How to Earn Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
Six Sigma was developed by Motorola, USA as a way to improve quality management and has been adopted by businesses worldwide. Six Sigma Black Belts specialize in improving business processes to save time, money and resources. An understanding of statistics and data analysis is important to success as a Black Belt.
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Things You'll Need
- Training
- Passing exam grade
- Successful completion of one or two Six Sigma projects
- Completed certification package
Instructions
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Find a good training program. Unlike project management or other fields, there is no industry standard for Six Sigma Black Belt certifications. Look for programs that offer at least three to four weeks of full-time instruction and have a good reputation. Many colleges and universities also offer courses in Six Sigma implementation.
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Attend the course, and complete the exam. Learn as much as you can in class, and ask questions while you have the benefit of a full-time instructor. Most reputable programs require that you complete a written examination in order to pass the class. In most cases, completion of a training course does not equate to Six Sigma Black Belt certification. You'll have to apply the training to receive your certification.
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Successfully complete one or two Six Sigma Black Belt level projects. Depending on the certifying body, you may just have to show that you followed the process and used the appropriate tools. More likely, however, your project will have to show measurable improvement.
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Complete any additional certification requirements. Some programs take certification a step further and require that you teach Green Belt courses for a certain number of hours or even mentor Green Belts. Make sure you have completed all requirements and documented them before completing your certification package.
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Complete your Six Sigma Black Belt certification package. Programs differ, but you generally don't get credit for completing the work unless you document it. Documentation might include a paper about your project, training hours, letters of recommendation, or certification from your organization that you met all of the requirements.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't have any previous experience with Six Sigma, it is advisable (and sometimes required) to have completed a Green Belt certification program first.
Six Sigma is not easy to implement. A Six Sigma Black Belt certification should be pursued only if you are passionate about making change and are ready for a career change.
References
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