In a process improvement methodology such as Six Sigma, many tend to focus on the tools and techniques required to make the system work.
They certainly are important. However, the most central part of Six Sigma is the people involved. The better trained people are in Six Sigma, the better the methodology works.
One of the most critical moves any organization can make in implementing Six Sigma is committing to offering employees the chance to earn certification. And one of the biggest steps is earning a Six Sigma Green Belt.
But it doesn’t just help the organization. It also gives employees important new job skills and knowledge.
What is a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification?
Color-coded belts mark the level of certification a person has in Six Sigma.
A White Belt offers the most basic introduction to Six Sigma terminology and theories. A Yellow Belt learns more details about using the tools and techniques of Six Sigma, such as DMAIC (design, measure, analyze, improve, control) and DMADV (define, measure, analyze, design, verify).
The next step – Green Belt – propels an employee into putting those tools and techniques to use.
In a way, a Six Sigma Green Belt bridges the gap between learning theory and applying it to real-world business challenges. Green Belts often do much of the heavy lifting in a Six Sigma project in terms of data collection and analysis.
It’s an excellent way to prepare them for the next steps, a Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt. Both open the door to critical leadership positions in an organization’s ongoing process improvement initiatives.
Green Belt Roles And Responsibilities
A Six Sigma Green Belt typically works under the supervision of a Six Sigma Black Belt. They support a Black Belt, typically the team leader, on Six Sigma projects.
There are many core competencies expected from a Six Sigma Green Belt. They include:
- The ability to implement change management
- Finding the root cause of issues and solving them so they do not reoccur
- A mastery of Six Sigma tools and techniques
- Learning data analysis, project management and process improvement skills
During a Six Sigma project, a Green Belt often handles much of the data collection and analysis work. Black Belts provide leadership and direction. Yellow Belts often support Green Belts in conducting research and gathering information.
Who Should Become a Green Belt?
Six Sigma offers an opportunity to hone a person’s business skills. The focus is on eliminating waste and decreasing the number of defects in any process. Given that, earning a Green Belt can prove a good move for those who wish to work on process improvement within an organization.
It’s also a stepping stone to becoming a Black Belt and leading Six Sigma project teams.
Many managers and even executives are drawn to a Six Sigma certification. In addition to helping them manage process improvement, it also gives them tools and techniques to use in evaluating an operation and identifying areas of waste.
Who Can Benefit from Six Sigma Green Belt Certification?
Earning a Green Belt certification makes an employee better suited to collect and analyze the data that is crucial for a Six Sigma project. They often serve as the “worker” on a project team, crunching the numbers used to make decisions on a project’s direction, which is a crucial role
It also is a big step for those who wish to learn the details of applying Six Sigma to real-world projects. Green Belts, armed with knowledge on the theories behind Six Sigma tools and strategies, learn how to take those theories and leverage them on actual process improvement projects.
It’s a challenging position to be in, but it benefits those who wish to achieve mastery of Six Sigma. It helps not only the organization they work for, but also makes them a more well-rounded employee and candidate for promotion.