What Is A Six Sigma Master Black Belt?

Six Sigma is a process in which individuals are trained and certified in a methodology that will help companies organize, analyze, and improve their overall business operation.  This will help to make them more efficient and more profitable. In the hierarchal structure of Six Sigma, there are different levels of certification that pertain to the degree of proficiency and level of expertise and understanding of the theories of this business management strategy. These levels are referred to as belts. The highest level is the Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

The Six Sigma Master Black Belt, or MBB, is a person who has achieved the highest degree of training and certification in the entire 6 Sigma process. They will be able to go into any company, regardless of the area of manufacture or service, and be able to help improve the overall flow of business. By doing this, the company will not only save a lot of money, in many cases, millions of dollars per year, but also create an environment of efficiency that lasts.

Consumers will also benefit from a Master Black Belt working within a corporation. As a result of the implementation of the methodologies, continuous improvements, reduced cycle times, lowered costs per unit, and increased quality, the consumer will often receive higher quality goods and services for a reduced cost.

Because of their high degree of expertise and training, Master Black Belts are highly sought after in the business world. They can be the life breath that saves a company from going bankrupt. These individuals have typically studied for years to attain this high level of education and understanding. This not only makes them highly valuable employees, but also rare in the world of business.

It will not matter if the company hiring the MBB currently uses the Six Sigma process or not. The MBB will be able to educate the necessary individuals within the company, explain the process in easy to understand language, and help train the right people to take charge of the processes that he or she will lay out for the company.  They will then lead teams of individuals on 6 Sigma Projects, that will work to increase the company’s quality while decreasing their bottom line.

Once everyone is on board and understands the reasons for implementing the process, the real work can begin. The biggest part of the process will involve the gathering of data or metrics to help the Master Black Belt and other leadership-level individuals to come up with the proper conclusions about the business practices and how to improve them.

A properly trained individual will be able to look at any business type, even something with which he or she is not familiar, and be able to gather information to make the process more efficient and profitable. The ability to look at complex processes and find the areas that need improvement even without being an expert in that particular field is what sets the 6 Sigma Master Black Belt apart from the lower levels of Six Sigma Training.

Most people will need to know more about the process in order to be able to suggest areas of weakness in need of improvement. While a cursory knowledge is important, if the data sets are gathered correctly, a proper analysis can be made. The MBB  is just the right person for such a task.

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Use of DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify) in Six Sigma

DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify) is often known as DFSS or Design for Six Sigma.  Since Six Sigma uses many of the quality management implements well within the many different phases of DMADV, it is only natural that these same phases would work anywhere.

In order to understand DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify) one must look at and understand each of the five phases that it must go through.  The first, of course, is design. 

When worked within the confines of a DMADV project, the term define only means that goals are going to be made distinct.  Depending on what consumers are demanding and needing, and what the business is willing to consider, the distinctions will vary.  However, there will be some that will work for both and these need to be found for an idea and basic plan to be created.

When looking at the next term, measure, this is when things start to get a bit more technical.  Not only are they going to measure the capabilities of a business to be able to produce the product, they are also going to measure the risks associated with taking the project on.  They will identify what are commonly known as CTQ’s or which features are Critical to Quality.

When the Six Sigma team turns to the third phase, the analyze phase, they will then work on the design and several alternatives to that particular design and then evaluate each specific one to see if it is the best of all the designs they have created.  These will all be of high level and only the best design that can create the specified product will continue to be considered.

From there, they go into the details.  This is the stage where the chosen design is optimized for peak performance.  They also create a verification process that will determine whether or not the product or service is feasible.  Simulations can often be found in use during this stage.

Finally, they verify the design.  This is far beyond simulations, as it is now time to actually do practice runs of the equipment and see if production is going to go as planned.  Should all go well during this final stage, it is finally given to the owner to utilize.

Since DMADV is so often used by a Six Sigma team, it is considered a process that is necessary for them and even thought of as exclusively used by the methodology, although it can easily be used outside of a Six Sigma environment.

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Implementing Six Sigma Certification in Healthcare Environments

The healthcare industry is one where defects and mistakes are not and cannot be tolerated.  A mistake could cost a patient their life.  This means processes need to be in place and followed exactly how they are set forth to eliminate mistakes.  A Six Sigma certification is the best requirement in a healthcare environment for employees dealing with critical patient information.

Although the Six Sigma Methodology may have been developed for a manufacturing organization, the good news is, it can be used in a healthcare organization in order to give the same added benefits.  The healthcare industry is a service organization facing challenges everyday.  Quality improvement methods are more difficult to implement in a healthcare industry.  The comprehensive approach offered by a Six Sigma certification allows for the methodologies to be successfully implemented with positive results.

A Six Sigma certification provides the tools and resources required for a healthcare organization to manage effectively the interaction of information and the interaction of people in this critical environment.  Processes can be easily transformed for total quality results and better productivity without the worry of critical mistakes.  Many people in a healthcare environment are stuck in their ways because they are used to running the same processes on every shift.  A change can be dramatic, if not cause anxiety to staff members.  The Six Sigma certification shows management how to implement effective changes in a critical environment, such as healthcare, by creating motivated employees who are ready and willing for the changes.

Healthcare organizations are behind the times in managing people, documentation, systems, and other resources.  This is because changes are so difficult to make in such a critical atmosphere.  A Six Sigma certification program shows management how to create a long term vision and slowly work toward positive changes that can help reduce costs, increase productivity, and create an atmosphere employees are happy working in.

The Six Sigma certification program is designed to reduce waste and save money.  Healthcare organizations can find different approaches to systems that save time and reduce the probability of making critical mistakes.  This type of program is ideal for management in any type of industry including retail, manufacturing, industrial, service, and even healthcare. 

