T N Goh

Looks like you’re trying to confuse yourself, Mike.  I don’t think you should do it.

Agree! The “experience” requirement is what sets Six Sigma professionals apart from other types.  No one should put on a “belt” if there is no experience to put under that belt.

Judge the person first.  Then judge the certificate by the organization or person that issued it.   Not all certification processes are equal.  That’s another lesson on VARIATION for you!…

Ditto.

Yes Nancy, what you said needs to be repeated many, many times to HR types and decision makers who judge others (when it comes to Six Sigma) by certification papers!
 

You are absolutely right, Charles! (Sane voices are rare nowadays). Certification by itself is not a bad idea, but too many have attempted to create a certification racket basically for self-serving purposes.  If you just look at the debates among the statisticians you will realize the futility of all the arguing – the issue of certif…[Read more]

No doubt about it – other things being equal, an IE degree will give anybody a headstart in becoming a BB. 
Of course, the various qualities that others have stated previously are needed too.  

No doubt about it : Statistical Design of Experiments is the most important among the large number of statistical tools deployed in Six Sigma. 
Ref: T.N.Goh,  The Role of Statistical Design of Experiments in Six Sigma: Perspectives of a Practitioner, Quality Engineering (a journal of ASQ), Vol. 14, 2001.

I don’t believe in this kind of simple-minded calibration – one project, two projects, etc. What about the quality of a project? What postitive outcome has been generated by a project? Someone could do a terrible project (or TWO terrible projects), and you reward him, regardless, with some belt of some color? That’s nonsense.

Makes you wonder why do people go to college. They should just gladly pay up, get certified by some self-appointed certifying body, and start to create huge savings all round… Sounds easy.

SIX SIGMA WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!! YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT YOUR BELTS!!!
(…but hold on to your money, though.)

Can’t agree with you more.

ASQ ought to do a Six Sigma project on the certification issue first. It’s a wonderful sight: people mumbling about CTQ all day are not even aware of some of the real CTQ issues such as those raised by Sandy.