Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Lean Six Sigma is a set of practices to systematically improve processes by eliminating defects. A defect is defined as failure of a product, process or service in meeting requirements of internal or external customers. Lean Six Sigma as a management methodology has helped thousands of professionals’ worldwide to reduce cycle times, increase productivity and improve quality and delivery of processes. It is important to understand Lean Six Sigma as a set of extra-ordinary techniques that improves decision making in a wide variety of situations. Lean Six Sigma techniques are not rocket science and can be learnt in a down-to-earth daily application oriented language. This requires that people get trained as improvement specialists through green belt and black belt training programs.

Lean Six Sigma provides the ability to deliver business benefits effectively. It provides the knowledge and skill set to enhance efficiency of processes and workflows. Lean Six Sigma competences are highly demanded in the industry (Analytical, Statistical, Facilitation, Project Management Skills etc.) Moreover, it provides the ideal preparation for a leadership role.

• Improvement methodology
• Structured Roadmap (D-M-A-I-C)
• Process focused
• Customer centered
• Data Driven
• Validated by real business benefits
• Y=F(x), Y= effect, X’s= causes
  
  The tools and techniques we provide in our Green Belt Certification program allow you to realize the benefits straightaway as you are provided with hands on practice on these methods with case studies, group exercises and role plays during the four-day program.

Lean Six Sigma provides a roadmap (a step by step methodology along with tools) towards breakthrough improvement. Other approaches like ISO 9001, COPC, SEI-CMM are organizational certifications whereby defined requirements need to be met by an organization and this is verified through an external audit. The standards for these certifications do not provide roadmaps. How you meet these requirements is totally up to you. Financial gain through customer satisfaction is the primary objective in Lean Six Sigma. The primary objective in ISO is to get certified and remain certified so that prospective (or existing) clients get confidence about a reliable management system being in place.

Lean Six Sigma is not an organizational certification. Individuals get certified as improvement specialists

Lean Six Sigma provides a roadmap (a step by step methodology along with tools) towards breakthrough improvement. Other approaches like ISO 9001, COPC, SEI-CMM are organizational certifications whereby defined requirements need to be met by an organization and this is verified through an external audit. The standards for these certifications do not provide roadmaps. How you meet these requirements is totally up to you. Financial gain through customer satisfaction is the primary objective in Lean Six Sigma. The primary objective in ISO is to get certified and remain certified so that prospective (or existing) clients get confidence about a reliable management system being in place.

Lean Six Sigma is not an organizational certification. Individuals get certified as improvement specialists

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt are qualifications in Lean Six Sigma. Green Belt qualified professionals have competence and skills to successfully complete projects (Green Belt projects are normally those which relate to process improvements within a function or department)

Black Belt professionals have the ability to resolve problems of a more complex nature which normally involve cross-functional teams.

The highlights of the Green Belt program are:

• Complete understanding of D-M-A-I-C methodology.
• Team break-out exercises on tools and techniques of each phase.
• Training conducted with the aid of MINITAB trial version software.
• Experience sharing with do’s and don’ts that provide learning on what works and what does not.
• Presentations on common organizational situations where Lean Six Sigma can bring visible breakthrough benefits in 3-6 months’ timeframe.
• Provides excellent cross industry learning and covers tools for all sectors for various functions and processes.

Almost every industry sector is working with Lean Six Sigma today. Six Sigma originated in manufacturing but is now being used in service sectors extensively.

The Green Belt program covers the most common tools and methodologies used in Lean Six Sigma. The Black Belt course provides competence on high rigor statistical techniques that are used for major and more complex projects (like the ones that provide distinct competitive advantage to an organization). Being a step-by-step approach, one needs to complete Green Belt in order to start with the Black Belt program.

Six Sigma was initiated in 1980’s at Motorola and has been growing in acceptance all over the world. There is no evidence of an organization dropping the Lean Six Sigma initiative without benefits. If the Lean Six Sigma methodology is followed it always delivers results.

No, individuals are certified on the basis of completing the classroom training and clearing the examination on the last day of the training. However, it is recommended that each participant carries out a project at his workplace at the first opportunity.

There are two certifications that we offer:

• Certification on the basis of examination (The certificate mentions – Green Belt certified on the basis of examination)
• Project Completion Certification - Issued when you submit a project report after completing a project. Green Belt project completion certificate. This certification is optional at no extra fee.

Any Green Belt trained/certified professional can go ahead for Black Belt. If it is feasible for you to do a Green Belt project, you may go ahead. But in some cases where people find that identifying and doing a project is not easy in their organizations, they prefer doing a single project after Black Belt (with just one project they can get a Black Belt project completion certification which would have otherwise required two projects).

Please note that the Black Belt program is only for Certified Green Belts. Therefore, Black Belt is 10 days in total.

Why do you want to know about my company, qualification and background?
This helps us to provide relevant examples and situations so that we can explain things better to you. We could also be in a position to provide you some references this way.

At the top of the Lean Six Sigma competence ladder is the Master Black Belt (MBB) certification. The Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt program is designed for Lean Six Sigma leadership roles. A Master Black Belt is one who is authorized (qualified) to conduct Black Belt Training programs. He also mentors Black Belt projects. This qualification is granted to individuals who have successfully completed a specified number of improvement projects (not less than 5) and have successfully attended the MBB training program before clearing the examination.

Lean Six Sigma is highly valued and our program is recognized across industries. Companies are regularly recruiting Lean Six Sigma professionals. We have had participation from leading organizations in each industry sector.

Lean Six Sigma philosophy is in action at most large organizations today. Some companies have taken it up as a corporate philosophy, while others use it as a problem solving methodology.

Our training format provides ample practice in three ways:

• Before training: by the use of pre-course material provided by email upon registration.
• During training: practical exercises to reinforce the concepts covered during the day.
• After training: through assistance on live projects.

Lean Six Sigma is implemented by Global IT leaders with very good results. It complements SEI-CMM and ISO 9001 very well. Very powerful applications of Lean Six Sigma exist in Software Quality Assurance and Software Development. Lean Six Sigma’s success is due to the tangibility of results it guarantees in breakthrough improvement projects initiated in the company. We get participants from leading IT companies in every program.

We get enquiries from companies who recruit Lean Six Sigma professionals. Placements are not a part of our offer but we do provide references of openings and candidates as and when required. As evident from the past participant feedbacks, placements are not really a problem in the industry currently.

Yes. We offer unparalleled international recognition. Headquartered in Germany, TÜV SÜD is an international service company with global representation in over 1000 locations, and with over 50 per cent of its employees working outside Germany. Since 1866, the company has been partnering businesses and inspiring people to trust in new technologies.

We get participation from the US, UAE, Singapore, Europe and Australia, to name a few.

The fee includes the following:

• Pre-course material
• Study material provided during training
• Software provided during training (Excel based - xl stat, MINITAB - trial version)
• Examination fee
• Certificate fee
• Lunch and refreshments on all days

Our successful and satisfied participants come from varied industries – This includes industrial products, FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) manufacturers, IT, ITES (including BPO, call centers), hospitality (including hotels and hospitals), projects (engineering & construction), other service providers (power supply, courier & cargo, HR service providers, financial services, banks etc.)

You need to mention in brief about Six Sigma course contents; project completion and benefits (if you have completed a project). You may highlight the techniques that you have sufficient practice on (To prompt the interviewer to ask you more about them).