What Is Six Sigma Certification?
Many people have written to me and iSixSigma asking various questions about Six Sigma certification. How can I get Six Sigma certified? Where can I get Six Sigma certified? Is Six Sigma certification transferable if I leave a company for another? The list goes on and on. This article will help answer these questions regarding the ubiquitous and confusing ‘Six Sigma certification’ topic.
For instance, millions of people have applied for, tested and been granted a driver’s license in the United States. It certifies that a person has passed the minimum guidelines and requirements for driving. The individual must pass both a written and hands-on driving test in order to ‘certify’. Not all individuals in the United States, however, have the same proficiency in driving – even though they may have passed the tests and been granted a driver’s license. The same is true for Six Sigma certification. Certification alone does not summarize the worth of a true quality professional.
What is Six Sigma Certification?
Six Sigma certification is a confirmation of an individual’s capabilities with respect to specific competencies. Just like any other quality certification, it does not indicate that an individual is capable of unlimited process improvement, just that s/he has completed the necessary requirements from the company granting the certification.
For instance, millions of people have applied for, tested and been granted a driver’s license in the United States. It certifies that a person has passed the minimum guidelines and requirements for driving. The individual must pass both a written and hands-on driving test in order to ‘certify’. Not all individuals in the United States, however, have the same proficiency in driving – even though they may have passed the tests and been granted a driver’s license. The same is true for Six Sigma certification. Certification alone does not summarize the worth of a true quality professional.
What Is Involved In Six Sigma Certification?
As with attaining a driver’s license in the United States, Six Sigma certification entails learning the appropriate subject matter, passing a written proficiency test, and displaying competency in a hands-on environment. The materials can be purchased from almost any Six Sigma training and consulting company, but almost always comes bundled with classroom training. Usually you or your company will purchase a training session, which has different bodies of knowledge and durations for each Six Sigma level (green belt, black belt, master black belt, sponsor, etc.).
The written proficiency test may be given by the training company or the business hiring the training company. Typically, companies new to Six Sigma will defer to the training company’s proficiency test. Companies that have been performing in-house training for years (such as Motorola or GE) have created and administer their own written proficiency tests.
After a quality professional has completed training, s/he must complete one or two quality projects and display competency in applying the concepts learned in the classroom training. This is where certification companies diverge, as this part of the certification is the most fuzzy and undefined. Some organizations require a certification candidate to complete one project if a green belt or sponsor, and two projects if a black belt or master black belt; others require less or more. In addition, there is no standard for what passes and what fails to display an individual’s competency.
So, what’s the takeaway from certification? Any worthwhile certification involves training, a written proficiency exam, and a hands-on competency display of the methodology to real world problems. The specifics around each of these three requirements vary from company to company. Will it ever become standardized? Probably, but not in the next six to twelve months in the opinion of this author.
How Can I Get Six Sigma Certified?
There is no single body designated to provide Six Sigma certification to the quality profession. Almost every one of the tens of companies providing Six Sigma training and consulting also provide certification. Why is this? Because individuals and companies are spending a great deal of money, sometimes in excess of $30,000 per individual, to become trained, and they feel like they should have something to show for it. Hence, certification became a popular add-on service for consulting companies because it allowed them to differentiate between skills levels, as well as charge additional fees.
Why Isn’t ASQ The Sole Six Sigma Certification Body As It Is For CQM?
Quality certification titles such as Certified Quality Manager (CQM), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), and Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) may only be attained from the American Society for Quality (ASQ) – as they are the sole certification body for these titles. No other company or body offer these certifications as it would be difficult to convince individuals and companies that the certification has the same value as that of ASQ’s certification.
There are many reasons why ASQ didn’t automatically become the de facto certification source for Six Sigma green belts, black belts and master black belts as it has for CQMs, CQEs and CQAs. First, ASQ only started offering certification around 2000, although Six Sigma quality has been popular since the mid-1990s. Second, the methodology was originally proprietary to Motorola (although most, if not all, of the individual tools that make up Six Sigma are public domain), and it was not apparent how great an impact Six Sigma would have in the quality community and business world until the late 1990s. Finally, there are complaints within the quality profession that ASQ is a slow-moving organization, and at times has tried to control the evolution of Six Sigma, which created a barrier to adoption by the industry and by businesses.
Should I Get Six Sigma Certified?
The reasons for certification are the same for any other certification:
- to display proficiency in the subject matter
- to increase desirability by employers
- to potentially increase your salary
Ultimately, certification is a professional decision that can only be made by you. In some cases, it will be required for you to advance within an organization. For instance, at some companies it is a requirement of every salaried employee to be green belt trained and certified if they want to be promoted within the organization. In other cases, Six Sigma certification will display your energy and intent to be a leader within the quality profession.
Can I Transfer Six Sigma Certification Between Organizations?