The best thing a healthcare organization can do today is require management to undergo Six Sigma certification training with their staff.  This will help management make positive changes to reduce waste such as unnecessary steps in processes, physical assets, and labor.  New systems can be put in place to better a healthcare operations to ensure mistakes are almost impossible to make.  This will help create a safer environment for patients and improve employee morale.

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What Six Sigma Green Belt Training Is

Six Sigma is a business management program that helps companies recover from financial and organizational losses by pinpointing defects and rectifying them.  In order to accurately implement the business management program, there are individuals ranked at certain levels of Six Sigma Certification.  One of these levels is the Green Belt or SSGB. An SSGB works under a Black Belt. This team of certified individuals is able to implement this methodology, collect vital data and effect positive change in a company.

SSGBs are tasked with collecting information and providing it their team leaders. They do most of the work within the company and are essential to the program's development and success. While their task can be viewed as a smaller scale of the whole process, Green Belts use important tools and objectives to complete their tasks and are a thus an asset to any company.

Six Sigma Green Belt individuals receive important course objectives from their team leaders. They spend almost half of their time collecting information or data and managing their assignments. They utilize various tools within this methodology which enables them to create an effective project and see to its completion.

SSGBs are specifically given the tools they will need to enhance the products and services of a business as well as enable the company to make a profit and gain a higher reputation within the industry during certification. They are also trained to be able to clarify the most complicated of statistical formulas needed to process a project or task.

Six Sigma Green Belt employees, with the use of this business management methodology, are able to clarify concepts with the team as well as understand customer oriented processes. Using special tools like the Kano diagram, they are able to calculate both short and long term values in any given project.

Once an employee has successfully completed their training, they will operate within a specific area of the company and see to several projects and tasks with a group of their peers. In order to become certified for this position, one will need to take SSGB training courses. These courses can be performed on-site or online. Some companies often offer funding for on-site and online courses while others offer incentives for employees with these certifications.

Green Belt certification cannot be carried from company to company because of certain variations in procedures and policies within each company. Trainees will have to undergo various exams before awarded the rank of a SSGB. In addition to tests, individuals will be tasked with implementing the DMAIC methodology, which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control.

Lastly, individuals will have to be adequately trained in the use of specific tools within this methodology. Such tools include statistical aids, histograms, and Pareto diagrams, among many others. These are often provided during training courses.  Persons who have successfully been awarded the Six Sigma Green Belt Certification are open to promotions and added benefits and incentives due to their improved knowledge as an asset to the company. These individuals are highly sought after as many businesses have begun to implement Six Sigma within their services and products.

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Is there Room for Six Sigma Certification in the Banking Industry?

The principles of Six Sigma certification help financial companies improve the quality of the services they offer.

The methodology used in the banking industry is DMAIC; define, measure, analyze, improve, and control.

•    Define: This concept refers to Six Sigma certification professionals who define the objectives and boundaries of certain business processes. The procedures are defined with the contributions of both employees and senior management.

In the case of banks, the main objective will usually be customer satisfaction. This means that all the processes which involve customer interactions or which directly contribute to customer satisfaction must be defined.

These processes may include request processing, CD rollovers, new account openings, teller procedures, and so on.

•    Measure: This stage of the DMAIC process means that Six Sigma professionals deploy quantitative procedures to collect statistical data in consultation with the business managers.

The data collected will then be used to measure the way customer satisfaction is impacted by the different business processes. There will be different processes which have different impacts on customer satisfaction, and financial considerations will prevent every process from being measured.

This means that individual processes must be prioritized and the measurements can then be used to assist banks in concentrating on processes with the greatest effect on customer satisfaction.

In the industry, that usually means a focus on wait times; observers can be used at branches to measure the average wait times under a variety of conditions.

•    Analyze: The data collected during the measure phase of DMAIC are now looked at in the analyze phase.

The analysis will take place under predefined parameters in order to look at the processes which can be improved upon at minimum cost to the organization.

The analysis will cover every aspect of a business process directly affecting customer satisfaction, from check cashing onward.

In that case, the phase would take a look at the different steps involved in check cashing and ascertain which step could be addressed to make the action as fluid as possible.

•    Improve: Once the steps are analyzed, the improve phase comes into play. This means that corrective measures are applied in order to cut down on wait times involving customer satisfaction.

The measures are put into place with the consultation of both staff and the branch manager, and based on facts and statistics.

At this point, one should use advanced simulation tools to study the impact of the initiative on business processes.

•    Control:  Control is similar to measuring, but with an important difference. What is being monitored are not previous processes but rather the improvement measures that have been put into play within different areas.

If the process is still not living up to Six Sigma certification levels, the process will be taken back to the define phase.

If it is only a small problem preventing the realization of goals, on the other hand, corrective measures can be taken and going through the entire process again avoided.

This entire methodology has been employed by banks to great success over the last few decades and has seen many note a marked increase in service delivery and customer satisfaction.

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The Marketing Department: Traditional Six Sigma or Six Sigma Marketing?

Many people have been musing over Six Sigma’s possible implementation in marketing and whether it will be a success in that right. Marketing is one of the largest aspects of business to include process management. In most cases, persons have two different stand points when it pertains to this process in this department and whether it will be a positive or negative addition to the business.

There are persons who favor regular Six Sigma in marketing and those who feel that this process needs to be modified first. The former will be less costly to many businesses while the latter, when modified, will be able to fully change marketing making it both effective and efficient.

Directly applying Six Sigma to marketing has several connotations. Persons feel that it is far capable of fitting within this part of a business and needs no necessary amendments in order to work efficiently within it. These persons believe that for this process to be directly applied to marketing and work well, is for it to be applied on one project at a time and solely on that basis. These projects may include promotions, sales, and distribution. This method proves more cost effective as less money is spent on amending the procedure to fit within marketing. Additionally, there are several activities which are undisciplined and creative in character that define this department of a business, and are able to provide businesses with undeveloped and aspiring ways in order to make the process more structured and disciplined.

