Don’t overlook the benefits of Six Sigma, a set of principles and philosophies that can be incorporated into project management methodologies and enhanced with the best project management software. However, though Six Sigma can help eliminate product defects and variations, it’s complex enough that certification is practically required to implement it correctly.
We’ve listed Six Sigma as one of the best project management certifications for project leaders. When used correctly, it can drastically reduce project costs, eliminate non-value-adding processes, reduce defects and improve people management skills.
If you’re interested in Six Sigma and want to learn more, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll explain what Six Sigma is, how it can improve organizational efficiency, what the different levels of certification entail and the salary range you can expect. We’ll even list the benefits of becoming certified.
What Is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma, created by Motorola engineer Bill Smith in 1986, is a set of guiding principles that can be used with many project management methodologies. It uses statistical analysis to improve business processes, increase profit margins, boost employee morale, manage risks, reduce defects and create high-quality products that increase customer satisfaction.
Six Sigma can improve manufacturing by identifying and eliminating the variables that cause product defects. Proper implementation of Six Sigma can lead to reducing manufacturing defects and variations to as few as 3.4 defects per 1 million opportunities. Statistically, this means manufacturers can expect 99.99966% of their products to be defect-free.
Organizations can choose between two implementation methods: DMAIC, “define, measure, analyze, improve and control,” is used to improve current processes, while DMADV, “define, measure, analyze, design and verify,” is used to create new project processes.
Though Six Sigma was initially designed for use in manufacturing, it has evolved to work with Agile frameworks. Six Sigma is now used in healthcare, aviation, education, finance, retail, marketing and many other industries.
Lean vs Six Sigma vs Lean Six Sigma
Bring up the subject of Six Sigma and many will tell you that they love the Lean process. Though they could indeed be talking about Lean Six Sigma, it’s important to note that Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma are different. The confusion stems from the U.S. military, which adopted Six Sigma and tacked on the term “Lean” for no apparent reason.
The confusion surrounding Lean and Six Sigma became so great that Lean Six Sigma was eventually developed to truly incorporate both sets of guiding principles. Below, we’ll break down the Lean and Six Sigma methodologies so you can better understand them.
Six Sigma Certifications
If you’re ready to boost your career in project management, you’ll need to create a plan to obtain your Six Sigma certifications. The process of becoming a Six Sigma master can be long and complicated, as there are numerous certifications available.
Below, we’ll cover each of the Six Sigma belts (certifications), what they cover and how you can learn the course material.
you have mastered some or all of the Six Sigma methodology.
Black Belt
The Black Belt certification is for those who thoroughly understand Six Sigma philosophies and processes, as well as leadership, team dynamics and the removal of non-value-adding processes. You must also understand how to assign team members to roles with responsibilities and have a basic understanding of Lean principles.
Before you can sit for the exam, you must meet a few requirements. Individuals must be able to prove they have three years of full-time, paid experience working in one or more areas of the Six Sigma body of knowledge and proof of one completed project with a signed affidavit, or proof of two completed Six Sigma projects with signed affidavits.
The $229 open-book Black Belt exam features 150 questions and has a three-hour time limit. It includes multiple-choice and true-or-false questions from the Six Sigma body of knowledge. The exam can be taken online or at an approved testing facility.
Master Black Belt
The Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification is for those who are experts in the field and know the Six Sigma body of knowledge like the back of their hand. Individuals are expected to understand all Six Sigma philosophies and principles, be masters of the DMAIC and DMADV methods, and be expert leaders who understand Lean enterprise concepts.
Not just anyone can sit for the 150-question Master Black Belt exam. Participants must be able to provide evidence of four years of experience leading Six Sigma projects as a Black Belt. You must score 540 points out of 600 to pass.
After the exam, you must submit three Six Sigma projects that follow the DMAIC or the DMADV methodologies for review. The projects can be ones you have managed, or hypothetical projects if your organization does not want to share company information. Once your submissions are deemed satisfactory, you’ll hold a Master Black Belt certification.
Advanced Belts
Perhaps instead of advancing through the Six Sigma belts you’d rather stay at your current belt level. Each belt level has advanced belts you can obtain to boost your career and earning potential. Green Belt Level II and Black Belt Levels II and III, which cost $300 each, can help you solidify your place as a knowledgeable Six Sigma team member.
The advanced belts do not have exam components; however, applicants must submit proof of projects they have worked on that demonstrate their abilities and problem-solving skills.
Lean Six Sigma
Each of the certifications we have discussed up to this point is for Six Sigma, not Lean Six Sigma. If you want to show the world that you have what it takes to implement Lean, and you have a sound understanding of how to use continuous process improvement methods for enhanced customer satisfaction, check out the Lean Six Sigma certifications.
How Much Does Six Sigma Training Cost?
Six Sigma training and certification can help you land better jobs and earn more money, but you’ll need to pay to obtain most of the certifications. Fortunately, the cost of exam entry is relatively affordable.
Though fees for training courses and certification exams vary by provider, the exams offered at The Council For Six Sigma Certification, considered the gold standard, are quite affordable. In the table below, we list the Six Sigma certification costs and the average salary in the U.S. for each level.
White Belt
Yellow Belt
Green Belt
Black Belt
Master Black BeltThe Benefits of Six Sigma Certification
If you’re a project manager, a scrum master or a product owner who wants to increase their value, gain new knowledge and help your company become as efficient as possible, obtaining a Six Sigma accreditation could be a great next step. As you can imagine, obtaining a new certification comes with many benefits. The biggest benefits include:
Final Thoughts
A Six Sigma certification increases your knowledge of waste reduction, process variation elimination, data analysis and overall quality improvements. A certification will also increase your worth and make it easier to find jobs in multiple industries. If you want to land your dream job in project management, it’s worth looking more closely into Six Sigma certification.
What do you think about Six Sigma? Do you have your eye on a particular belt? Do you already have a certification? If so, how has it helped you with project management? Let us know in the comments and, as always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: Benefits of Six Sigma Training
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The main benefits of Six Sigma are reducing errors and lowering costs during production processes.
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The main advantages of Six Sigma include reduced costs, fewer production discrepancies and increased customer value. The major downside is the complexity of implementing its many guiding principles and philosophies.
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The main goal of Six Sigma is to reduce the number of product variations and defects during manufacturing processes; however, Six Sigma can also be used to increase efficiency and reduce costs across numerous industries.
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Individuals who obtain Six Sigma certification will increase their knowledge and project management skill set, boost their earning potential and open doors to new job opportunities.
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