Certification for an experienced Six Sigma professional

Visit the ASQ website http://www.asq.org and look for the certification. There is one during May and one during June. But it is past the registration deadline. You may contact ASQ (800-248 1946 I think) if you can still register for it. The body of knowledge and reference materials are also available. The cost is a moderate $180 for ASQ members!!

I have a big issue with the ASQ certification on Six Sigma. Apparently, it will be difficult for experienced MBBs and BBs from leading Six Sigma companies such as GE and Allied Signal to be certified if they are no longer with the company. The ASQ wants you to get an affidavit signed from the company quality representative proving that you did at least 2 projects. It doesn’t matter if you did 10, passed a certification test and passed a review board with the company….it will not count unless you get a signed statement. The problem with this is that many experienced Six Sigma professionals have moved on from these companies and perhaps even the company quality leaders have moved on. Where and who are we going to
get a signed statement from if this is the case? According to the ASQ, it is not sufficient to show that you have been certified from GE or Allied Signal…etc and have years of experience. I don’t mind taking a test again, but let’s look at how even the certification standards from leading companies are compared to what ASQ just put in place. If they are comparable, let’s honor it. Even if they are, I still would like to see certified MBBs and BBs get retested every so often anyway. Thoughts?

The reasons mentioned by both Sandy and yourself are the foundation for ISSSP pursuing a professional certification. At the last symposium they announced a membership survey that will gather all the related information from the constituents. This data will be used for several teams to identify the best approach to certification testing, project requirements, curriculum certification and body of knowledge. If you’re interested in a true Six Sigma approach to certification participate in the ISSSP process.

Isn’t ISSSP just a front for BMG? Why should I be certified by BMG when they’re not even one of the most prominent six sigma companies? Nothing against them, and I’m sure they’re fine, but no one I personally know in corporate america has used them (to my knowledge). The whole certification idea by a consultant just doesn’t sit well with me, and ASQ doesn’t appear to have my CTQs in the forefront of their process.

What’s a black belt to do?

Carl

I agree, I recently completed six sigma black belt training, and received my certification by completing the course and my project. Now I am being told that I have to pay more money and take a test to be a certified black belt. The unreal part of this is that the class and certification was from both ASQ and the six sigma academy. This was a joint venture course approved by both Organizations. I completed the training in December and my project in February. We were all told that we would be certified black belts when we completed all of the requirements, now we are being told that to be certified we must take the test. I have a certificate signed by both organizations and will leave it at that, it is a matter of principles to me.

Talk about airing your dirty laundry . . . I would suggest that if a company is looking for a certified BB or MBB to hire, they should evaluate that certification on a case by case basis relative to their CTQs for certification – whether that be project leadership, statistical analytical skills, etc.. I can’t imagine that there is a major company in America that relies or even considers what the ASQ thinks about whether an individual is BB/MBB Certified.

The thread of this discussion reflects my original question, ( see “Common standards”? ). As a Motorola certified Black Belt , I know the process that I followed , but from the thread of this discussion , I can see that there is much confusion , and many different approaches to this.
I see the name ASQ popping up a lot , but guess that they are a commercial enterprise .
I would advocate that we should`nt be looking at exams etc…. but should have an accredited , audited process.
eg. Does the process that Motorola , or GEC etc, use produce the required standard ? Any thoughts ?
eg In Motorola we need to complete a core competency model , with additional technical and interpersonal electives. In Parallel we must deliver a project with clearly defined targets and results. All of this is submitted to a central panel with practical demonstrations of the applications of the statistical and problem solving tools. A Black Belt mentor and a Staff sponsor must endorse and support the application , which is then subject to thirty days scrutiny by a corporate Black Belt committee.
It is not uncommon for this committe to demand further examples and demonstrations where they do not see real depth of understanding and clear evidence of results.

