Is Becoming an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Something You Should Consider?

Go for Six Sigma Black Belt Certification

That depends, of course, on what manner of person you are and what you want to do with your career. The Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) Certification certainly is not for everyone. For most people, Project Management Professional (PMP) and Six Sigma Green Belt (CCSGB) certification are all they will ever want or need. I would say having both PMP and CSSGB certifications is an almost perfect situation for most people.

Six Sigma Black Belt is the essential level of certification in the Six Sigma Program. CSSBB preparation gives exposure to various aspects of the way, from planning and deployment, team management, DMAIC, process management, and means to frameworks and methodologies. It is a globally recognized certification that becomes a professional's credibility in making a career in Quality Management.

However, for those of you who are involved in taking process improvement to the next level and influencing how decisions are made within a company, there is not anything better than becoming a Black Belt.

Why is that? Well, it is pretty simple. Black Belts are highly trained in improving results using lean thoughts and advanced statistical analysis techniques. They have the combined responsibility of influencing day-to-day business decisions. Black Belts are project managers, mentors, trainers, team leaders, and if utilized efficiently, should be put in prominent leadership positions reporting directly to the highest levels in an organization.

As a Six Sigma believer, my opinion is that Six Sigma Black Belts should be the best of the best; they are the go-to people for the most challenging process improvement works a company faces. Skilled and experienced Six Sigma Black Belts are rather hard to find, but a good one is worth their weight in gold!

Well, they all achieve projects. Project managers are trained in the art of managing projects. Six Sigma practitioners usually concentrate on process improvement-oriented projects using quantitative tools to help with decision making.

Black Belts, on the other hand, take it a step removed. They learn about how to improve processes, but they are also trained on many advanced statistical analysis techniques that take root cause analysis and improvement efforts to the next level.

Typical topics covered in Black Belt training and practice in the DMAIC steps are listed in the diagram on the left. A Six Sigma Black Belt does not need to be a statistician; however, he or she needs to have a comfort level with data collection and analysis and the practical application of statistical tools to various situations.

Ultimately, a Six Sigma Black Belt understands that to enhance results, one must develop the process. They know that feelings matter little in the long run and that quantifiable improvements are what business leaders are looking for from projects.

Black Belts understand the theory of variation, an idea many leaders do not appreciate or ignore. They also realize that change is indeed the enemy of quality and is the primary source for knee-jerk reactions and emotional decision making. Decreasing variation is the foundation for improvement. Thus Black Belts lead the charge in reducing variation in processes so results can more quickly be improved.

What Makes a Successful ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt?

Six Sigma Black Belts must be competent and skilled in several areas, including statistical analysis, project management, leadership, stakeholder relations, communication, and problem-solving. They must be able to balance statistical importance with practical application. They require to lead development, stand up to ever-present protection, and finally influence decision making.

Becoming an ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt is not for everyone; it needs a high degree of care and commitment. But for those of us who enjoy the challenge of developing processes and changing results, the benefits are well worth the time and effort.

Because many classified ads state that the applicant must have a Six Sigma certification, a mentality may be beginning to take the most uncomplicated exam that can be found to get certified. Thus, administrators must look for other means and methods to ensure that the people they have or plan to hire, genuinely have the proper knowledge and skills.

This could mean that your organization should review amazing of the certification processes currently available and need that internal or future hires meet that criteria. Another option could be to hire someone to help qualify current or prospective personnel in the information and skills wanted for your industry.

The Final Words

The value of a Six Sigma certification process begins with a management review of what Six Sigma skills are required to meet customer demands. Your organization may want only to interview candidates from individual companies or whose certificate is from a particular organization based on past positive experiences.

You may require to grow a program inside to meet your unique needs. The challenge will be to monitor the Six Sigma personnel's progress within your organization and make changes as situations dictate.