On the other hand, there are those who believe that the Six Sigma approach will have to be modified in order to successfully make changes in the marketing industry. This is simply in an attempt to accommodate the several aspects of marketing activities. Six Sigma Marketing has been created for this approach. Often abbreviated to SSM, it is a modified version of the DMAIC model which provides modified and essential tools within business, that are specific to this department. This new DMAIC approach offers a disciplined, fact-based and targeted look at the market and enables businesses to figure a superior value. SSM focuses on market share, products, and value which differ drastically from the original Six Sigma process.

SSM (Six Sigma Marketing) has a few processes and approaches that are used to identify each product or market that needs growth. Belts and leaders then evaluate these products or markets using several metrics. These metrics include competitive intensity, market growth rate, and current market share, which are all used to assess the most effective targets for the business. SSM essentially provides marketing businesses with the appropriate tools in order to focus on specific market opportunities.

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What You Should Know About Online Business Marketing

One of the best techniques that you can utilize to make your company successful would be to have an efficient strategy when it comes to business marketing. Actually, if a company has a bad strategy then it will definitely suffer when it comes to recognition and sales.

When small enterprise owners would like their company to expand, they really need to develop effective sales promotion methods. This is vital to any enterprise, as it is important for every business owner to have these skills.  Generally, there are plenty of enterprise strategies that have proven to be very effective. With the explosion of Social Networking, there are even more opportunities for increased recognition and customer outreach. It is important to learn the different methods as you will likely need to utilize more than one for your success.

The internet has made this mode of business promotion more effective and less costly than in the past. It is now possible to get the attention of targeted individuals on a massive scale for virtually pennies. First, it is essential to have an effective website that is targeted to your key consumer audience.

There are many different ways to promote your enterprise online. With the high competition that is online depending on the industry, it is very important that you understand how to implement the most effective strategies for your advertising campaign. There are so many online techniques such as blogging, virtual videos, and Social Networking, as well as other tools to promote your enterprise.

Having a quality website that gains the attention of your potential customers is one of the first steps in your online campaign or ‘web presence’ as it is sometimes referred to. You can create the site yourself or have someone do it for you. But it is essential to follow the various proven techniques to increase your visibility online. You must also have a distinct logo to brand your enterprise. The site should also be easy to navigate or else you will lose visitors.

There are many online gurus that have special training programs that teach you how to make your online presence profitable. There are also many books and websites devoted to providing this information. It is important to learn as much as you can on this subject as it will directly affect the success of your enterprise. Many of the techniques are very simple to implement.

Brand new small businesses are usually faced with the job of promoting their enterprise. This is often done with a very limited budget. There are the basic promotional tools like a good website, enterprise cards, and various marketing materials. These can be nominal expenses if everything is setup properly and ample research is performed. The best way for businesses to promote their services and products is online. The internet provides a very broad reach to promote your brand. There are so many different opportunities to do this at no cost. Internet videos are designed to produce a general understanding of your enterprise as well as attract potential prospects.

Unlike television advertising, online promotional methods are very cheap and sometime free; you are never restricted be territory or region. Your business marketing plan can be viewed by millions with a video that goes viral, or it can reach masses with a very successful blog. There are many different roads you can take online - start your web presence today.

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Information about the Six Sigma Green Belt

Written By: Six Sigma Training Assistant12-29-2011Categorized in: Green Belt

The business method Six Sigma is an improvement process that was expertly developed by the Motorola Company. It is a highly adaptable method and can be used in nearly any industry that chooses to take advantage of it. Six Sigma is an approach that tries to focus on things like increasing the satisfaction of customers, reducing errors, and continuous improvement. Because the method is based on different levels of expertise, such as the Green Belt and Yellow belt, it often invokes the image of the martial arts.

Training to be a Green Belt in the Six Sigma program involves first a general understanding of the basic concepts of the business method. A number of different corporations and agencies currently offer Green Belt training and certification, including the military.

Most aspiring Six Sigma Professionals take the courses, which are generally tailored to their work and schedule through their company, but many others opt to complete the courses remotely or on the internet. The length of course and its sign-up fee will vary from place to place and the trainee must pass a comprehensive exam and demonstrate their understanding of the knowledge gained before receiving the coveted title.

The roles and responsibilities of Green Belt professionals include leading others through their projects, participating in team building exercises, and providing as much assistance as they can with collecting data for the projects of Black Belt team leaders. Green teams typically also are called upon to solve lower level management issues, such as reducing the amount of variation in employee work, and generally leave the bigger problems to the Black Belts.

While those currently in this level won't be privy to the amount of information at the Black Belt level, they will gain access to the core information of the Six program. This basic information includes how to utilize the programs five phase methods, how to resolve certain projects, and advanced knowledge regarding histograms, diagrams, and charts.

There are numerous benefits to advancing to this level. Business men and women of this belt color receive the benefits of increased marketability and increased job prospects. They also provide the levels below and above, as well as their entire company, the benefits of their knowledge and skills. This is most evident in the overall success of Six Sigma corporations.

The program internally monitors and checks out any external training and certification courses very carefully in order to ensure that they can stand up to the organization's strict standards. There is no official accrediting branch, so one should choose a training provider very carefully. Anyone interested in seeking out a certification course should carefully review its credentials and determine its quality.

There are no necessary prerequisites in order to obtain before becoming a Six Sigma Green Belt.  A prospective trainee must simply pay the course dues, understand the core values and information, and be or become employed by a company or industry that uses and recognizes this esteemed business method.

