Comparing Lean Six Sigma Certification Requirements

“When we started our Six Sigma deployment back in 1998-99, we recognized that it was people who would make it happen,” recalled Don Linsenmann, vice president and corporate Champion of Six Sigma at DuPont. “We wanted to provide special recognition and rewards to those people.” Advised to certify Black Belt and Master Black Belt positions, Dupont has been doing that “practically since day one,” Linsenmann said.

The company is not alone in the way it has embedded certification in its Six Sigma practices. Certification is more the norm than the exception these days. More than half (53 percent) of respondents to an iSixSigma survey reported receiving their certification from a company. It has become an important tool for ensuring and improving the quality of Six Sigma efforts.

Here’s a look at certification at three leading Six Sigma companies.

The following comparison of Lean Six Sigma certification requirements was excerpted from the iSixSigma research report entitled, “Six Sigma Certification Research Report“, and is used with permission from iSixSigma.com.

Level

Motorola

DuPont

Microsoft

Minimum number of projects completed as leader

Green Belt

1

1

1

Black Belt

2

2

Must be GB certified and lead 1 project

Master Black Belt

12 (lead or mentor)

Must be BB certified; emphasis is for MBBs to teach GBs and BBs

Must be BB certified and lead a cluster of related projects

Targets for project outcomes

Green Belt

$50,000

None

Varies by project. Targets are set for each project and aligned around key metrics. The MBB is expected to affect a metric that appears on the business scorecard.

Black Belt

$250,000 per project

$350,000 cumulative

Master Black Belt

$250,000 per project

None

Amount of training (days)

Green Belt

Varies

9

6

Black Belt

Varies

20

GB plus 6

Master Black Belt

Varies

BB plus 10

BB plus 6 to 9

Time in role before certification

Black Belt

18 to 24 months

18 months

Requirements include BBs and MBBs mapping into a QBE career profile so dedication to role and results can be tracked.

Master Black Belt

24+ months

BB plus 12 months

Type of certification exam (oral, written or both)

Green Belt

Written

None

Written

Black Belt

Written

None

Written and oral

Master Black Belt

Written

Champion confirms they know content and have leadership skills

Written and oral

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