Six Sigma refers to a methodology that dates back to the mid-1980s that focuses on quality improvement through the identification of errors and finding effective ways of correcting them. The methodology was pioneered by Motorola when it set its manufacturing goals and by 2005, the company saved about $17 billion and attributed it to the implementation of six sigma. As a result, other companies followed suit and were also able to improve quality as well as save costs incurred in the manufacturing process. The Six Sigma approach is data-driven and is essential for the growth and success of any business regardless of the field or profession one is working in. σ is a Greek letter that represents the variability or standard deviation in products. For any manufacturing or production process, there is always a level of variation in the products. The purpose of Six Sigma is to analyze the production process and determine the cause of these variations (Takao et al., 2017). The purpose of this essay is to describe the Six Sigma approach including requirements for certification, the six sigma process, lean six sigma, benefits, and history.
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Six-Sigma Certification
Six Sigma certification verifies and validates professionals who are highly skilled in identifying errors, risks, and defects that may exist in the business process and eliminating them. Generally, the performance of a company is measured by considering the sigma level of the production process. A high sigma level illustrates that there is a lower rate of errors which implies that the business process is efficient and translates to better value for the consumers (Stankalla et al., 2019)
Certification requirements and Levels of certification for Six Sigma
Individuals who want to be certified must complete a course that takes approximately eight weeks and must also take an approved examination and pass it. There are five main certification levels and from the lowest to the highest level, they include white belt, yellow belt, green belt, black belt, and master black belt. The white belt level deals with basic concepts and certified persons can work with problem-solving teams during projects. The yellow belt level focuses on reviewing process improvements, the green belt focuses on collecting relevant data and analyzing it, while the black belt entails leading projects. Individuals with a master black belt can develop key metrics, shape business strategies, coach other individuals at lower levels, and work as consultants (American Society for Quality, 2021).