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Six Sigma Green and Black Belts.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 12:57 pm
Posted on 10/1/12 at 12:57 pm
As part of the final semester of my MBA curriculum I do have to take a 25 hour course in Six Sigma. This will leave me roughly half way through the hours necessary to sit the Green Belt examination. I have the option of taking the additional coursework and hours through the College of Business at my own expense following my graduation.
My question is, from a marketability standpoint how much would these Certifications help me in the current environment? Any debate about going with Green or should I pursue the Black belt instead? Is this whole thing just a fad that will be replaced in a few years with the next "big thing"?
Opinions...?
My question is, from a marketability standpoint how much would these Certifications help me in the current environment? Any debate about going with Green or should I pursue the Black belt instead? Is this whole thing just a fad that will be replaced in a few years with the next "big thing"?
Opinions...?
This post was edited on 10/1/12 at 1:04 pm
7
Posted on 10/1/12 at 1:07 pm to wiltznucs
No idea but I'll be taking a Six Sigma class next year from a black belt on my way to become a green. I know nothing a about it as of now. 
Posted on 10/1/12 at 1:11 pm to wiltznucs
On every job posting I read "Six Sigma certification a plus" is present somewhere...and I'm not even looking for jobs in the "business" field.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 2:18 pm to wiltznucs
I have no idea what this Six Sigma Program is about. I do know that our regional manager brags about having his black belt in this. We just roll our eyes and keep on keepin on. All he wants to do is continually ask us "Why?". If he needs to keep asking us "Why?", our opinion is that he is in a job that is way over his head. Anyone in his position should already know "Why". Obviously, I'm not impressed at all with this Six Sigma stuff. It seems to us that it's just the latest and newest continuous process improvement of which a lot of managers and CEO's fall all over themselves. But then again, I haven't taken it, and I haven't seen any results that make it so valuable and necessary other than possibly looking impressive to someone on your resume and CE certifications. Let the rant begin...
Posted on 10/1/12 at 2:58 pm to BFIV
6 sigma is still a big buzzword in alot of industries. Its a Lean / QA type program
The why questions - "5 Why" process states that it takes asking the question why 5 times to get t othe Root Cause of a problem.
The why questions - "5 Why" process states that it takes asking the question why 5 times to get t othe Root Cause of a problem.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 3:54 pm to wiltznucs
Presently, from an earnings standpoint, the Six Sigma certification is likely worth more than the MBA. I've been trying for a year now to have my company sponsor my certification.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 4:20 pm to wiltznucs
I was at GE in the 90's when Jack Welch forced Six Sigma on the entire organization. I was on the sales side of the business where the concepts didn't translate as well as in manufacturing, design, or other areas with more opportunities for defects. While we found it helpful in some cases, it was often viewed as the "Rube Goldberg" method of problem solving, where simple logic would come to the same conclusion much faster.
That said, I'm glad I went through the training, because it does provide a framework for approaching certain problems, especially where statistics play a role (It helped in my Exec MBA program and I still know how to use Minitab 17 years later.) I'm not sure how marketable certification is today, but I would guess that it's considered a fad in some firms and vital in others.
That said, I'm glad I went through the training, because it does provide a framework for approaching certain problems, especially where statistics play a role (It helped in my Exec MBA program and I still know how to use Minitab 17 years later.) I'm not sure how marketable certification is today, but I would guess that it's considered a fad in some firms and vital in others.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 4:32 pm to CajunAlum Tiger Fan
quote:
it was often viewed as the "Rube Goldberg" method of problem solving, where simple logic would come to the same conclusion much faster.
Thank you! That's how we see it. Where you describe it as "simple logic", we describe it as "common sense".
Posted on 10/1/12 at 4:33 pm to GeauxldMember
quote:
the Six Sigma certification is likely worth more than the MBA
Whoa whoa pump the brakes here. Many companies do not credit 'certifications' obtained from other companies given, well there are absolutely no standards or compliance tools to validate what you received. Now some companies have better reps (A green belt from GE for example), but dont think magically these things have extreme value. Anyone can give them to anyone.
Edit: Not to slight the skill set in anyway. It is an interesting and useful methodology. I was taught it by the daughter of Bill Smith herself; I am just letting you know the lack of a formal certification creates hinderance in the marketplace.