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Six Sigma Strategy Is Best For Your Business

All types of organizations are trying to identify the value of enhanced utility technology designs and their different categories. However, most of the time the techniques integrated tend to hit the issue in a wrong path. Several hours of quality efforts along with energy are used to arrive at better results and to gain all information needed to measure productivity. Therefore, many companies have turned to full-fledged Complete Quality Control methods, options, and accredited experts in order to increase productivity to considerable levels. Organizations adjusting their thoughts, guidelines, techniques, or programs in line with Six Sigma strategy are more likely to benefit in several ways.

The Six Sigma strategy is a business control technique that was at first designed by Motorola in the 1980s, and now is used in many companies or organizations to this day and age to identify and fix mistakes and defects in a manufacturing or business procedure. Six Sigma uses a variety of superb techniques and resources that are used by experts within the company, who have been qualified on the program techniques through training and certification.

The implementation of the techniques across different sectors has as a result contributed to raising the bar for quality standards. The sectors that have eventually grown by leaps and bounds due to this particular tactic of business enhancement are finance, consumer goods, the banking sectors, health care, and also fields such as telecommunications.  The tactics and methods center in an enhanced understanding about customer specifications along with critical-to-quality objectives with appreciation to service performance, which effect customer satisfaction and allegiance. It aims at increasing cash-flow by improvising techniques for reliable and powerful delivery.

It also enhances employee satisfaction by the framework and access to understanding different tools and strategies throughout the company so that decisions are made more quickly to diverse types of problems. Six Sigma aims at improving communication, which is a significant aspect in developing customer and employee satisfaction.

The Six Sigma Process also aims at constantly reducing and eventually removing all non value-added factors of operation to ensure responsive support, appropriate delivery of services, and lowered cycle time. Moreover, the inconsistency associated with performance of process and techniques is lowered. A product’s reliability along with its functionality and service performance are enhanced to ensure delivery of high quality and a routine on product and service quality.

This process is big on examining and also identifying the best strategies on how to go about getting better results. Since it is a strategy that allows you to figure out and choose results, the accomplishment of your goals or failure in reaching them is often established, making it possible for organizations and staff to adjust where necessary as they go for quicker results.

Business organizations appreciate the Six Sigma strategy because it provides them with management solutions and for larger companies; it is very useful in proving excellent office atmosphere and improved unity across the board. With the strategy, all the volumes operate together thus it is an excellent way to produce a more comprehensive work environment and one that generally performs better. Enrolling your staff in Six Sigma Training and Certification is essential if you want to plan an effective strategy that works for your business.

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Sales – Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma is about being ‘lean’ or trimming the fat from a company.  This means you want to trim the excess expenses and costs that the business is currently spending or wasting.  There are expenses that are unnecessary you could be saving money on.  You might have current resources or skills within the company you could use that you currently outsource for.  Sales companies often don’t make any money until a sale occurs.  Most sales personnel work for a straight commission only.  Trimming the fat from the company may allow you to be able to pay people a base salary.

Building better relationships with customers is essential with every sales company.  A poor relationship isn’t going to get you sales, and will only make your competitor happy.  Lean Six Sigma will help you motivate staff members and coach them into building strong relationships with clients.  Not only will you build stronger relationships with Six Sigma methodologies, but you will learn how to get more customers too.  Six Sigma courses will teach you how to attack the market and find opportunities and projects that are to your benefit and will help you succeed.

Inventory control can seem impossible or it may not even be in place.  You might walk through the store and order more of an item when it looks like it is getting low.  This is not the way to do it because you have probably experienced issue with restocking and having to wait for things to come in.  Properly controlling inventory can help you eliminate wasted items, unhappy customers that have to wait for a product, and a higher productivity on your part.  Lean Six Sigma can teach you ways to automate processes with inventory and how to maintain the highest efficiency possible and control methods that work.

Lean Six Sigma is training designed for any sales business that would like to make improvements with processes, inventory, sales, customers, and even cut costs.  Six Sigma courses can teach you how to do all of these things which will result in you forging ahead of the competition.

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Six Sigma Training - Practical Applications in Online Business

Six Sigma Projects are capable of producing a variety of results for a variety of people under many different circumstances. When it comes to online business, the ultimate goal is to be better, faster, and more profitable than the other hundreds of thousands of online stores and businesses like yours that are out there in the world. If you have any part of your business that isn’t operating at 100%, which most businesses do, you can easily enroll the tactics of Six Sigma Projects to get your business to a more efficient and productive state.

Online businesses are especially sensitive to efficiency and things working as they should. When people shop online, they want as little hassle as possible, and they want their services quick and easy. If you make things complicated, people will get discouraged and go somewhere else. Take the time to consider all of the options that you have and figure out how to make the most of your online business through process improvements with the help of Six Sigma. Six Sigma process improvements focus on identifying the problems and then creating a path that will lead to the eventual solution that is based on facts and data rather than just guessing.

For the sake of practical example, imagine an online business that has an effective website, a quick checkout process, and great shipping speed. What’s the problem, you ask? Well, their order processing hits a snag and takes about 48-72 hours to complete. For many people, this is a lot of time wasted that other online businesses might not have. In order to make things better for the customer, which in turn makes things better for the business, they can use Six Sigma Projects to determine when, how, where, and why they are going wrong. Then, they can use those same analytic tools that are found in Six Sigma to improve their processing and find a better solution that will make them more productive. This will increase business, customer satisfaction, and ultimately the bottom line.

When it comes to online business, there is very little room for error in any situation. You need to do whatever it takes so that you can have the best chances of getting the business that you need to survive by being the best at what you do. Six Sigma can help with process improvements so that you can accomplish exactly that in no time at all.

