Lean Six Sigma Explained

If you are looking to improve the way you carry out processes in your business and change the way things work, Lean Six Sigma may be an ideal option.

Nearly forty years old, this methodology has helped thousands of organizations around the world speed up production, improve efficiency and help save money.

You may be wondering if it is right for your business and if so, how to go about becoming a qualified practitioner. If the answer to both of these questions is yes, we’ve put together this short guide to help you find out more about Lean Six Sigma.

The history of Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma was initially devised by Motorola in 1985. The methodology came into being as a way for the company to reduce manufacturing issues and increase efficiency.

In fact, ‘sigma’ is a measurement of variation. With Lean Six Sigma, you want to reduce the number of variations (or defects) in your processes, as well as eliminate any unnecessary steps. Sigma strives to achieve near-perfect output, high-quality and consistent improvement.

This methodology was initially used by companies in the manufacturing industry. However, Lean Six Sigma has now been adopted by a wide range of different sectors including IT, healthcare, marketing and banking.

If your business has processes in place, then the Lean Six Sigma methodology can be applied.

What is Lean Six Sigma all about?

Lean Six Sigma is about data gathering, looking at issues analytically and measuring data to see if the processes put in place are working.

It’s also about continuous improvement. Once a problem has been resolved, it still needs to be monitored to see if there is a better, more efficient way of carrying it out.

Lean Six Sigma requires buy-in and commitment from everyone in the organisation, from the Managing Director to those on the shop floor. Everyone across the company needs to be aware of what is being done and how even the smallest changes can have a significant impact.

A good project manager skilled in the Lean Six Sigma Methodology will rally people behind any changes that need to be made.

What is DMAIC?

DMAIC is one of the critical methodologies that Lean Six Sigma uses. It is utilised to find and eliminate defects in a process.

DMAIC stands for:

◉ Define – define the problem, as well as what and who is needed to solve it

◉ Measure – quantify the problem and establish a baseline so you can see how things are improving

◉ Analyse – identify what is causing the problem and how you can change or remove these issues

◉ Improve – solve the problem, implement the changes and check that any amends made are working

◉ Control – ensure that the problem does not return, and that the process continues to improve over time

The belts of Lean Six Sigma

Six Sigma has a lot in common with karate. Both require precision, dedication and knowledge.

With karate, you receive a new colour belt when you pass your exams. With Lean Six Sigma, although you do not receive a physical belt, the different grades are called ‘belts’!

People with no formal Lean Six Sigma qualifications are known as ‘white belts’. After this, there are three different levels of accreditation.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

This is a short introduction to the world of Lean Six Sigma – ideal for those who may not be managing change but are involved in supporting the people that are.

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

The next step on the Lean Six Sigma ladder, a Green Belt, is a good starting point for project managers. This course introduces them to the problem-solving frameworks that Lean Six Sigma utilises.

This is a lifetime certification and does not need to be recertified.

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

In karate, a black belt means that you have mastered all there is to know and are ready to lead others. The same applies to a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma.

This advanced course teaches delegates how to drive change across the business as well as how to measure performance.

This certification needs to be renewed every three years.

You don’t have to complete Lean Six Sigma Green belt before you take on this accreditation, but it is recommended.

If you want to take things even further, you can study for a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. This shows that you can not only lead others but are qualified to teach them in Lean Six Sigma methodology too.

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Why is Lean Six Sigma so beneficial?

Lean Six Sigma has the following benefits for organisations.

◉ It improves productivity

◉ It improves quality

◉ It increases customer and stakeholder satisfaction

◉ It ensures compliance with government regulations

◉ It reduces waste

◉ It reduces operating costs

◉ It reduces risk

◉ It reduces employee turnover

It also has benefits for you too! Holding a Lean Six Sigma Qualification can increase your salary and help you get promoted to managerial roles.

Source: itonlinelearning.com

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ASQ Six Sigma Certification Preparation Steps and What to Do About Them?

What Is Six Sigma?

The Six Sigma methodology was formed in the mid-1980s by engineers at Motorola to improve manufacturing processes. At its core, Six Sigma includes collecting and leveraging data to reduce defects and waste in manufacturing to improve overall efficiency and quality.

The term sigma is a measure of how far from complete a system or producer can get. By Six Sigma standards, companies should reduce manufacturing defects to less than 3.4 per 1 million units.

