A significant number of individuals are eager to go the extra mile to advance in their professional journeys, nurturing dreams of reaching the top. Some prefer to pursue advanced academic qualifications like master’s or doctoral degrees, while others opt to partake in seminars and workshops to enhance their knowledge and skills.
If your objective is to boost your employability or secure a higher remuneration, Six Sigma Certification is an avenue worth exploring.
What is Six Sigma?
Six Sigma is a tool utilized by corporations and businesses to refine their production processes, ensure high quality, and minimize or eradicate manufacturing flaws. In 1986, Bill Smith, an American engineer employed by Motorola, introduced Six Sigma as a set of methodologies and techniques designed for business process enhancement and quality improvement.
Six Sigma is a data-driven, statistical approach aimed at enhancing manufacturing quality by identifying and eliminating causes of defects, and minimizing variability in business operations.
Companies hire Six Sigma certified professionals to supervise different aspects of the production process. The responsibilities they undertake and the roles they play are contingent upon their belt or Six Sigma certification level. Higher levels of certification usually correspond to more responsibilities and higher pay.
What is a Six Sigma Certification?
So, what does Six Sigma Certification entail? And how does it benefit you as an employee?
Six Sigma Certification serves as a validation that professionals are adept in applying Six Sigma principles to streamline business operations, increase production, reduce waste, and elevate customer satisfaction. Certified individuals often ascend to managerial positions as they can identify and rectify organizational issues.
Holding a Six Sigma Certification enhances your credibility and helps you specialize in process improvement by confirming your skills in identifying risks, defects, and errors in business processes and eliminating them. To earn this certification, you must demonstrate your proficiency and experience.
What is a Lean Six Sigma Certification?
You may have come across Lean Six Sigma if you’re familiar with Six Sigma. They share similarities but are not completely identical.
So, what exactly is the Lean Six Sigma program?
Lean Six Sigma is similar to classic Six Sigma in that it expands on the latter’s principles while placing a stronger emphasis on efficiency. Both Lean and traditional Six Sigma aim for process efficiency that can lead to higher profits. However, their approach differs.
Lean Six Sigma adopts the Lean method to eradicate waste and deliver maximum value. The Lean method, a business philosophy initiated in the 80s, aids organizations in achieving optimal efficiency. It usually impacts every tier of an organization.
While Six Sigma concentrates on production processes, the Lean method focuses less on manufacturing and more on influencing all other aspects of an organization.
Lean Six Sigma merges Six Sigma principles with the Lean method. Acquiring a Lean Six Sigma certification indicates your training and proficiency in methods that aid in reducing various kinds of waste in any process.
Are you considering acquiring your Six Sigma certification but feel the need for more experience? We strongly suggest exploring this Six Sigma course on Udemy.
Why Should You Pursue Six Sigma Certification?
Is Six Sigma certification worthwhile? This question might have crossed your mind a few times.
Six Sigma training provides practical industry experience. The knowledge and experience gained may enhance your eligibility for managerial roles and facilitate your professional growth. There are numerous other advantages, and some of them are outlined below.
1) Makes You an Asset to Your Employer
If you can assist your employers in reducing risks and eliminating manufacturing defects and errors, your value to the organization might increase. Six Sigma training equips you with the ability to help your employer streamline processes, leading to budgetary savings and larger profit margins.
Your Six Sigma expertise can help you ensure the compliance of partners, vendors, procurers, and oversight organizations. It also enables you to uphold profitable contracts that align with international standards.
2) Boosts Your Annual Earnings
Six Sigma certified professionals typically earn higher annual salaries than their non-certified counterparts. The increase in the rate depends on the level of certification you achieve.
3) Enhances Your Value across Industries
Being Six Sigma certified can continue to assist you throughout your career, even if you decide to switch industries. You’ll possess a broad array of methods to help your employer streamline processes, reduce costs, and boost revenue.
You can apply your knowledge in a variety of industries such as human resources, banking, IT, telecom, finance, aerospace, marketing, and more.
What Are the Average Salaries Per Certification Level?
According to Simplilearn, the average salaries per certification level are:
- White belt: $62,000
- Yellow belt: $66,000
- Green belt: $83,000
- Black belt: $99,000
- Master Black belt: $99,000+, often breaking into six figures
The actual earnings may vary based on factors such as your position, location, and the industry you’re employed in.
Benefits for Organizations to Hire Six Sigma Certified Professionals
The advantages of Six Sigma certification extend beyond individuals to organizations. But what exactly can a Six Sigma certified professional bring to a company? Let’s explore:
Increased Productivity
Six Sigma certified professionals can uncover ways to optimize business processes that might not have been considered by the company. These professionals employ one of two Six Sigma methods: DMAIC or DMADV.
DMAIC is an acronym for define, measure, analyze, improve, and control. It is a data-driven methodology typically used to improve services and products to enhance a company’s customer satisfaction levels.
DMADV, which stands for define, measure, analyze, design, and validate, is generally employed to help businesses develop new business processes or to improve existing processes that do not meet standards (even after previous improvements).
These methodologies allow Six Sigma professionals to provide actionable insights and advice that can boost productivity and expedite service and production without compromising on quality.
Cost Reductions
Streamlining business processes not only accelerates production but also reduces (and sometimes eliminates) waste. The result is often lower overall production costs, which can also translate into increased output and profit.
Gaining More Trust and Credibility
When customers and other stakeholders learn that an organization employs Six Sigma certified professionals, they may be more willing to trust the company with their business. The primary objective of Six Sigma is to enhance quality and efficiency. When customers can trust a company to deliver quality products and services, the company often gains increased confidence from potential customers and investors.
Boosting Customer Satisfaction
Because Six Sigma is dedicated to improving the quality of products and services by ensuring efficient processes across the organization, companies can identify and rectify or eliminate issues in their processes. This can result in the elimination of wasteful or redundant steps.
In businesses where customer service is a critical factor, fixing these issues can lead to faster service, fewer setbacks, and higher customer satisfaction.
Reduced Training Costs and Employee Turnover Rates
The DMAIC and DMADV processes used in Six Sigma are also quite useful in the realm of human resources.
By designing a good system from the onset, companies can increase employee retention and thus save on training costs associated with high employee turnover.
New Six Sigma-certified recruits joining a company can help pinpoint problems causing lower employee retention. They can offer advice and solutions to the issue, resulting in long-term cost savings.
What Are Six Sigma Belts and What Do They Represent?
Six Sigma certification levels, referred to as belts, are comparable to the belt ranking system in martial arts, where white represents beginner level and black indicates expert level. Let’s delve into the Six Sigma Belts Below.
Six Sigma White is the elementary, beginner level of certification that encompasses the basic Lean Six Sigma concepts. As a white belt, you can support management and participate in problem-solving teams, requires a black belt certificate and at least five years of industry experience.
There are also online resources where you can take the exams and get certified, such as:
- GoLeanSixSigma.com
- SixSigma.us
- SixSigmaGlobalInstitute.com
Conclusion
A Six Sigma certification can be a valuable asset in today’s competitive job market. Whether you’re new to the industry, looking to take your career to the next level, or seeking to add value to your current role, a Six Sigma certification can provide the knowledge and skills necessary for you to succeed. Plus, it provides tangible benefits to your employer.
Six Sigma certification can significantly boost your earnings, increase your employability, and give you a competitive edge. It demonstrates your ability to improve business processes, enhance productivity, and reduce costs.
So, whether you’re contemplating a Lean Six Sigma certification or the classic Six Sigma certification, the benefits and opportunities that come with these certifications are vast and worth considering.