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What are the Six Sigma Belts?

11/7/2014

by: Rex Jayson Tuozo "The Six Sigma Guy"

Six Sigma certified professionals are ranked according to "belts", a term borrowed from Karate. The idea is, the higher the belt you earn, the more proficient you are with the Lean Six Sigma methodology and tools. The belt system was used as an internal marketing strategy to get the attention of GE employees to its new quality initiative- Six Sigma.

As I have mentioned on my previous blog posts, Six Sigma certified professionals should keep in mind that they are expert facilitators. Six Sigma certified individuals are expert in process improvement tools, techniques and methodologies, but at the end of the day, their main role is to facilitate their project teams and let the team members (process owners) find-out the root-causes and later develop solutions to improve the process.

If someone approaches you and introduce himself/ herself as a Certified Green Belt/ Black Belt / Master Black Belt, and then later tell you that whatever business problems you have, he/she can solve using Six Sigma- DO NOT believe that person. Politely nod, then excuse yourself.

Going back to belts system of Six Sigma, I have heard and seen variations like companies with White, Orange, Red, Money Belt (LOL), but here are the 4 common Six Sigma belts, number of recommended training days (Some give you more training days to charge you more.), and descriptions:

The Six Sigma training program was designed by Motorola and GE (both manufacturing companies) specifically for engineers, statisticians, and technical persons. Several years ago, I updated the curriculum to fit the service industry. I made the program simple and practical for it to be effective, and user-friendly for service industry professionals- many are non-math majors.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Recommended Training Days: 1 day

The Yellow Belt refers to employees that have basic training in the Six Sigma quality improvement methodology and participate in related projects. They have a basic understanding of the methodology and assume a supportive role to both Green and Black Belts within a Six Sigma Team. Like the Green Belts, they usually also have other non-Six Sigma related responsibilities within their job descriptions.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Recommended Training Days: 12 days

Black Belts are considered the leaders within a Six Sigma team. Part of their duty is to oversee what other members (Green and Yellow Belts) have accomplished and keep all team members on track to reach goals and deadlines. Their primary task is project management; they are the individuals who define a Six Sigma project and its scope. It is their task to set goals and timelines for the project as well as constantly update executives and stakeholders of the current status of the business. Additionally, they often exhibit excellent communication skills and take on the role of the ‘change agent’ within their organization.

Since they are given a lot of responsibility within a Six Sigma Team, it is a requirement for these individuals to undergo training and earn sufficient experience in the form of leading Six Sigma Projects. These experts are well rounded in their knowledge of financial and statistical analysis, project management, and Six Sigma Tools. This knowledge and experience enables them to perform a wider range of tasks. Six Sigma Black Belts are often sought after and are highly employable because of these characteristics.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

Recommended Training Days: 5 days; accelerated 4 days

Green belts are Six Sigma Professionals who work closely under Black Belts, responsible for fulfilling leadership roles within a Six Sigma Team, especially for smaller scale projects. They are well-educated on the correct use of the Six Sigma Tools and employ them under the direction of a Black Belt Project Leader.

Since this methodology is highly statistical in nature, it is of utmost importance to start with a complete set of good and accurate data. Green Belts are usually employees of a Six Sigma company who also have other day to day responsibilities within the framework of that company.

Master Black Belt

Recommended Training Days: Varies
For experienced Black Belts, with at least 20 completed projects + comprehensive train the trainer's program + change management program + expert facilitator's program

Master Black Belts in tradition are entitled to train and certify individuals.

The Master Black Belt has a very important role within a Six Sigma Organization. As the name implies, they are experts at the top of the hierarchy of trained and certified Six Sigma Professionals. With their level of experience, skills, and knowledge, they can act as consultants and technologists of this methodology.

During the course of a companywide Six Sigma Implementation, certain issues and problems may arise. Experts like Master Black Belts can help resolve issues that come along and offer appropriate solutions to teams. One of their main responsibilities is to train employees to become Six Sigma Professionals at the Black, Green, or Yellow Belt levels. Master Black Belts can mentor or train others within designated Six Sigma Teams as these individuals have garnered enough knowledge and experience to be designated as ‘experts’ in this particular method of quality improvement.