Businesses use the Six Sigma methodology to develop processes by identifying the errors that lead to defects and implementing new management systems once mistakes have been addressed. The method is most effective with repetitive, assembly line-style operations where individual steps can be isolated, examined, and improved upon.

Learning Objectives of Six Sigma Certification

Here are the essential learning objectives of ASQ Six Sigma Certification:

• Six Sigma certification helps you to improve your value to your employer and its clients.
• It helps you to improve customer comfort and quality of product and service.
• Reduce the process cycle time and therefore gives overall cost saving up to 30%.
• It helps you to identify and improve requirements in the project definition phase.
• Explain how to measure product and process.
• It helps you to do data analysis and hypothesis testing.
• It provides possible improvement actions for the production of variations.
• They are the right fit to obtain organizational aims.
• You will get higher levels of jobs in the organization.
• This certification training improves your chances of Promotion.
• You can make your current job more comfortable by applying the Six Sigma tools and techniques.
• Overall Business improvement.

How to Get an ASQ Six Sigma Certificate?

To achieve an ASQ Six Sigma certificate, a candidate should meet the experience requirement, give his or her competency for the skill applied, and finally pass a written certification exam.

The written exam is mostly of multiple-choice that progress in assigned time and difficulty at each certification level.

For example, the Yellow Belt exam may take 150 minutes. A Black Belt may take 270 minutes. The hands-on part of the certification examination may require you to complete one or more quality project management with signed affidavits.

Who Needs to Attend Six Sigma Certification?

Some of the professional for whom this training is considered extremely relevant are:

• Quality control professionals
• Process improvement professionals
• Production managers
• Process control specialists
• Frontline and factory supervisors
• Management professionals such as HR
• IT and Finance Engineers
• Business Analysts

Begin Your Preparation for ASQ Six Sigma Certification

To prepare for the Six Sigma Certified exam, make sure that you stick to the given instructions.

Here are the moves that will aid you in the process of preparation:

• The syllabus is the most important part, be it any exam, so make sure you go through the syllabus of the Six Sigma Exam. Prepare your regular study schedule to keep your free time and the time duration until the exam date.
• Every topic of Six Sigma requires to be studied given in the study guide, in-depth.
• Scenario-based logical questions are asked in the Six Sigma exams. Therefore, try to describe every thought with a real-time business scenario while preparing for the exam. Not just will this help you in answering the question better but will also help you expand your knowledge.

Tips and Tricks for Preparation ASQ Six Sigma Certification

• Performing exercises for all the topics will assist you in getting a better grip on the issues.
• Solving exam-oriented ASQ Six Sigma sample questions proves to be of great help. You can find them on ProcessExam.com.
• You can contribute to the practice test for Six Sigma. The questions format will give you an idea of what to assume in your final exam. It will prepare for the real exam as the questions are close to the actual exam, making you feel that you are giving the real exam.
• This will make you know your weak areas at the end of every practice test. Refer to Six Sigma study material for several topics.
• Endeavoring Six Sigma practice tests more and more will aid you to score better than every prior attempt.
• Every practice test you take will take you a move closer to pass the final Six Sigma exam. So make sure you score better every time. This will lead you to your aspired target in the actual exam.
• There are available resources for ASQ Six Sigma Certification Preparation.

How Is Six Sigma Used?

Initially developed for manufacturing, Six Sigma can soon be found across many industries. However, just because companies in various sectors have applied, this methodology does not necessarily mean using it correctly or effectively. Six Sigma often fails to yield the results required to justify such a time-consuming and expensive management change outside of a manufacturing operation.

Read: Six Sigma Certification: Importance, Benefits, And Future

To function effectively, Six Sigma needs buy-in from everyone involved. It requires a sizable upfront cost to complete and train employees on the methodology of Six Sigma and its performance.

Employees of all levels must be decreased in the different positions of the methodology as well. Individuals who have made a Six Sigma certification class earn belts to designate their group - Green Belts are for boots, Black Belts are for project leaders, and Master Black Belts are for those in charge of achieving Six Sigma the business.

Conclusion

It will become more comfortable for you to crack ASQ Six Sigma certification if the points mentioned above are kept in mind. Always mind it. The more serious you will be regarding your time, the easier it will be for you to utilize it in the right manner.

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