- Regarding Six Sigma Certification
Worldwide, the practise is that Six Sigma certification is awarded by an institution that employs a certified and qualified DMAIC Six Sigma Black Belt trainer (which is what we do). There is no central certifying body like there is for say Microsoft. For this reason six sigma certification is recognised worldwide provided it came from a certified black belt trainer.
- Project
During the course, normally on the Thursday, the delegates present a Project Charter to the group. This assists them in defining the exact scope of their respective projects.
The delegates typically decide on a topic themselves, which may or may not be a "small" project from work. The idea is for them to recognise an opportunity at their companies, and use this opportunity as the topic for their projects to further hone their newly-acquired DMAIC Six Sigma Green Belt skills.
If there are any costs involved in executing the project, the employer or delegate will cover this. This is typically limited to time spent by the delegates, and additionally there could be a cost factor for their employers once their projects can be implemented in the work-place (after the 3 month period). In short, the course fees cover exactly that - the course!
Employer consent should not be an issue and is not required as part of the project, as these projects are not typically "sensitive" or "big" in nature.
Six Sigma is a proven disciplined methodology, encompassing a wide range of tools to assist organizations in delivering near perfect products and services. It embodies a relentless drive to increase customer satisfaction and improve efficiencies. Successful turnarounds have been achieved by organisations inter-nationally across a diverse activity spectrum; from financial services to government departments to the manufacturing sectors.
Origins of Six Sigma?
With origins over 20 years ago, and a history of implementation in many organizations there is a wealth of information on Six Sigma. A bewildering array of publications perhaps leaves one confused as to what Six Sigma is.
Six Sigma’s roots lie in the Quality area of Motorola in the mid 1980’s. Renowned for measurement of processes, defect levels and Customer complaints Quality Engineering brought statistical measurement and analysis tools to the foundation of Six Sigma. A scientific pillar is thus one of its support elements.
The evolution of Six Sigma continued at Motorola through process control and documentation along a path of continual improvement to satisfaction of critical Customer requirements. Those familiar with the Total Quality Management philosophy of the 1980’s will identify with this aspect of continual improvement. The second pillar of Six Sigma,
further progression along the road has integrated sound techniques around project management for fast tracking implementation. The final pillar, the process has been broadened and implemented in all branches and sizes of Industry.
Six Sigma has become an overarching high performance system that executes business strategy.
Based on measurable parameters, striving for continuous improvement, accelerated implementation to achieve results.
Six Sigma demands four basic steps:
- Alignment to the correct objectives and targets by executives.
- Mobilization of organization to achieve improvements.
- Accelerate results.
- Ensure sustained improvement.
An action learning framework methodology combines structured education and coaching with real-time project work. The gap is quickly bridged in candidates from learning to doing.
