What Is a Six Sigma Certification, and How Can It Help

Are you the owner of a company operating in a competitive field? Do you want the efficiency of the internal processes implemented by your employees to reach a higher level? Are you willing to make decisions within your business after analyzing concrete data? In this case, the Six Sigma methodology is probably suitable for your needs. Six Sigma is a business philosophy that focuses on reducing the number of defects in the production process, increasing internal efficiency, and reducing decisions that can affect profitability. By becoming certified, you can gain the knowledge required to address your company’s needs. But what is a Six Sigma certification?

A Six Sigma certificate of completion is a calling card to demonstrate to your business peers the knowledge needed to successfully implement Six Sigma for your firm’s specifics. A person who has completed a Six Sigma course and who has obtained at least a yellow belt will have a good understanding of the methodology used in Six Sigma, will possess the ability to use analytical tools for interpreting confidential company data, and will develop the skills to collaborate with project leaders in determining the strategy required for business optimization.

What is a Six Sigma certification?

A tool to take your knowledge to the next level. Once obtained, a yellow or green Six Sigma belt will prove your understanding of data-making processes. Graduates of the Six Sigma classes have an excellent knowledge of the DMAIC framework, can use process maps or control charts to visualize the process performance within firms, can use DOE, ANOVA, or Pareto Charts to identify issues that impact efficiency and can use the Kaizen approach to facilitate continuous improvement based on data collected with professional tools.

What Certification Levels Are There?

Have you wondered what is a Six Sigma certification? In that case, you probably want to know more about the expertise levels in this philosophy. To make it easier to understand (and honestly, because it sounds cooler), the Six Sigma certification level is divided into different belt tiers, culminating in the master black belt certification. The first tier is the white belt, in which learners are introduced to the Six Sigma methodology, become familiar with the tools and programs used in statistical analysis, and start working alongside project managers to apply the acquired information to their businesses.

The next tier is the yellow belt. Graduates of this level are expected to have an average understanding of Six Sigma concepts, associate with internal company projects as full members, and begin incorporating techniques such as the Ishikawa diagram into their firms. With the attainment of the green belts, it is assumed alums can take charge and assist black belt graduates with data collection. Black belts are team leaders and can organize coaching programs. Master black belts, meanwhile, are experts in the Six Sigma methodology and act as mentors and strategic planners for wide-scale initiatives.

What Are the Alternatives to Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is one of the most popular methodologies for streamlining companies’ internal processes. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only philosophy corporations can use in the 21st century. Some of the business methods employed by national or international enterprises can complement the Six Sigma methodology and leverage its principles to adapt to the needs of modern companies. What are these alternatives? For starters, we need to talk about the Lean approach. This is often combined with the Six Sigma philosophy and focuses on eliminating unnecessary waste and maximizing efficiency.

Another approach that can be encountered in the business world is the TQM methodology. This focuses on continuous improvement processes in the internal systems of enterprises. TQM, along with Kaizen, aims to increase customer satisfaction, emphasizes the role of employees in all aspects of the production chain, and entails making incremental but continuous improvements to production over an indefinite period. Not least, another popular philosophy in the 21st century that can be combined with the Six Sigma methodology is the Agile principle.

What are the differences from Six Sigma? TQM, for instance, requires greater employee involvement and is not limited by specific phases. In Lean, the focus is mainly on reducing waste. In Agile, as the name says, the focus is on adapting to user feedback and modifying internal processes based on market changes. Finally, Kaizen aims to constantly improve the work environment by involving all workers in the production process. Six Sigma focuses on analytical data to achieve zero defects in manufactured products, while in Kaizen, the aim is to make work environments better and, therefore, automatically more efficient.

How Can Six Sigma Improve Profitability?

Many people ask, “What is a Six Sigma certification?” when, in reality, you should be asking yourself how Six Sigma can improve the long-term profitability of your business. As a methodology adopted on a large scale by multinational companies, the main philosophy behind Six Sigma is to significantly reduce the number of defects in products or services offered. This should lead to fewer product recalls, increase consumer satisfaction, and improve brand awareness.

For companies specializing in manufacturing, Six Sigma is the perfect philosophy for incremental increases in productivity. The DMAIC method can reduce the cycle times in the production stages, reduce the workload on employees, increase profits, and eliminate sources of waste, which can hurt your bottom line in the long run. People increasingly wonder, “What is a Six Sigma certification?”. And that’s because Six Sigma is gaining more and more relevance in specific industries. Combined with the Lean principle, Six Sigma is the ideal philosophy for companies with tight profit margins that require efficientization to scale up.

A Way to Improve Your Business Knowledge

What is a Six Sigma certification? An accessory that can take your expertise in business tools and techniques to the next level. The Six Sigma methodology aims to improve the performance of your business, reduce unnecessary waste, streamline internal processes, and increase the quality of your products. So, everything that can affect customer satisfaction and increase your profits. From Motorola to Ford and GE, Six Sigma has been and still is a philosophy often used in multinational companies. And its application to your enterprise will be more than beneficial.

Six Sigma can increase the reliability of your production processes, improve your relationship with suppliers, eliminate the legal risks associated with faulty products, and offer you a competitive advantage over rivals. Admittedly, in some industries, Six Sigma may stagnate innovation or may not be successfully applied to levels required for success. But in general, for tight-margin corporations operating at a high standard, Six Sigma is an effective methodology that, in the long run, is synonymous with million-dollar savings.