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Six Sigma Certification – Suppliers and Warehousing Improvements

Shipping Departments often have many issues with incoming and outgoing shipments.  You might think you have a process that works at your company, but there are most likely issues slowing productivity down and causing problems.  Six Sigma certification can help you take a look at your overall shipping processes and procedures and find new ways to improve everything you do.  You will be able to identify problems, ways to reduce costs, and ways to perform daily functions more efficiently.  Six Sigma training can help you completely overhaul a shipping and receiving warehouse.

Inventory must be kept track of in a warehouse.  Inventory issues might include running out of products and having to wait for a supplier to send more.  There may seem like you are always playing the waiting game when you do run out.  This only creates a bad taste for a customer and there are ways you can get past this and improve the processes with your inventory.  Six Sigma certification can help with shipping operations to provide more efficient processes and reduce wait time.  Many processes can be automated to make employees free for other projects.  Six Sigma courses will show you total inventory control that will work for your business.

Customer satisfaction is vital for suppliers and warehousing companies.  If you don’t have a customer then you don’t have a business.  Working with the customer doesn’t occur face to face too often but no matter how the interaction occurs with the customer, you need to make improvements.  Six Sigma certification will teach you how to build stronger relationships with customers and even how to gain more customers.  Six Sigma courses focus on the customer, and can give staff members a new understanding of how the customer is important to everyone and the company as a whole.

Suppliers and warehouses are often forgotten when it comes to any type of training at all.  A Six Sigma certification is ideal for this type of industry.  There are processes in place that can always be improved to increase productivity and help you build stronger relationships with customers.  Six Sigma certification can motivate employees to help your business succeed.

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Six Sigma Training for IT Departments

The IT Department at a company is often the one with the highest of budgets and with good reason. The IT Department tends to replace equipment more often than they do repair it, and software goes out of date so quickly (as well as computers and other equipment). Rather than spend money to upgrade existing machines, most IT Departments find it easier and less time-consuming to just purchase the newest models.

While there is some validity in this “replace it” philosophy, Six Sigma training can help teach employees in the IT Department ways to approach this philosophy more frugally.  Rather than making what can be considered unnecessary purchases, employees will learn to make due with the resources they have available. Overhead is greatly reduced with this shift in thinking.  With savings like this, IT Departments can more easily afford those big projects that might be necessary in upcoming years.

Aside from the financial savings, Six Sigma training can also help an IT Department with job management skills. This department is never without a huge workload, and each day brings with it new requests coupled with older ones that have yet to be completed.  Job prioritization is essential with IT projects. Not fixing the correct issues right away can halt productivity throughout the entire company.  This can make for inpatient customers of all kinds; both internal and external. Learning 6 sigma philosophies will assist with job prioritization and time management. Opportunities for providing support to customers will be maximized with less downtime and wasted time on projects that don’t require immediate attention.

IT Departments generally also have issues with inventory, which consist of anything from software licensing and renewal to hardware in storage and throughout the building as well as backup tapes sent offsite. With so much inventory turnover to keep track of, it’s easy for companies to lose track of what they even have.  Learning inventory control is another benefit of Six Sigma training. Systems can be implemented to ensure that all inventory is accounted for and documented, making it easier to see what’s on hand and what’s needed for future endeavors.

IT Departments may be resistant to anything new as they fail to see how they can benefit from any type of process improvement methodology. Clearly there are several ways in which Six Sigma training can benefit the IT Department. Meeting the bottom-line as cheaply and efficiently as possible is a goal for every company and this is easier to do with Six Sigma.

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Six Sigma Tools for The Business Owner

In Six Sigma, Black and Green Belts will use several different methods in order to improve quality within the DMAIC model. They are usually incorporated into the software that is used by the business owner in order to make it easier for them. Six Sigma tools enable teams to analyze data effectively and design efficient workflows.

One important Six Sigma tool is the quality function deployment method or QFD. This method is used to gain knowledge about the requirements of the customer, attempting to meet their needs to a satisfactory level. The deployment part of this method is from earlier times when a face to face meeting was required. In these instances, a quality control researcher would visit the site of the problem to gain knowledge about what they need to make them satisfied.

Diagrams are often used as a tool for cause and effect control. The fishbone diagram is used most often, offering a good view of what the problem is, what parts of the company it effects, and what is causing it. Narrowing down the elements of the problem in a diagram makes it easier to come to effective solutions.

Learning the cause and effect of a problem helps to solve the issue or at least come up with some ideas for resolution. This is an extension of sorts to the diagram, as it also relies on learning the cause and effect for specific answers to be found. Using the C&E matrix during the measuring phase of the DMAIC or DMADV methodology will help narrow down possible solutions and contingency plans before anything is actually done about the matter.

Contingency plans are a necessity whenever a problem is being analyzed for solutions. Things can and do go wrong with nearly every project. Having a project run completely smooth is a rare occurrence. It is because of this that contingency plans are necessary. The issues that surround a project must also be identified in order to create contingency plans that cover all the bases. The Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method identifies the problem as well as the outside factors that are affecting it.

This method of analysis allows the researcher to list possible failures, taking into account how likely it is to happen and how negatively it will affect the project. Then, the solutions are listed in order and prioritized so that if the need for the plan should arise, measures will be taken quickly to see that it is put into action before the project is affected.

Another method used in the Six Sigma model is the T-Test, which establishes how confident the researcher can be with the measurements they receive. This method helps teams make sure the results they receive are valid and true.

Charts are also used as Six Sigma tools. Charts are a good way to put a visual image to the numbers on the books. It can also help get a better realization of the results that have come from various tests that have been done. Much can be learned from using these methods, and they are excellent ways to validate business research.

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Design for Six Sigma IDOV

Another popular method of design is the IDOV model. This method is similar to other Six Sigma approved methods of continuous improvement and product design. The IDOV model stands for Identify, Design, Optimize, and Validate.