This post was edited on 10/1/12 at 4:38 pm
Posted on 10/1/12 at 8:33 pm to igoringa
I'm not poo-pooing an MBA, and I'm not talking about a Project Management cert issued by your employer's training program. You can do the research yourself, the earning power of a Black Belt is greater than that of the average MBA.
Posted on 10/1/12 at 9:40 pm to wiltznucs
quote:Basically the fad is the belief that you can throw Six Sigma / Lean Sigma at absolutely any problem to solve it. That sets up failure from the start, and it just doesn't work.
Is this whole thing just a fad that will be replaced in a few years with the next "big thing"?
Why not? Because Six Sigma, and more specifically Lean Sigma, is a process-improvement-process of sorts. In other words, you need to take a system with defined outputs to reduce either the variability, failure rate, or otherwise improve its efficiency.
The second major failure is to have a scope that is too broad or too poorly defined. Trying to "cure world hunger" or a scope that creeps into this is also a recipe for failure.
So, a manager who has received a Lean Sigma pep talk from consultants or even worse is being held accountable for instituting some sort of Lean Sigma project (or else) will generally fall victim to these issues of trying to solve the wrong problem with too broad of a scope.
That being said, the Lean Sigma toolkit is actually very useful. These are really just piecemeal techniques for solving any control or efficiency problem, wrapped into the Lean Sigma DMAIC methodology (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control). The techniques and DMAIC framework can be truly successful if applied to the right problem with a narrow scope and the process experts involved (people who are intimately familiar with the process or output you are trying to improve).
To answer your question,
Yes, it can improve your marketability. But in my opinion, it can expose you in an interview. Nobody wants some young disruptor charging in and trying to solve every problem. However, it can be a plus if you have a good perspective on the strengths and pitfalls for applying Six Sigma / Lean Sigma. And don't be surprised if you are asked to head up a Lean Sigma team or two, whether you like it or not!
By the way, the following is a great reference and the only one that I can personally recommend (having a practical, no-nonsense personality).
Posted on 10/1/12 at 9:58 pm to wiltznucs
It's nice to have. I have a black belt on my team. It's a nice credential paired with ITIL v3 and PMP. That's a path to earn.
Posted on 10/2/12 at 4:55 am to Blue Velvet
quote:
No idea but I'll be taking a Six Sigma class next year from a black belt on my way to become a green. I know nothing a about it as of now.
you got that backwards, atleast where I work. You start as a green belt and go up to black belt. Then on to master black belt.
Posted on 10/2/12 at 7:04 am to onelochevy
I had to read that twice - but I think he is saying a Black Belt is teaching the Green Belt course.
Posted on 10/2/12 at 10:23 am to Chris4x4gill2
My problem with this program in my field is, well, I'm a scientist, I know how to get to the fricking root of a problem. 
Businessmen gonna busy.
Businessmen gonna busy.
Posted on 10/2/12 at 10:26 am to bunky
Six Sigma bothers me now. I believe Six Sigma has served a useful purpose in companies I have worked for, but they themselves become a model of inefficiency and waste after X amount of time in one company IMO.
Posted on 10/2/12 at 10:46 am to LSUAfro
So, this thread really isn't about Karate is it?
Posted on 10/2/12 at 11:12 am to LSUAfro
Years ago our boss pulled us together to brainstorm possible Lean Sigma projects. Of course, he had just attended some one-hour Lean Sigma overview and had been told to use it on his team.
The first question from the group, not surprisingly, "Can we use Lean Sigma to get rid of Lean Sigma?"
The first question from the group, not surprisingly, "Can we use Lean Sigma to get rid of Lean Sigma?"
Posted on 10/2/12 at 11:12 am to LSUAfro
Years ago our boss pulled us together to brainstorm possible Lean Sigma projects. Of course, he had just attended some one-hour Lean Sigma overview and had been told to use it on his team.
The first question from the group, not surprisingly, "Can we use Lean Sigma to get rid of Lean Sigma?"
The first question from the group, not surprisingly, "Can we use Lean Sigma to get rid of Lean Sigma?"
Posted on 10/2/12 at 11:20 am to Bayou Tiger
quote:
The first question from the group, not surprisingly, "Can we use Lean Sigma to get rid of Lean Sigma?"
Sounds like me. I've suggested the same as well.
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