As businesses look to expand, they may turn to professionals in the Six Sigma methods to sort through any issues that are in the way.  One of those issues might be going global.  

If a company has its sights set on expanding and opening an office in another country, there are a great deal of factors involved that they must consider.  Six Sigma methods are used in several countries around the world.  This is because the procedures that are followed can be used in every industry in any country.  They are designed to work within a culture of professionals, all using the same models for collecting and analyzing data while incorporating company culture and procedures.  

If a company is already using Six Sigma methods to resolve their issues, and have a certified Black Belt on their staff, they will have an easier time sorting through the issues created by going international.  The professional they have on staff will have the knowledge they need to use Six Sigma to expand and improve processes and they will have the benefit of this professional already knowing the culture that exists within the company.  Often, having someone certified in in the methodology, even if they are certified on a Green or Yellow Belt level, is beneficial to the company for unexpected reasons.  Green Belts who have shown they have the knowledge and capability for running a project can handle smaller projects or find a Black Belt professional to guide the way if the project is larger than they can handle.

When expanding into another country, things such as language and culture issues can put up barriers that seem insurmountable.  These are two of the problems this type of professional would recognize right away.  There are ways around culture and language barriers, especially if these methods are already being used.  

In some areas, a person certified as a White Belt in Six Sigma can help in this situation.  A White Belt signifies someone who is familiar with Six Sigma but is not qualified to perform any significant services within a team atmosphere.  Their purpose is to work on a local level, helping Black, Green and Yellow Belt professionals do their jobs.  They will find resources and will inform the team as to any cultural differences that may arise.  These are very helpful professionals when expanding into a country that is foreign to the current people and procedures.  

Having some local help will also speed up the process of expansion and introduce Six Sigma professionals from one country to those in another.  The language and cultural differences aside, the professionals will all be committed to the same outcome – producing a successful expansion project for the hiring company.