The IDOV model within the Six Sigma Methodology stands for Identify, Design, Optimize, and Validate.  Most closely, this method reflects the PDSA cycle, followed by the DMADV and DMAIC cycles. Most often the IDOV model is used in manufacturing plants rather than in service industries.

The Identify phase comes first in this model. This is where a customer need is identified. A team is established to listen to the customer and convert their needs and expectations into product specifications. Technical expectations are identified and figured into the plan. Then the plan is put into writing with the roles and responsibilities of each team member and the milestones are clearly defined. This includes detailed timelines, graphs, and other visual tools to help keep the project on target.

During the Design phase, the product’s design is laid out. This includes formulating a concept, identifying potential risks associated with either the project, and a plan is created to either avoid potential risks or to deal with them as they arise. A plan is developed to procure raw materials and for the manufacturing process.

The Optimize phase first assesses the process to ensure that all the critical design parameters are being met. Then the process is designed for performance, reliability, and is error-proofed as well. Cost analysis is done to avoid excess spending, especially for the start up costs, which can quickly go over budget if not constantly monitored.

The final phase is to Validate. This is where the design and processes are tested, analyzed, and changed as necessary. Prototypes are validated as well for how close they come to meeting the customer’s needs and expectations, along with their performance and their DPMO rating; remember that in Six Sigma the aim is always a level six or 3.4 defects per million. If the design is flawed, improvements are made now, as are changes to the process.

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Simple Benefits of the Six Sigma Solution

Entrepreneurs who have little knowledge of the Six Sigma Methodology may be missing out on a valuable tool for reducing waste and increasing productivity and customer satisfaction. From its origins within Motorola, this approach to implementing lean manufacturing has taken the business world by storm. While it is not always universally applicable, many businesses have found that they benefit greatly from its implementation.

At its core, Six Sigma is a method for measuring efficiency, reducing waste, and increasing customer satisfaction. While there have been other systems used to accomplish those same goals, this system has won praise for doing so in a manner that is both consistent and reliable. Because these measurements are based upon quantifiable data, the system can be used by almost any business entity and is easily understood by investors and lenders as well.

Reduced Incidences of Defects

Regardless of the business type, the Six Sigma method is a proven way of reducing the number of defects experienced by customers. Since each level of measurement is based on the number of dissatisfied customers per million served, it provides a much more concrete way for businesses to judge how they are doing in this critical area. It provides ready analysis of problem areas, as well as benchmarks that can help companies continue to improve.

Improved Customer Loyalty

As a result of the focus on reducing defects, the company's emphasis is naturally on customer satisfaction. Satisfied customers generally end up being more loyal customers. Thus, customer loyalty and retention can be improved with this simple focus on improving efficiency in the areas of core competency. Simply put, the company that focuses on making a defect-free widget will experience greater loyalty from the widget-buying population.

Improved Efficiency

Of course, customers cannot be the sole focus of a business. There must also be an emphasis on satisfying each customer with a process that utilizes as few resources as possible. This efficiency is measured in terms of labor, time, and cost involved in each customer transaction. This method provides a simple way for businesses to quantify efficiency, while measuring those numbers in relation to overall effectiveness.

Increased Teamwork

When implemented properly, this system can reduce antagonism between the departments in a company, provide clear goals for everyone in an organization, and increase the effectiveness of all employees by promoting greater teamwork. When employees buy in to the concept and understand the company's mission in this area, greater productivity can be achieved across all levels of the company.

Maintaining Focus

Perhaps the greatest benefit of this methodology is its ability to focus attention on goals that can be tracked and measured on a daily basis. Often times, employees lose focus when goals are too expansive to be attained quickly. By placing the emphasis on effectiveness and efficiency, this problem is avoided as employees are able to continually see the positive results of their efforts.

Though not for everyone, the Six Sigma business improvement methodology continues to be a popular choice for many organizations that seek to implement consistent systems of tracking and measuring internal performance. For businesses still seeking a way to improve their performance, efficiency, and overall customer satisfaction, this just may be the perfect solution.

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Six Sigma Goals, Projects, and Hierarchy of Belts

A Six Sigma Black Belt is the title associated with the professional employees or consultants who are actively carrying out steps of a project. These projects are normally called Six Sigma projects. This process is a business management strategy developed by Motorola, which works by eliminating errors and reducing variability in both manufacture and other aspects of business.

The goal of Six Sigma Implementation within any company is that nearly one hundred percent (99.9997%) of products or services produced by that company are defect free.

To accomplish this goal, smooth cooperation between management and employee performance can significantly influence project results. The way to achieving this smooth cooperation differs between the opinions of many companies. For some companies the 6 Sigma project method is the strategy for them.

Normally, one of these projects will have a specific order of steps and a set of financial goals in mind. This could involve an increase in profits or perhaps a reduction of overall costs. The purpose of these projects is often to improve the efficiency and overall health of the company. Efficiency can be measured in many ways. Quality of the manufacturing method can be measured by its Sigma rating. This rating indicates the percentage of effectiveness.

The results of these goals very much depends on the quality of management involved. There is a set of quality standards for management. The standards for management involve a lot of professionalizing of management methods. This professionalization is partly achieved by the levels of management that are responsible for higher levels of management authority. This creates a hierarchy of skill and authority inside an organization.

There is some variation between companies when it comes to basic levels of hierarchy. Usually, executive leadership is the highest level of management in these projects. This consists of the CEO and other similar positions in the company. Their responsibility is to set goals for projects for their company to pursue. The next highest level of management includes the Six Sigma Champions.

Champions are mentors for the black belts and assistance for the executive leadership. Master Black belts offer assistance to the champions as well as guidance to the lower belts. Black belts are in charge of the actual projects themselves. The green belts are the employees of the company who do most of the data collection and analysis. Some companies include a lower level below the green belts called the yellow belts.  Yellow Belts are auxiliary employees in a Six Sigma Company.

