When you run a business, you naturally want it to be flawless. The Six Sigma approach aims for business excellence by eliminating process flaws that cause variation, striving for perfect efficiency. Six Sigma targets just 3.4 defects per 1,000,000 items. Most U.S. companies work at 3 to 4 Sigma quality levels, losing up to 25% of their total revenue due to waste or the costs of fixing defects. Additionally, the lean philosophy serves as a tool for improving processes and reducing costs by cutting out waste.
There are three levels of Lean Six Sigma mastery: Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. Green Belts are individuals who carry out specific tasks within Black Belt projects and manage simpler projects in their area. To become a Green Belt, one typically needs to finish eight weeks of online training, pass 8 online exams with at least 70%, and work on basic improvement projects. On average, Green Belts earn 23% more than the average salary for national job postings. Black Belts serve as team leaders who assign roles and responsibilities for more complex projects. The usual requirements for a Black Belt include sixteen weeks of online training, passing 8 online exams with a minimum score of 70%, and focusing on project execution. Black Belts with over 15 years of experience make 41% more than those with 3-5 years of experience. Finally, Master Black Belts train and mentor both Black and Green Belts, addressing any unique issues in Black Belt projects. To become a Master Black Belt, one must complete the Black Belt program with a minimum score of 70% and submit a project done during the Master Black Belt class.
And now it’s time to focus on putting Sigma into action. There are 48 million surgeries that occur in the United States each year nationally and hospitals that are operating on a Six Sigma only see 163.2 mistakes made during surgery compared to a Three Sigma who encounters 3,206,736 mistakes during surgery per year. Globally in 2011 there were 487,700,000 smartphone producers operating on Six Sigma and only saw 1,658.18 defective phones compared to 32,581,773.9 defects in phones with Three Sigma. Six Sigma has a 99.9% success rate and becoming a Master Black Belt will enable yourself and your career!
Check out the infographic below presented by Villanova University to learn more about Six Sigma.