The fact of the matter is, that there is no defined standard for what a black belt, green belt or master black belt is. Yes the ASQ provides a certification, and is probably a good institution to get a certification from – but you can get a certification from just about anybody who claims to have one. Have a look at the internet, try typing “six sigma certification” in the google search engine and see how many places offer certification (good and bad). You may also want to have a look at the motorla university homepage (mu.motorola.com) for example.
If you or anyoneelse truly wants to understand the basic philosophies behind six sigma, TQM, QFD, SIPOC etc. there is only one ultimate founding authority – Dr. W. Edwards Deming. Try this book: Four Days with Dr. Deming – available at Amazon.
 
Good luck
 
Good luck

Kindly guide me on the said subject.
Thanks.
Maninder Singh

It’s a revenue generator. Like PMI’s PMP certification, once you pay thousands for training and $450 for the exam, you are then on the hook for the rest of your career to spend a few grand every year for “training” to get “points”.  NOt enough points? Lose your certification. It’s a scheme.

I HAVE A PROPOSAL FOR EVERYONE……………………… :)
1st or 2nd quarter of next year we will convene lets.  Only with Six Sigma Practitioners (GB, BB, MBBs) from Manufacturers and Service Oriented companies.  The sole purpose is to create a standard certification like the CPA; and to elect a Six Sigma Standards Board (SSSB) – like the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). 
I along with a group of professionals will structure and organize the event and will set up the arraingments.  For those who are interested you can reply to this thread by simply saying ……………yes, let me know on a scale of 1-10 your level of seriousness,  and leave your email contact information and I will be in touch.
Case open?……………….

I recently received my ASQ Black Belt cert after completing my PMI PMP (Project Management Professional) cert last year. comparing and constrasting the two certs and processes I offer the following:
(1) The lack on 1 main certifying body is confusing to outsiders and diffuses the value of everyone’s cert. The six sigma community will gain more clout and increase the adoption of six sigma methodologies (making you more marketable) once a mega-professional society (like PMI) offers a certification test that is widely accepted by the business community as THE-standard.
(2) ASQ seems closest to this mega-professional society for quality (and PMI is for project management) since they offer a number of vendor-neutral industry accepted quality certs. It could then work like PMI where you can earn a certificate from many different sources but only receive the industry-wide certification from one.
(3) The lack of  one industry-wide cert for black belt made the initial steps of choosing a program then decideing to further pursue certification more difficult than it needed to be.
 

There are way too many companies that would lose out on their “certification and training fees” if that were to happen.  Don’t you see all the flashing banners?  There are some consultants that simply sell certifications, then there are some that actually help businesses solve their problems, partially through SS training of their employees.   But, still way too much money to be lost by doing as you suggest.  Everyone would want to be the “standard” because the standard will make money – no one else will.
I agree – ASQ is the standard right now (my opinion).  Funny though – everyone thinks that whatever they have is the standard!  No bias there eh?
Congratulations on your certification!
M

While I recognize the factual use of certifying bodies such as PMI, having the certification means very little to me.  Yes I will look for it on a resume, but I have met too many “Certified” PMPs that couldn’t organize a train wreck, and too many Black Belts that couldn’t explain what 6 sigma means.  Much more valuable is what have you done and what did it mean in $, experience.  As an empolyeer ask specific questions, examples of their work, and a technical question or two.

Bravo!

Please excuse the typos and grammar goofs in my last note.   I’ve got a splitting headache…

 
1) Ask yourself why you want to get certified
-Prestige (another trophy for the wall), or are you interested in the methods/toolsets?
2) Does your present company offer 6S training?  –
If so, jump on it.
If not, I’d go with Motorola U. (There is a campus just a stones throw from ASU)
The key is application of the toolset, genuine change agency and bottom line results….not the ability to pass a test.

How much are you willing to spend?
Try pulsing various companies.
Try searching the fora for Consulting rates.

I am interested in methods/tools set. I live in California now, LA. No, my company is not pursuing 6sigma.

Affiliation is fine, as long as the relationship is being used to foster additional cycles of learning…
If the affiliation is sought as an accessory for your wall, or biz card, it’s NVA in the eyes of knowledgable hiring managers..