The ranking terms are similar to some martial arts ranking, but these titles are not earned through martial arts technique. These people are experts according to their titles. They are tested and certified in order to earn their belt ranking.  Six Sigma certification is also available both online and onsite by many different training providers and consultants.

Whether the employees of a company belong to the highest level of hierarchy in the Sigma management system, or to the lowest they are all part of a very important team that was designed to work together to reach goals. Without teamwork, none of the goals of this brilliant business strategy would be possible. Every member of the team is necessary from the Six Sigma Black Belt to the executive leadership to the Yellow Belt with quality and teamwork in everyone's top priority.

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Basic Overview of the Tools Used for IDOV

IDOV, which stands for Identify, Design, Optimize, and Verify, is a methodology commonly used for Design for Six Sigma (DFSS). DFSS is a variation on the traditional Six Sigma tools with a focus on the development of a new process, product, or service rather than an improvement upon a previous version.

The logic behind DFSS is that costs will be significantly lowered if Six Sigma is built into the initial design methods of a particular product or process. This means that DFSS results in a much longer planning period before products and services are actually offered. IDOV assists those in this process by offering a methodology that can reduce development time as much as possible.

The Voice of the Customer is used during the Identify phase. It’s important for team members to think in terms of the customer’s needs and act accordingly. Targets are set, and CTOs are developed for the design of the eventual product or service. The actual project launch is planned during this initial phase of IDOV.  Tools needed for completion are the project charter, risk management and multi-generation plans, market research, benchmarking, and Voice of the Customer tools (such as surveys, interviews, and record of complaints).

Design is key in the second phase of IDOV. During this phase, concepts are posed and evaluated for viability. A high-level design of the new product or service is created and tested. Many tools are used, with a FMEA being among the most crucial. QFD, TRIZ, AHP, as well as additional benchmarking and research is performed. A gap analysis should be done here before the project proceeds further.

During the Optimize phase, the parameters of the design are developed and optimized. A prototype is created based on these specifications. Several of the tools first developed during the Design phase will be called upon during optimization. The FMEA should continue to be referenced as well as the gap analysis. A hypothesis test should be done and a design structure matrix is used.

The final phase of IDOV is the Verify phase and the design is tested and perfected during this time. A final prototype should be developed and readied for production. Tools utilized during this final stage in the process include the FMEA and process mapping.  Performance flow-up and capability analysis should be done, as well as piloting and dashboard. Several of the Six Sigma-based tools used in this final phase are intended to ensure problem-free delivery.

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A Profile of the Six Sigma Strategy

The Six Sigma strategy was originally developed in 1986 by officials with Motorola, U. S. A. By 2010, it had become a dominant factor in the management of businesses across many industries. Its fundamental goal is to enhance the quality of processes and outputs through the identification and removal of defects. To this end, it also minimizes the variability of business and manufacturing procedures.

Six Sigma's doctrine includes seven key components. Among them is the assertion that ongoing efforts to maintain the predictable and stable results of processes are vitally important. Also, there are facets of all business and manufacturing processes which can be segregated, analyzed, controlled, measured, and improved. In addition, sustaining quality improvement requires dedication from all members of an organization, especially high-level management.

This strategic approach embraces four factors which were not identified prior to its development. They include recognition of the importance of a clear focus in order to achieve measurable financial returns. Also, the need for passionate and competent leadership is strongly emphasized.

An infrastructure must be established to help implement and guide this strategic business approach. They include specialists such as Champions, Black Belts, Master Black Belts, and Green Belts.  These professionals go through extensive training and are then certified at a certain level of expertise.   Finally, all members of management must agree to base their decisions upon verifiable information, rather than assumptions.

In order to professionalize the functions of top-level management, several roles have been defined. Executive Leaders include the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and other members of the top-management team. Their responsibilities include outlining a vision for the implementation of this strategic plan.  Champions are responsible for implementing the program in an integrated manner. They are usually members of upper-level management, and function as mentors to the Black Belts. These professionals are selected by the Executive Leaders.

Master Black Belts are selected by the Champions. They function as expert in-house coaches. Their duties include ensuring the consistent implementation of the program across various departments.  Black Belts report to the Master Black Belts. They are responsible for applying define methods to specific projects. Their primary focus is the execution of the program through the use of Six Sigma Projects.

Green Belts function under the guidance of the Black Belts. These employees help to implement the program in addition to performing their usual job responsibilities.  Some corporations have developed certification programs. They train their employees, then assess and designate their skill levels. Since no international standards have been set, these training programs have various requirements.

Based in the statistical field of process capability, this technique utilizes several quality management methods. Among them are statistical methods, variance analysis, check sheets, regression analysis, control charts, cost-benefit analysis, stratification, scatter diagrams, root cause analysis, run charts, linear models, cause and effect diagrams, business process mapping, correlation, process capability, quantitative marketing research, and FMEA (Failure-Mode and Effects Analysis). In addition, SIPOC (Supplier, Inputs, Processes, Outputs, Customer) analyses are conducted.

The Six Sigma strategy is most beneficial to large corporations who have more than 500 employees. During 1998, the program received wide-spread notoriety when a major corporation announced it had saved 350 million dollars due to the implementation of this plan. For more than 25 years, this strategic approach has been successfully applied to processes in a wide range of industries.

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Some General Information About The Six Sigma Master Black Belt

The Six Sigma Master Black Belt is one of the highest level that can be obtained in the esteemed business methodology. The overall goals of Six Sigma are to achieve significant improvements in the businesses and industries that implement it. The methodology consists of numerous kinds of techniques, tools, and statistical methods that are meant to improve the quality of products and services. The business program has several levels including Yellow, Green, and Black Belts but it is the prestigious Master Black Belt holders that are at the top of the hierarchy and some of the most important professionals within the program.

