Businesses both large and small benefit from this process, which is based on fact and data analysis followed by strategic planning geared towards positive, customer focused results.

The main goal of Six Sigma Certification is to reduce the defects - and therefore the waste of resources - surrounding a given product.

In order to deploy Six Sigma programs within a business, the services of professionals are required. These professionals have been trained in Six Sigma specifics and have also had exposure to different organizations and projects which other companies have encountered while implementing the Six Sigma certification methodology.

In order to achieve this level of experience, these professionals have to have completed Six Sigma certification procedures. Once the specific guidelines and courses have been completed, these individuals will be capable of putting their knowledge to work in their own field.

There are several levels when it comes to professional Six Sigma employees. These levels work along the same lines as martial arts Belts, and in order to achieve higher ranks, more training has to be taken.

The colors of the Belt indicate the course level achieved.

Six Sigma Green Belts

The first, or lowest, level of Belt is the Six Sigma Green Belt.

Six Sigma Green Belts are certified when a person finishes two weeks of training, and then passes the qualifying exam. The courses for the Six Sigma Green Belt include all the basic knowledge one needs for Six Sigma.

The course is founded on DMAIC methodology, which stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. The methodology sets out the different needs of customers, ways in which these needs can be met through products and services, the assignment limits and the way to plot process flow to improve current methods.

Next, the performance is measured using numerous sources, measurements which are then examined and compared with surveys while analyzing flaws.
The next analysis phase looks deeper into the difference between the desired results of a process and the methods being used to achieve the current results.

Improvement is then recommended, where various solutions are used to redefine the earlier processes and plans deployed to address these issues. Finally, the control stage takes a look at maintaining any changes.

Six Sigma Black Belts

Next up is the Six Sigma Black Belt. The Black Belts complete the requisite two weeks of the Green Belt course, and in addition take another two weeks of specialized training, making the total training a month long at this level.

In addition to quality concerns, Black Belts will train other Six Sigma adherents and Green Belts, while doing so sharpening their own understanding of Six Sigma.

These individuals typically take team leads in Six Sigma, and are fully versed in the roadmaps, cross functional process improvement, and extensive arithmetical methodologies used in the program.

Master Black Belts

Finally, at the top level are the Master Black Belts.

These individuals have taken much more than the four weeks of Six Sigma Training of the Black Belts, committing themselves fully to Six Sigma principles within the workplace.

They must impart knowledge to lower Belts, so that the projects being completed flow smoothly and with improvisation.

They also coach employees and help them achieve lower levels of certification without the company having to bear the expense of training.