Many established companies want to have the highest prevailing quality standards for their product or services. This brings us to the “Six Sigma” methodology, a series of instruments and procedures designed to strengthen the existing and new processes within an organisation regardless of their domain expertise.
Many companies, including GE, 3M, and Amazon, are using Six Sigma to improve and add new processes. There are degrees of proficiency within the Six Sigma program, and each level is marked by a coloured belt, namely—white, yellow, green, black, and master black belt. In this write-up, we are going to discuss the six-sigma green belt.
Slowly the adoption of Six Sigma is gaining ground even in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics, collaborative automation, and machine learning. Such industries want their processes and systems to have minimal error rates, and six sigma can play a pivotal role in making that a reality.
Having understood the nature of Six Sigma, let’s turn our attention to what exactly is a Lean Six Sigma green belt. Here we go:
What is a Six Sigma green belt?
The Six Sigma approach utilises two sub-methodologies, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify). While the former is utilised for existing processes, and the latter is used for new processes.
The Six Sigma green belt certification focuses on introducing participants to tools and methods necessary for engaging and executing DMAIC projects. Participants are expected to identify issues, implement solutions for a real-world project, and earn their green belt certification.
While some may believe that executing and implementing projects are only meant for black belts, there are significant contributions green belts can bring to a project. Green belts necessarily are expected to improve the efficiency of the operation through improvements in data analysis and project management. In addition, at times, they are needed to bridge the distance between a Six Sigma hypothesis and the example in the real world.
Even though automation is connected to removing people from the manufacturing process, incidentally, highly skilled labour like mechanical engineers and mechanical technicians are more in demand in robotics. They are required to monitor the machines and fix them when they are broken. This process happens by monitoring tolerance levels and mechanical accuracy. Both of these events can be improved with the knowledge of six sigma and associated aspects.
For this monitoring to take place, machines and robotics have to be properly calibrated. Else they will not achieve the efficiencies that the engineers designed them to perform. Today, lean six sigma methods are being developed for automation because automation is also a concept of waste reduction from the manufacturing process.
Benefits of Six Sigma green belt for individuals
On the whole, a Six Sigma green belt allows a professional to confidently discuss complex subjects, effectively provide solutions and provide pertinent recommendations. Now let’s look at other benefits:
- Professional and career advancement: A certified green belt professional will attain expertise in problem-solving, handling complex processes, and evolving a strategic approach for projects. Such competencies are in high demand within organisations, and the professional can climb the corporate ladder with ease. In addition to this, they can also easily switch over to more demanding & lucrative positions elsewhere.
- Knowledge of Six Sigma: Green belts are known for using tools and techniques effectively to identify problems and improve process workflow using the DMAIC methodology. They can easily handle projects and improve the productivity of the process across the board.
- Increase in self-worth: Armed with a Six Sigma certification, you can put yourself as an agent of change within the organisation. You could be the one spearheading the quality improvement throughout the organisation. As an add-on, you will be able to handle leadership responsibilities much better than others.
- Better job satisfaction: Certified professionals become the cornerstone within a company in producing better quality products. This raises the individual’s stature and provides them with enhanced job satisfaction within their assigned job role.
- Enhanced pay scale: Individuals who have completed Six Sigma green belt certification can expect to earn between 6 lakh INR and 20 lakh INR depending on the importance of the job role. The certification is valid for employees from novice mechanical engineers to senior Operations Manager within a company. This includes the manufacturing, automation, and improvements industry. Or any industry that focuses on producing raw material useful for making other products.
Benefits of Six Sigma green belt for organisations
Organisations or companies can expect this set of benefits by hiring a certified green belt professional. Here they are:
- Financial benefits: A vast majority of companies hire green belt certified professionals to manage quality, testing and process handling, and so on. These professionals put in the best metrics strategies, which increase the profitability factor. Also, they are adept at recognising and avoiding problems at an early stage in projects, thereby increasing sales and providing valuable feedback to the customer. All this, in turn, helps an organisation to save on costs in a big way.
- Improved customer satisfaction: Organisations have higher sales and reduced costs due to quality improvements (reduced wastage) when employing the Six Sigma green belt methodology. This has a direct impact on customer satisfaction. In addition, green belt professionals are known to improve reliability for organisations, which attracts many new customers. Everything put together is a big positive when it comes to customer satisfaction for any organisation.
- Competitive benefits: By incorporating green belt methodology, a company can expect to stay ahead of the existing competition. Considering Six Sigma employs accumulation of information and investigation to the existing processes, it paves the way for easier decision making. Incidentally, a detailed process investigation with pertinent data provides the necessary expertise and confidence for doing so.
- Reduces the process error percentage: Employing green belt methodology helps the organisation with better quality products with reduced errors. This will, by and large, allow reduced inventory costs, production costs, quality depreciation which lead to an increase in profits for the organisation.
Six Sigma green belt certification requirements
Having looked at the benefits, let’s look at the prerequisites to become eligible for a green belt certification:
- Needs 3-4 years of full-time work experience
- Needs leadership qualities and an analytical mind
- Requires continued persistence and a desire for progress.
There is no single body that provides certification. There are many Six Sigma training and certification providers. An applicant is required to adopt the predefined procedure to become a Six Sigma green belt by any of the credential providers.
The course includes studying the subject, completing a written examination, and demonstrating expertise in a real-world environment. An applicant is expected to have 50% marks for passing the exam, and they are required to complete 1-2 green belt-related projects.’
Every single individual who acquires a great belt certification is deemed fit for the automation, robotics industry. The basic principle of lean six sigma gets incorporated into processes like robotic process automation (RPA) & collaborative automation to bring about improving efficiency associated with the process, thereby eliminating wastage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How do you qualify for the Six Sigma green belt?
Answer: Anyone aspiring for a green belt certification is expected to have 3-4 years of full-time experience working in an organisation. They need to have an analytical frame of mind and possess leadership qualities. Moreover, they are expected to work on real-time projects within the organisation to showcase their understanding of Six Sigma before earning their certification.
Q2: Do you need a yellow belt before green belt Six Sigma?
Answer: No, you are not expected to have a yellow belt to qualify for a green belt certification. The yellow belt is mainly meant for front-line staff and shop floor operators expected to have a strong foundation in the Six Sigma methodology. This allows them to support and contribute to process improvements within the organisation effectively. People with managerial experience are aptly suited for green belt certification regardless of domain expertise.
Q3: What is the purpose of Six Sigma green belt certification?
Answer: The Six Sigma program is based on two sub-methodologies, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify) and DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify). While the former is utilised for existing processes, and the latter is used for new processes. The Six Sigma green belt provides a series of tools and instruments necessary for engaging and executing DMAIC projects. Participants in the program are expected to identify issues within their organisations and provide solutions to earn their green belt certification.