Do you want to know the salary of Six Sigma certified individuals in the Philippines? CLICK the image below to find out.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Workshop:
June 23, 2017 (Wave 39) | P9,000.00 | e-mail for details: ask@6sigmaph.com

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program for SERVICE Industry:
July 6, 7, 13, 14, 2017 (Wave 25) | P38,000.00 |
e-mail for details: ask@6sigmaph.com

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Program:
Oct 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27,
Nov 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 2017 (WAVE 5) | e-mail for details: ask@6sigmaph.com

Learning Investment Fees:
P125,000.00

If paid on or before September 15, 2017:
P118,000.00

If paid on or before July 15, 2017:
P108,000.00

all rates are subject to 12%VAT if applicable (for 0%VAT please provide PEZA certification or equivalent document)

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WHY Train People to Become Masterful Brainstorming Facilitators?

9/6/2014

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I always tell this to my friends (most specially executives and hiring managers):

"If someone introduced himself to you as a Six Sigma Black Belt, and says 'I can solve your problems at work using Six Sigma.'" DO NOT believe him, and do not hire that person.

I make sure that all my Six Sigma students understand this point: The real Six Sigma practitioners are expert facilitators. Six Sigma professionals are indeed skillful with process improvement tools and methodology, and are competent using statistical and graphical analysis using Minitab, but at the end of the day, it will be the process owners who will analyze for root causes and develop and implement solutions that will address the problem. Your main role as a Six Sigma Black Belt is to pick the correct tools in your Six Sigma toolbox, and facilitate the discussions. You are there as a coach, and not as the "star" player. You guide them through the DMAIC methodology, and explain how to read graphs and statistics.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, make things simple. Make things practical. Do not use complicated statistics just to show-off and feed your egos. Make your team members feel smarter. By doing that, not only you help them solve their problems and make their lives easier, they will also start to think you're the brightest person without exerting effort. Trust me :)

Do you want to know the salary of Six Sigma certified individuals in the Philippines? CLICK our previous blog post:
http://www.6sigmaph.com/blog/salary-of-a-six-sigma-green-black-belt-in-the-philippin

If you want to start your Lean Six Sigma Journey, view ourTRAINING page and TESTIMONIALS

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Who then are the process owners?
Process owners are the persons who are doing the process on a day-to-day basis, and not just the supervisors and managers. They are the blood of your operations. Your operators, your processors, your analysts, your call center agents. Those who perform and do the process.

In relation to this short article, I would like to share this Power Point Presentation (Credits to Idea Champions)

whytrainpeopletobecomebrainstormfacilitators-130125115450-phpapp02.ppt
File Size:	1225 kb
File Type:	ppt

Download File

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How Blended Learning will Help Your Career?

5/4/2014

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According to a famous cliche, we have to innovate or stagnate. I always hear trainers say that still, the best learning method is the good-old classroom training. But it very expensive and time consuming for companies. With the present technological advancement in workplace learning, the blended learning is the emerging next best alternative, if not better.

A blended learning approach combines face to face classroom methods with computer-mediated activities to form an integrated instructional approach. (Kharbach).

According to dreambox, blended learning is constantly evolving. And most of the innovations and refinements have been developed to support student-centered learning. That means leveraging technology into learning activities, in and out of the classroom.

There is mounting evidence that complementing or replacing lectures with student-centric, technology-enabled active learning strategies and learning guidance—rather than memorization and repetition—improves learning, supports knowledge retention, and raises achievement. These new student-centered blended learning methods inspire engagement, and are a way to connect with every student right where they are while supporting progress toward grade level standards.

The future our children will inherit demands technological dexterity, the ability to think critically, and the development of flexible intelligence that will thrive in— and drive—change.

DOWNLOAD High Definition File Here

10-blended-learning-trends_full.png
File Size:	286 kb
File Type:	png

Download File

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What is the Highest Paying Job for Sr. Managers in the Philippines? -QA professionals, specifically, Certified Six Sigma Black Belts

3/16/2014

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Guess what is the highest paying job for Senior Managers in the Philippines?

Quality Assurance professionals. Specifically, Certified Six Sigma Black Belts

Aside from having a potential to earn big, Six Sigma Black Belts also enjoy the sense of fulfillment by creating positive and meaningful change in the organization. "There is a boost in intrinsic satisfaction every time a Six Sigma Black Belt completes a project. Your boss, colleagues, customers, and process owners become happy by helping them solve recurring defects which results to reduction or elimination of the need to do fire fighting," Rex Tuozo, Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Consultant, said when asked what a typical Black Belt feels after closing a process improvement project.

