Six Sigma
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“What is required for me to achieve Six Sigma Certification?”
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“What is the difference between a Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt?”
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“Why are there different Six Sigma Belts and what makes them different?”
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“Is Lean Six Sigma Certification the same as Six Sigma Certification?”
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“Can I complete Six Sigma Certification online?”
For those new to the world of Six Sigma, Lean, and Six Sigma, the language and nuances, the “belts”, the difference between a certificate and being certified can be very confusing. This webpage is dedicated to answering some of your questions as you explore options for professional development that can help accelerate your career.
For visitors who are interested in completing a Six Sigma online course or proceeding with Six Sigma Certification online, click here to sign up for a FREE Lean Six Sigma and Agile Coach online account and FREE Agile courses and other resources. You can also visit our online store to review our Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile Certificate Programs and Certification.
What is Six Sigma?
The simplest description might be, “Six Sigma is evidence-based problem-solving and decision making”.
But Six Sigma professionals would argue that the preceding fails to adequately describe this powerful process and product design and optimization methodology that was developed by Motorola in the 1980s and rapidly grew to be THE engine for continuous improvement and operational excellence for high-profile global corporations.
To learn more about the history, key concepts, and methods of Six Sigma, sign up for a FREE account at Lean Six Sigma Coach where you will have access to FREE courses, including our popular “S001 Introduction to Six Sigma”.
Much of what you need to know can be found in the 6 Sigma online free course so we will focus on the “vital few”, starting with the all-important Six Sigma concept, “Y = f(x)”, also stated as “Y is a function of X”. Inputs/Outputs, Cause and Effect. This simple concept marks the beginning of your Six Sigma training journey. Leveraging data, powerful graphical and statistical analysis tools, and other quality tools and methods, a Six Sigma specialist acquires profound understanding of a product, process, or system and leverages that knowledge to achieve breakthrough improvements in design and overall capability. No… not all changes and improvements require this level of rigour but it is the Y=F(x) mindset that is fundamental to Six Sigma thinkers.
SIX SIGMA DMAIC, DMADV, & IDOV
Similar to Agile, Lean, and Lean Six Sigma, there is a Six Sigma methodology, in fact two distinct approaches that leverage a common set of tools. DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is the most common and frequently used method for problem-solving and process improvement. The FREE Introduction to Six Sigma course provides further information on DMAIC.
DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify) and IDOV (Identify, Design, Optimize, Verify) are used interchangeably, as explicitly identified in both methods, for DESIGN rather than improve. The question is “which method should I use”? Consider the following logic tree;
When choosing DMAIC, there is evidence to suggest that the existing product or service (and related processes) are capable of achieving the target specifications or service levels but improvement is needed. In some cases, your “best day” may never be good enough and that is when design may be the preferred approach.
Six Sigma and Lean methods and tools, Lean Six Sigma, offer quality professionals and improvement specialists a powerful suite of principles, tools, and methods that can routinely applied to all process improvement and design opportunities and are a game changer in terms of accelerating your career.
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