The industries have gotten so competitive that certain types of jobs are demanding or requiring Six Sigma certifications. This is the only basic requirement that they are ready to consider. One can take Six Sigma certification even if they already have a job. It is an excellent opportunity to upskill, and it can be a huge plus point to get to higher-level positions in any management. However, it is going to be a challenging journey to get to the top. One needs to get many things right before applying for any Six Sigma certification. The three main things to understand are organizational vision, strategy, and roadmap to constant improvements. If your goal is not aligned with the organization, you will not see exponential growth in your career. Explore the steps involved in Six Sigma Certification Journey.
Management’s Philosophy
The candidate should understand the philosophies and methodologies that are being followed in any particular organization. Some of the questions to ask would be as follows
- What management style is working best for them?
- Are they incurring losses due to waste in the supply chain or manufacturing defects?
- What’s the overall organizational culture?
These can help one get into the right lane in their certification journey. With culture and organizational benefits, the main objectives or philosophies should point towards customer satisfaction, customer loyalty, team member empowerment, and high-quality partnerships. With the right mindset and philosophy, one can turn around any company’s management. It can also help in increasing your credibility of the journey you are about to embark on. So, make it your top priority to get deep into one’s organization and locate their capabilities to improve your marketability and chances of quality employment.
Optimize Your Processes
Optimization comes from statistical analysis, which means that you can make decisions solely based on data and customer behavior. Process modification and proper alignment of objectives only come when we define the real value for the customers. So, try to streamline your costs and points towards the end-user. Also, creating and establishing a flow is paramount to see consistent results. Another way to optimize processes is to map the organization’s value streams. Root cause analysis that comes later in the certification can help in outlining the problem and its cause. This creates more opportunities to eliminate and control waste in the current state.
Understanding your Role within the Organization
The next step in your Sig Sigma Certification Journey is to decide the roles and responsibilities you will take up within the organization. The methodology of Six Sigma has divided the roles and tasks according to the ranks obtained by the candidate or team member. An individual with high rankings is likely to have in-depth knowledge, and he or she can be an asset to any organization.
Some of the prominent team members involved in Six Sigma projects are team leaders, Facilitators, Scribe, Sponsor, Process Owner, and Champion. The group’s rankings and authority can be coupled, but team dynamics and mechanics are more important than individual rankings.
Sponsors are business leaders who take financial aspects of the projects, and they form a strong connection with the team and upper management. Another critical element of the group is the Six Sigma Champion. He or she is an executive who takes care of and resolves all cross-functional problems. They are even responsible for coaching lower rank individuals.
A project manager or leader plays an essential role in the organization because they take up the responsibility to arrange team meetings and gatherings.
Choose your spot in the organization’s hierarchy and stick to it until the very end of your certification journey. One should believe in the team process rather than in their improvements. Listening and collaborating are crucial to building good rapport.
Select the right Certification Level
The achievement levels in Six Sigma certification are countless, but to make it easier to distinguish different groups, they have made it into four primary classes. They are Yellow, Green, Black, and Master Black Belts. These belts or levels of certifications are used for indicating the level of skill or qualification that a person has achieved. It is a laborious process where one needs to cross each group to get to the next.
Six Sigma Yellow Belt
The yellow belt certification is necessary for every candidate. It covers all the fundamental operations involved in Six Sigma projects. This program emphasizes the business guidelines, and it is ideal for people who lead to limited improvement projects. If you are on this certification level, you will likely be handed tasks that support other team members.
Six Sigma Green Belt
In the Green belt certification, one is likely to experience more statistical work, which is a step above from the previous ranks. They help in gathering and analyzing data to figure out the root cause. An individual on this journey is not handed a leadership position, but they support other team members.
Six Sigma Black Belt
The Six Sigma Black Belt is an advanced-level certification, and people who are in this rank have sufficient experience and skill set to lead Six Sigma project teams. They are well experienced with problem-solving projects, and they know the ins and outs of the organization.
The right certification level is dependent on one’s skills and experience. The implementation differs from each rank and course. The goal in any stream or level should be to implement all Six Sigma methodologies. It is to bring immense value to the customer and reduce inconsistencies, waste, and manufacturing defects.
Locating the right Training Program
This is a no-brainer for many people, but it can be challenging for those who already have a job. It is essential to choose flexible hours to manage both work and attending training programs. Classroom training can be more beneficial for some people, while others feel virtual or online courses are more advantageous.
Some training programs involve both Black and Green belts candidates to attend classes together. This 2+2 format can create an internal synergy that can help a lot in personal development throughout the certification journey. Mentors or trainers are expected to have real-life experience in multiple industries and niches. Real-world scenarios are more emphasized in these training programs. Virtual tutors can take one-on-one sessions, and it is more useful for those who like to study at their own pace. So, one should also consider pace learning and estimate the number of hours they dedicate to the process.
Research & Study Materials
Textbooks and materials can be old school, but they are crucial in breaking down case studies and industry-based problems. Some professionals can take the certification exam by merely reading the essential study guide. If one wants to personalize or customize their manuals and study materials, they should reach out to a mentor or training provider. Invensis Learning is an IASSC Accredited Training Provider to provide Lean Six Sigma certification training worldwide. Some of the main topics covered in every Lean Six Sigma course are The Normal Distribution, Statistical Quality Control Theory, common cause, special cause variation, and many more.
Real-time Projects
The real-time projects initiated by various governing bodies for Six Sigma bring out the actual working of DMAIC methodology. However, in some cases, the first step to a project would be called Recognize. By being a part of this project, one understands many things like scope, cost, time taken, and quality ensured. The experience gained from these projects will be lifelong learning because it creates a sense of urgency for professionals to take action and be a leader in future projects. With the completion of the project, the institute or governing bodies will provide full level certification. So, make sure to get your recognition and leave your presence only after completing a full-fledged real-time project.
To Conclude…
Six Sigma certification will have unmatched benefits for each individual. Some can excel in their careers, while others can enhance their leadership and managerial abilities. After clearing a rank or level in Six Sigma, one is destined to have certain awareness, which helps set them apart from the crowd. The certification journey that one goes through for one two-four weeks builds a good work culture. With increased commitment and productivity, there is a high chance of achieving optimum results for the organization. The best part about completing a certification level is the applicability and credibility that comes with it. One can now apply for several other sectors like telecom, HR, marketing, and many more. Six Sigma helps people diversify and land their dream jobs.
Some of the popular Quality Management certification courses that individuals can take up are:
