Obtaining a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is necessary if you want your employees to benefit from the minimum knowledge required to implement the DMAIC framework on your production line systems. The knowledge gained from a Yellow Belt is not as comprehensive as that gained from a Green or Black Belt, but it is a necessary starting point for the professional development of your staff. What does such a program consist of? First, it is an introduction to the basic concepts of the Six Sigma methodology and its role in increasing business profitability.
Trainees following a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification program gain an intermediate understanding of the ultimate goals of the Six Sigma method, are introduced to the history of this philosophy and how it is currently used by internationally operating companies, and are taught the main differences between the roles and qualifications specific to the technique. In a Six Sigma team, Yellow Belts are the tier above the White Belts and below Green and Black Belts. The highest ranks in a Six Sigma hierarchy are Master Black Belts and Champions, who are responsible for creating and implementing Lean Six Sigma strategies specific to the client’s industry.
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification holders are knowledgeable about the FMEA and C&E Matrix, can implement process mapping techniques alongside Black Belts, and are introduced to the use of analytical tools such as Ishikawa diagrams or Pareto charts. Yellow Belt certification holders can lay the foundation for increases in the quality of your production line system, and for employees, a Yellow Belt certification can be a massive boost to the CV.
How Can a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Help My Professional Trajectory?
Are you employed by a company active in a competitive industry? Do you want your professional development prospects to improve and increase your employment opportunities? If so, a Six Sigma certification can be a great help. By obtaining a professional Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, you will develop the necessary problem-solving skills expected from project leaders and senior-level employees. Six Sigma offers a structured, data-focused approach to business improvements, and obtaining a DMAIC framework course certification demonstrates that you have the problem-solving skills required in your activity.
Six Sigma is no longer at the peak of its historical popularity achieved in the mid-2000s. However, it is still relevant and is used by some of the world’s most well-known global corporations, such as Amazon. Do you want your CV to attract the attention of future employees? To get various career development opportunities? Do you want to gain the knowledge needed to meet industry standards? If so, graduating from a Six Sigma program will be worthwhile.
Lean Six Sigma belts are internationally recognized and are equally relevant for companies operating in Asia as they are for those operating in Europe or North America. Since the concepts of the DMAIC framework are based on data analysis, Lean Six Sigma is equally applicable to any company, regardless of industry and geographical location, and demonstrating knowledge of this methodology can lead to international employment opportunities. Obtaining a Six Sigma certification can open doors, bring you in contact with industry professionals, and, not least, give you the necessary tools for future business development.
What Is the ROI of Six Sigma?
International business is becoming more competitive than ever. For this reason, the use of distinct philosophies to improve performance and product quality is emerging as an increasingly popular approach, especially for companies that already enjoy global recognition. Do you want your enterprise to shift to the next level and reduce waste and production inefficiency in its manufacturing? If so, you should follow the Lean Six Sigma philosophy. But what is the ROI of such a methodology?
For starters, it all depends on the industry you are operating in and the methods used by your rivals. If competitiveness is high, then Six Sigma, by focusing on cost reductions and increased product quality, can have an ROI of over 500%. The ultimate goal of Six Sigma is the elimination of defects in the means of production, the increase of product output without quality hits, and the improvement of the relationship with the target audience. Six Sigma techniques can reduce cycle times, eliminate subjectivism from management decisions, and have a positive effect on workers’ morale, as Six Sigma encourages automation and hence reduces employees’ workload.
What Is the History of Six Sigma?
The origins of Six Sigma come from post-war Japan, where methodologies such as TQM began to be used on a large scale to identify internal processes that affected the quality of manufactured goods. The introduction of Six Sigma concepts took time and was a gradual process that took decades. However, in its current form, Six Sigma was first developed by Motorola in 1986 under the tutelage of Bill Smith, an engineer who later became the CEO of the company.
Although the use of Six Sigma concepts was regionally locked at first, by the mid-1990s, the philosophy had spread internationally, getting successfully used in the US by General Electrics under the guidance of CEO Jack Welch. For GE, Six Sigma resulted in significant cost reductions and drove a substantial increase in stock price to an all-time high reached in 2000. In the early 2000s, Six Sigma concepts were combined with those of Lean philosophy, and the groundwork was also laid for the creation of an international certification system, which ultimately became the belt programs that are used today.
The maximum popularity of the Six Sigma philosophy was reached in the mid-2000s. However, the DMAIC framework is still used today by multinational companies such as Amazon. Nonetheless, its popularity in recent years has declined, and this is mainly due to modern companies’ focus on fast product cycles and creativity. Six Sigma was created for a business environment where products had to be sustainable and deliver high quality. But in the present, adaptability and innovation are more critical factors to consider, so Six Sigma has, in many cases, been replaced by the Agile methodology.
Is Six Sigma Still an Excellent Choice for Companies?
The answer to this question will depend on the industry and the size of your company. Are you the owner of a small venture fighting for international recognition? In that case, Six Sigma is most likely not the right choice for your services. Are you instead a conglomerate with a well-developed production line? Then Six Sigma may be an ideal choice to improve your production margins, increase profits, and reduce overall product defects. Six Sigma is not a strategy that every type of company can use. However, combining it with Lean elements gives it more flexibility, which in recent years has granted it a resurgence.
In spite of requiring extensive training and being more rigid than other types of business philosophies, Six Sigma, for the correct type of company, can be a fantastic choice and significantly contribute to better product quality. Likewise, for employees, obtaining a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is an excellent academic addition that can be synonymous with professional development. Six Sigma is worth it, and for many companies, this methodology is the key to long-term profitability and reputation development.
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