"Aside from getting a good pay and the potential (to) get promoted, Six Sigma Certified individuals value the respect that they receive from their bosses and peers," Tuozo added.

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Information presented on Jobstreet are based on the salary posted by employers from January 1- March 2013. The group caters 80,000 employers and over 10 million jobseekers.

*All the amounts are in Philippine Peso.

Senior Managers

Managers

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Disaster-Proof Your Business: For SMEs, Startups and Freelancers

12/5/2013

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Images of looting of department stores, flooded offices, and overturned delivery vans in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda still lingers in the minds of a lot of entrepreneurs. Are you ready when it is your turn? It begins with planning.

My Six Sigma Black Belt friend, Jeremy Lim, shall give insights on how businesses especially the start-ups can mitigate losses upon taking more proactive actions in handling disaster risks.

The audience will also be provided a better appreciation of what went wrong and what went right in the recent natural calamity incidents experienced in the country. Recommended natural disaster risk- handling tips and techniques will be discussed coming from the collective learning experiences.

Seminar Fee
The fee is only 200 pesos. The 150 pesos goes to our pizza and drinks. The other 50 pesos will be donated to the Yolanda victims.

Please join us on Tuesday, December 10 at 6 pm at the iACADEMY Amphitheater, 3rd Floor, 6764 Ayala Avenue, Makati City.

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The Most Important Quality of a Six Sigma Black Belt

10/30/2013

10 Comments

I always get this question from my Six Sigma students: "What is the most important quality of a Six Sigma professional?"

Some say its the Six Sigma technical skills
On one of my first few posts on this blog, I shared one meeting with a Quality Director of a US Health Care company that recently set-up a shared services company in Taguig. Our meeting went from a casual dinner to the Director asking me to apply and work for him. He was like my Advanced Statistic PHD professor who quizzed my knowledge about advanced statistical tools. I was not surprised since he was an Engineering graduate and spent most of his career in a manufacturing company doing Design of Experiments as part of their Research and Development (R&D). The problem is, Six Sigma projects in the service industry (which includes Banks, Insurance, BPO, Call Centers, etc.) rarely needs advanced statistical tools like DOE.

Others say its the leadership skills, facilitation skills, presentation skills, level of support from the management team, and the list goes on and on.

For me, everything is important. A Six Sigma Black Belt should have a working knowledge in Six Sigma tools-methodologies and minimum level of the mentioned skills. But to pick one most important quality, its TENACITY.

Without it, skills and knowledge will lead you nowhere. Around 95% of the hundreds of six sigma projects I have led and coached, at least one point in time on the project duration, the project team and I thought we hit a dead end. Persistent determination, or tenacity would drive your team to success and hit your goal. Just like what you see on the illustration above, your plan is very different from the Universe's plans for you and your project team.

Tenacity is the lifeblood of a Six Sigma professional.

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Be the 'Boss' or be the 'Leader'?

8/24/2013

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Do you prefer to be "The Boss" or the "Leader"?

Titles and positions would only buy you little-time to prove to your subordinates/ other stakeholders that you deserve their respect.

Six Sigma professionals are "Leaders" of their process improvement cross-functional teams. The line that binds the Six Sigma Green/ Black Belt and their teams are the respect between each other, their trust to the Six Sigma methodology and tools, and the commitment to make things simpler and better for their peers and organization.

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Philippines' First Six Sigma Apprenticeship Certification Program

6/30/2013

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www.6sigmaPH.com recently launched its Six Sigma Apprenticeship Certification Programs.

Candidates shall undergo a structured apprenticeship process, wherein apprentices shall be trained and mentored by Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belts/ Black Belts, and other experienced consultants.

This program is based on the recognition that true mastery cannot be gained through instructive learning alone but with on-the-job, hands-on Six Sigma project execution.

Also, recognizing the key gap in conventional Six Sigma trainings that tend to only focus on statistical tools, www.6sigmaPH.com has developed a unique working model which ensures that persons to be certified in Six Sigma are competent not only on Six Sigma tools and methodologies but also on Change Management, BPM, Project Management, Innovation, Presentation and Facilitation Skills.

For details, please e-mail: ask@6sigmaph.com