In the world of Lean Six Sigma, no term may be as familiar and associated with this process methodology as that of a “black belt.” Anyone who is even remotely aware of what Lean Six Sigma is knows that individuals who achieve “black belt” status are change agents and problem solvers who can look at a problem and quickly come up with the right solutions.

Earning yourself a black belt with Lean Six Sigma isn’t something that happens overnight, but it’s a personal and professional development tool that (hopefully) sets someone up for leadership opportunities down the road. In other words, having a black belt in Lean Six Sigma isn’t just for the line on the resume, but it’s something that has real, tangible value for years.

What Are Lean Six Sigma Belts?

As you familiarize yourself with the world of Lean Six Sigma, you start to recognize that it isn’t just about black belts. It often comes as a surprise to people, but there are actually a few different color belts available, each of which corresponds to a different skill set and potential leadership role.

White Belt

If you earn a Lean Six Sigma White Belt, you can safely say that you have a strong awareness of both Lean and Six Sigma principles. Someone who has a White Belt is going to be an individual who understands how to support problem-solving teams, but isn’t part of a team themselves. It’s more likely this individual has a title such as Project Assistant or Quality Assurance Assistant.

Yellow Belt

Step into the world of Lean Six Sigma and Yellow Belts, and you are on your way to the big leagues. A Yellow Belt is considered someone who has been exposed to larger process improvement efforts and has been able to contribute data and support teams within their departments. Standard titles in this area include Data Analyst or Quality Assurance Associate.

Green Belt

When you earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, you are now someone who should have a solid grasp of the DMAIC methodology of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. Green Belts are people who can safely and regularly work with different teams, not just to collect data, but also to analyze it, to identify and address inefficiencies. Job titles for Green Belts would likely be Continuous Improvement Manager or Quality Engineer.

Black Belt

If you have reached the status of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, congratulations, you are now at the very top of the belt ladder. Black Belts are going to be the ones who lead high-profile and high-impact projects and have years of experience under their “belt” to be able to mentor a Green Belt. Reaching Black Belt status likely means you have a job title that sounds like Operations Director or Senior Project Manager.

What Does A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Do?

Reaching the level of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt opens the doors to a whole new set of skills, opportunities, and even a higher salary. However, it also leads to questions around what exactly a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt does and how they are both problem solvers and change leaders.

Project Leader

One of the most important roles and responsibilities of someone in this field with a Black Belt is to take on the role of a project leader. This means that a Black Belt is the person who is going to have the responsibility of looking for and eliminating any waste, as well as enhancing overall product quality. In other words, you are the problem solver for the whole team.

A project leader also needs to know how to work cross-functionally, as there is a good chance that more than one team is going to be involved in a project that requires eliminating waste. Black Belts will work with other project managers, oversee the full project scope, and ensure the project stays on schedule. Sticking to the budget is also within the scope of work of a Black Belt project leader, which is why this role earns the big bucks.

Data Analysis

In the world of data analysis, few groups do it better than Lean Six Sigma Black Belts. This is a group that understands the importance of looking at every piece of data and identifying and addressing any problems that exist. Creating hypotheses is also part of the game, and Black Belts know that they have to use analytical approaches to solve problems, and not just guess.

Mentoring

As a Black Belt, you are going to be responsible for training and mentoring Green Belts for the most part, but also the occasional Yellow Belt. This is an opportunity to show off what you have learned and help others, but also give yourself a refresher in some areas as well. Preparing future Black Belts also ties directly into the idea that organizations should be focused on continuous improvement.

Strategic Alignment

Black Belts will work closely with senior leaders across any organization to ensure that any initiatives they are undertaking align with a business’s strategic goals. Everyone must be rowing in the same direction.

Change Management

As a change agent, a Black Belt is going to be focused on implementing a culture that screams process improvement every single day. This means that as a Black Belt, you will play a role in changing workflows, as well as helping to create a stronger organizational culture. Black Belts are also going to lend a hand to different teams to address any resistance that comes up when new changes are being announced.

Continous Improvement

Continuous improvement is one of the most critical aspects of multiple processes and business methodologies, including Lean Six Sigma. Black Belts should champion this idea and continuously seek ways to reduce costs and improve quality. It’s the job of this group to focus on areas that can be improved, while maintaining operational excellence.

Improving Customer Satisfaction

When you focus on improving quality, Black Belts can improve not just internal processes, but also ensure that customer expectations are met. Whenever customers are happier, the overall business is clearly doing better in terms of eliminating waste. Black Belts are also going to focus on improved quality, which is a direct tie to improved quality that customers will quickly notice.

Collaboration

One of the last responsibilities of a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is to collaborate with various departments and functions within an organization. It’s up to Black Belts to be a conduit between other teams, ensuring proper communication so everyone is rowing in the same direction toward the same goals.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

If you’re reading this article, there is a good chance you are interested in other Lean topics, so try out one on Lean culture. The best organizations that adopt the Lean philosophy are successful because they are looking to build a culture that can last for decades. Alternatively, you might want to start at the beginning and look at implementing Lean Six Sigma from the very start.

Alternatively, you can shift gears and look at the hidden costs of neglecting process improvement. This is an absolute scorcher, and so is this read on case studies of using Six Sigma in a non-Six Sigma culture. It’s going to open your eyes to just how flexible this business methodology can really be.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Lean Six Sigma is a fantastic tool that has helped countless organizations over the years. There is something about this idea that has allowed companies to identify waste, remove it, and dramatically increase their bottom line, all while creating more experts in specific fields. Lean Six Sigma Black Belts are change agents as they are the individuals who can help turn around entire departments and processes for the better.