The answer is both yes and no. As with attaining a driver’s license in a particular state in the United States, the main driving body of knowledge is the same and transferrable. However, certain laws vary from state to state, requiring an individual to learn the specific state laws and test within the state of residence. Six Sigma certification is similar in that certain requirements or variations will exists between businesses implementing the Six Sigma methodology. Some companies may also require you to re-certify to display competency.
Most likely a company will value an individual’s certification if attained from a leading Six Sigma business, such as Motorola, GE and Allied Signal. The businesses that have only over the past few years embraced Six Sigma will also have value, but not to such an extent. Attaining certification from a second-tier consulting company will have even less value in the future, and finally being trained without certification will have the least amount of value.
Related Posts
- What Is Six Sigma Certification?
- Six Sigma Certification, Who Can Do It?
- Getting Straight on Goals – Six Sigma Certification and Results
- Lean and other Six Sigma Certification
- I am a consultant with 3 years of quality experience. How should I go about earning a Six Sigma certification?
|
|
Leave a Comment
Comments
Where to start? Lean?
I suggest starting with a 5S implementation. If you want more information, please contact me.
ceebees64@cox.net
Jonathan,
It’s best to figure out which skill set you need: lean manufacturing or six sigma.
Lean six sigma is the combination of both skill sets.
Six sigma green belt training would be a good place to start.
The six sigma does not look so attractive since no central body is recognised for giving the certificates and exams are carried out locally. This is very unlike project management certification where exams are set by a central bodies like PMI and others. Am I right?
To All
I am an MBA Marketing student. Can this certification help me in any way? in terms of improving my skills.
At later stage of life if I take up a marketing or sales job, how can it help me?
Thanks in advance!
Satyam Gambhir
You can use Six Sigma for any discipline:
DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control any department or issue.
Im BBM degree holder can i take up this certification..??
I recently went through an extensive job search after being laid off. I was off work for 1y3mo, quite an experience. Almost all the job postings asked for ASQ certification, even though the job might not have any 6 sigma responsibilities. I haven’t pursued certification due to most black belt jobs require a lot of travel, but my BB training helped me a lot in obtaining the job I have now. I hope to be ASQ certified later this year, as it does have more value than most certifications. The author is correct in that a major company that has been in the 6 sigma mode for a long time can issue a cert that is equal in value as ASQ, at least job wise. As to content, I would value the GE/Motorola type cert as more valuable.
Just my 2 cents
Karnak
I am working In BPO as a Assitant Manager. Can this certification help me in any way? in terms of improving my skills.
At later stage of life if I take up BPO job, how can it help me?
Hi.. M working as a customer service associate in an insurence company.. My role involves customer handling with company guidelines.. Can thsi six sigma course help me any way to enhance my repute in the company..
like to know more about this prog
being a faculty in a management school how far this certification would help me please let me know
Hi All,
I am working in BPO as a Quality Reviewer. How this certification help me out to improve my skill set and further growth.
I am MBA in materials management , can i go for six sigma, Is this course having mathametics?
Yes, use Six Sigma for Materials Management. Something as basic a Inventory Record Accuracy applies to DMAIC: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.
I am working for a Recruitment company and for job portal as well.I got 6yrs of experience in customer service and one year in HR.Can you advice me how to do six sigma online in my recruitment industry?
hi, i am competed my master degree in mass communication.Can this certification help me in any way?
Hi iam presently working for a BPO in banking operations from past 1 yr. I have also worked in one of the leading indian bank for 3 yrs.I done MBA and have overall experience of around 5 yrs.I want to enter into companies Quality & Auding field.do Six Sigma help me out in that.Please suggest wheather i should go for it or not?
hi all.
I amm working in a mobil cimmunication comp. as a QC Engg. Can thsi six sigma course help me any way to enhance my repute in my comp and other comp.
Hi. I’m currently a student studying Mechanical Design and Engineering. what are the different stages in certification. Do I start from green if I have no experience at all?
I have completed and White Belt and Yellow Belt course. Has my time been wasted since i see nothing on white or yellow?
Hi , Greetings !
I have been working in Hospitality Industry for past 12 Years, Do this course help me to get better jobs in other industry like BPO , IT sector etc.?? If Yes then please give me all the details
i’m Tamilselvan, Completing in my Diplamo Electrical Engineering, six sigma how to useful in my field, what subject Covered in six sigma
Hai this is anu, I comppleteled my 10th and im doing my bba computer application final year in corress. Now im working in a bpo sector as a relationship manager I wnt to study 6 sigma course, so tell me want I want to do ? Thanks®ards. Anu
Hi Ima Mohammad Shaheed,i have done MBA and i have experience in insurance industry for 5 years,can u suggest me,if i choose six sigma, is it betterr my career growth.Please get back to me.
Thanks@Regards,
Mohammad Shaheed
Am in a service based MNC. i am working as QA. Although i have a basic understanding on Lean and six sigma, I still need an advice wer to start with for certification, lean or sigma. If sigma then wer and how shud i proceed to accomplish this.