Six Sigma

Six Sigma Certification is a funny concept. Everyone wants to be certified, but nobody really understands what it means in the industry and how it might enhance your resume outside your current company. Six Sigma Certification is a confirmation of an individual's capabilities with respect to specific competencies. Just like any other quality certification, Six Sigma Certification does not indicate that an individual is capable of unlimited process improvement, just that s/he has completed the necessary requirements from the company granting the certification.

For instance, millions of people have applied for, tested and been granted a driver's license in the United States. It certifies that a person has passed the minimum guidelines and requirements for driving. The individual must pass both a written and hands-on driving test in order to 'certify'. Not all individuals in the United States, however, have the same proficiency in driving - even though they may have passed the tests and been granted a driver's license. The same is true for Six Sigma Certification. Six Sigma Certification alone does not summarize the worth of a true quality professional.

Six Sigma certification demonstrates an individual’s knowledge, skills and dedication to achieving a high level of competency in Six Sigma process. The Six Sigma Certification standards require an individual to pass rigorous training and testing hurdles to gain a Six Sigma Certification.

What Is Involved In Six Sigma Certification?

As with attaining a driver's license in the United States, Six Sigma certification entails learning the appropriate subject matter, passing a written proficiency test, and displaying competency in a hands-on environment. The materials can be purchased from almost any Six Sigma training and consulting company, but almost always comes bundled with classroom training. Usually you or your company will purchase a training session, which has different bodies of knowledge and durations for each Six Sigma Certification level (green belt, black belt, master black belt, sponsor, etc.).

The written proficiency test may be given by the training company or the business hiring the training company.

Typically, companies new to Six Sigma will defer to the training company's proficiency test. Companies that have been performing in-house training for years (such as Motorola or GE) have created and administer their own written proficiency tests.

After a quality professional has completed training, s/he must complete one or two quality projects and display competency in applying the concepts learned in the classroom training. This is where Six Sigma Certification companies diverge, as this part of the certification is the most fuzzy and undefined.

Some organizations require a certification candidate to complete one project if a green belt or sponsor, and two projects if a black belt or master black belt; others require less or more. In addition, there is no standard for what passes and what fails to display an individual's competency.

So what is Six Sigma you may be wondering? Check back later this week for the answer.