performance and capability
• Measuring and modelling relationships between variables
• Learning about the basics of hypothesis testing and tests for means
• Undertaking tests for variances and proportions, ANOVA and goodness-of-fit
• Exploring FMEA and other non-statistical analysis methods
• Understanding DOE and planning experiments
• Designing, conducting and analysing experiments
• Learning about Lean Improvement methods and implementation planning
• Undertaking statistical process control (SPC) and control charts
• Using Lean control tools and maintaining controls
• Sustaining Six Sigma improvements
• Exploring common DFSS methodologies, robust designs and design for X (DFX)

 

Who This Course Suits 

People seeking Six Sigma certification come from a range of industries and perform at a variety of levels. Typically, job titles include engineers, process owners, quality professionals, production managers, frontline managers and anyone charged with the responsibility of improving quality and processes at the departmental or organisational level.

 

Six Sigma History

Formulated by American Motorola engineer Bill Smith in 1980, Six Sigma methodologies were also introduced to General Electric’s business strategy by CEO Jack Welch in 1995.

The term ‘Six Sigma’ originated from terminology associated with the statistical modelling of manufacturing processes. The maturity of these can be described by a ‘sigma’ rating, which indicates its yield or the percentage of defect-free products that are created.

Each Six Sigma project carried out within an organisation follows a defined sequence of steps with specific value targets. These can include reducing pollution, cycle time and costs, and increasing profits and customer satisfaction.

 

Six Sigma Colour Gradings

Six Sigma professionals exist at every project level, and each has a different role to play. While roles may vary, here is a basic guide to who does what (in order of expertise).

Master Black Belt: Often functions at the Six Sigma program level by developing key metrics and strategic direction. They can also act as an organisation’s Six Sigma technologist or internal consultant and may train and coach Black Belts and Green Belts.

Black Belt: Leads problem-solving projects and often trains and coaches project teams.

Brown Belt: Not traditionally used in Six Sigma projects, some organisations may classify a Brown Belt as someone who has their Green Belt and has passed the Black Belt certification exam, but hasn’t yet completed a second Six Sigma project.

Green Belt: Assists with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects, and may lead Green Belt projects or teams.

Yellow Belt: Participates as a project team member, and often reviews process improvements that support the project.

White Belt: May work on problem-solving teams supporting projects but not necessarily as part of a Six Sigma project team.

 

Six Sigma Real-World Use

The following companies claim to have successfully implemented Six Sigma methodologies into their organisations in one form or other:

• American Express
• BHP Billiton
• Caterpillar
• Centrelink
• Citibank
• Commonwealth Bank
• Dupont
• Ernst & Young
• Flight Centre Travel Group
• Ford Australia
• GE
• Holden Ltd
• Honeywell
• IBM Australia
• Kodak Australasia
• Kraft Foods
• Motorola
• Nestle Australia
• Pacific Dunlop
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Qantas
• Rio Tinto
• Suncorp
• Sunrice
• Sheraton Hotel
• Siemens
• Telstra

 

Fun Fact! 

Six Sigma processes are ones in which 99.99966% of all opportunities to produce some feature of a part are statistically expected to be free of defects!

 

If you’re after a Certification program to kick-start your career, and provide invaluable, in-demand process improvement skills for future job opportunities, then our Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow, Green and Black is for you!