Although the term Black Belt may conjure up the image of white lounge suits and colored cloth belts, it actually has nothing to do with the popular sport of karate, when it comes to business and quality management. Instead, within the Six Sigma Professional hierarchy, the belts denote leadership roles that are obtained through special courses and training sessions. The classes can be taken either through the individual's workplace, through consultants, or through online training providers.

Six Sigma is able to exist and function so well because it is essentially a hierarchy of positions known as 'belts' and the Master Black is one of the single highest attainable belts that exist in the program. They are appointed by Champions and operate under the expert direction of both Champions and Executive Leaders.

Directly under them are the Black Belts, experts in their fields and highly effective in their abilities, these professionals are sought out by all types of companies for their skills, expertise, and ability to increase profits and sales.

The Master Black Belts are even more sought after and more skilled at these tasks, as they have had much more training and experience in the field. Their skills are also more diverse which makes them more suited for especially difficult and more complex projects and jobs. Many of them use their knowledge of business, sales, and problem solving to help their own company, or any others that hire them to do so as consultants, save up to millions of dollars each year.

Training and certification to be a Master in Six Sigma involves a number of things. Individuals who are interested in the prestigious advancement must have first successfully completed the courses and training to become Green and Black Belts. The Master training expands on the information and skills that were learned at lower belt levels and introduces new, more sophisticated information. They learn and practice more advanced methods of analytical approaches such as Design of Experiment (DOE), Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA), and Services and Failure Modes Effect Analysis (FMEA).

After they are properly certified, Master Black Belts then devote nearly one hundred percent of their time to 6 Sigma operations. They assist both the Executive Leaders and Champions with their tasks and projects and help guide Black, Green, and Yellow Belts with their problems as well.

Many of them also commit themselves in training members of these lower levels. Aside from these important jobs, Six Sigma Master Black Belts spend their time ensuring that the 6 Sigma program's goals and applications are consistent across the entire program and its participating companies.

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Six Sigma Statistics for the Business Owner

The best way for business owners to understand Six Sigma statistics is to ask a trained and certified professional. Anyone who works with and understands these methods will be able to easily explain what is done, how it is done and why it is done, in order to reach Six Sigma Goals. The tools are used to improve the quality of the business procedures and processes. The professionals keep everything moving on a solid track.

The Six Sigma results that are obtained after analyzing key areas of the company must be discussed with the business executives in a way that they understand. Most business executives prompt the project in the first place, when they see that quality improvement is needed.

Six Sigma professionals work with these executives until they understand what the results of the projects mean and how the quality improvement plans should be implemented. They will clear up any confusion they can. Executives must always ask any questions they have. They need to be on the same page as the professionals so that they know why the changes should be made to those particular areas, and why the suggested projects should work for those situations.

When the executives understand the cause and effect of the quality problems they are having, they will be better able to contribute in the search for resolutions. They understand their business, their company and their policies better than anyone else. For many executives, their companies are a very big part of their lives, and they care a great deal about success.

It may be necessary to set up extra, or contingency, plans to make sure the projects are successful. These contingency plans are a safety net against any obstacles that might come up. There is usually some incident along the way that might threaten the outcome of the project if no one is watching. Six Sigma professionals spot these potential obstacles ahead of time and keep them from affecting the outcome of the project.

Analyzing the areas of need within the company is sometimes done by professionals that do not come from inside the company itself. It is often better to get an objective view of the processes, in order to spot the flaws. An objective view will also prompt the prioritization of certain aspects that may have previously been overlooked.

The Six Sigma professionals will bring to the attention of the company’s management all the results they have gathered. They will use certain methods to make sure that the measurements and results they have are accurate. The entire quality improvement process will rely on their information being completely accurate and true.

Six Sigma statistics do not need to be too difficult to understand. If the professionals have done their job correctly, they will be able to easily explain what all of their results mean, how they should be applied to the current processes and what should be done to improve the quality that is lacking within a business.

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Six Sigma Certification - Practical Applications in Marketing

Six Sigma Certification has a lot to offer many different industries. Ironically enough, it can even help out the marketing department, which is almost like its pseudo-twin, if you will. Marketing and Six Sigma both place a heavy emphasis on the voice of the customer and customer satisfaction. Their goals will ultimately be different, but both still involve the same ultimate outcome: customer satisfaction. Six Sigma will focus on cutting costs and improving performance, while marketing will focus more on spending to increase ad visibility and reworking the product packaging and features to get a better response.

When you put the two together, it’s a slightly irregular yet rather perfect match. Six Sigma Certification can help the marketing industry to lower their advertising expenses, while placing an emphasis on more efficient marketing tactics and helping marketing companies to become more productive with their time and efforts. When it comes to retaining and attracting customers, nothing is really better than having the best of both worlds working for you. You can use Six Sigma to develop a cost-effective and efficient marketing strategy, which will drive in more customers and drive up sales. In slow times like these, this can be a huge success for a business.

 The goal of reducing operating costs is present in just about every industry. However, the marketing industry doesn’t place a whole lot of emphasis on it, which makes it all the more beneficial for Six Sigma Certification to step in and work to produce cost-effectiveness for the marketing industry while still allowing them to do what they do best. Another thing that these two areas share is continuous improvement goals. Six Sigma strives for continuous improvement of various processes and products, while marketing works toward continuous improvement in strategy to market better, faster, and stronger than the next company.

Given that these two have so much in common, putting them together so that they can help each other out is almost a given. If you employ the best that Six Sigma Certification has to offer in the marketing industry, you can come up with an end result that gives you the best of both worlds with very little room for error on either side. When it comes to marketing, you need to make an impact. With Six Sigma on your side, it will be much easier and more effective when you do make that impact because of the processes that have been improved and the waste that has been eliminated.

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