FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contacts: Peter Balistrieri, Chris Lochemes, 800-248-1946
Date: November 15, 2001Milwaukee - The American Society for Quality is offering Six Sigma Black Belt certification. The certification is designed for those who have a comprehensive understanding of Six Sigma and its methodologies.
Six Sigma is a statistical measure of variability, typically in a given process. For instance, in a service industry, it could quantify delays in delivery or other procedures. When a company has achieved a Six Sigma rate of improvement, it has limited defects to 3.4 per million opportunities¾virtual defect-free performance. Most companies, however, operate at level of around four sigma, or approximately 6,000 defects per million.
The four-hour, 150 multiple-choice exam piloted on May 6, 2001, at the 55th Annual Quality Congress and Exposition (AQC). Through this certification program, Black Belts will be able to demonstrate their mastery of the body of knowledge. In addition to passing the exam, certified Six Sigma Black Belts are required to have two completed projects with signed affidavits or one completed project with signed affidavit and three years work experience within the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge.
Six Sigma emphasizes quality improvement, and the methodology is a systematic application that is focused on financial results. When properly deployed, this methodology can lead to a significant reduction, if not elimination, of defects and out-of-control processes, which saves corporate resources. Individual customers who applied the methodology to projects have achieved reported cost savings of nearly $1.4 million on their first project. Typical Black Belts can direct four to six projects per year, amounting to significant annualized cost reductions for any company.
Upcoming exam dates are March 2, 2002, and October 19, 2002. The application deadlines are January 11, 2002, and August 23, 2002, respectively. The exams are held at various locations. For more information about Six Sigma Black Belt certification, call 800-248-1946.
The American Society for Quality is a 117,000-member professional association with headquarters in Milwaukee. The 54-year-old organization advances individual, organizational, and community excellence worldwide through quality improvement, learning, and knowledge exchange. ASQ has been the administrator of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, managed by the Department of Commerce, since the award's inception more than a decade ago.
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