The use of different belts and the colors

According to six sigma the word belt refers to the level or the position, of a person in an organization at the time of performing a work or at the time of implementation of a project. Several personalities take part at the time of the implementation of a work, so as to meet and make sure that the project is launched with zero defects and is able to meet the customer satisfaction. Hence results in sustaining the quality and profit of the company or the organization.

Each belt is given different colors for the purpose their six sigma success identification. Each color represents each responsibility. This is because the aim of six sigma is not only the production of defect free projects and products, but also the fast implementation of the projects with out time waste. This is able when the work is divided into several parts. More over each color indicates each quality or level of skills. This identification could help the project leaders to find out the apt person for assigning the different tasks. Each color is having different task responsibilities and skills to perform. Therefore the color will also help the project leader to find out the skills and the responsibilities of the person assigned to the work.

The 3 major levels of belts and colors are

Green belt

Black belt

Master black belt

There are training and certifications for each color of belt. For example:

CSSGB- Six Sigma Green Belt

Here the six sigma green belt operators are given training to operate in the support or under the supervision of a six sigma black belt. Through this certification the person is trained to analyze and solve quality problems. This results in the quality improvement projects. The person, who had undergone the six sigma green belt certification, has at least three years of work experience in demonstrating the knowledge of six sigma tools and processes.

CSSBB- Six Sigma Black Belt

The candidate who had undergone six sigma black belt certification is a professional who is capable in the explanation of six sigma philosophies and the principles. His knowledge also includes the supporting systems and the tools. This certification also deals with the training of the candidate in developing the demonstrating of the team leadership, understanding team dynamics and assigning team member roles and responsibilities. A six sigma black belt will be well versed will all the aspects of the DMAIC model in accordance with the six sigma principles. These professionals have basic knowledge of lean enterprise concepts. They are capable in identifying non-value added elements and activities. They are also capable in the use of specific tools

Master Black Belt

The professionals who had undergone the master black belt certification are considered as a six sigma quality experts and they are responsible for the strategic implementations within an organization. The training is given for the improvement of the responsibilities of a master black belt, which includes training and mentoring of black belts and the green belts. Moreover the responsibilities or the duties of a master black belt extend to the range of helping the both belts in prioritizing, selecting and charting high impact projects.

Maintaining the integrity of the six sigma measurements, improvements and developing, revising six sigma training materials, qualifying or teaching the other six sigma facilitators about the methodologies, tools and applications in all functional areas of a company are some of the other responsibilities of a person who has completed master black belt certification.

The major works and responsibilities are done under these sections. Meanwhile there are some concepts which is related to the customer requirements and the process of thinking. These are the sections done by the yellow belt.

Yellow Belt

Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification provides with the attendees an overall insight to the use age of the six sigma techniques. The training is also given in the field of six sigma metrics and the basic improvement methodologies. It is essential for six sigma yellow belt to learn how to integrate lean and six sigma methodologies to get the high level production and transactional systems. This is to meet the customer’s expectations and the objectives of the organization from the bottom, to its best. The certification helps the trainees to receive an idea about the introduction to the process management and the basic tools of six sigma. Strong understanding of the processes, enabling each individual to provide meaningful assistance is the other characteristics of the six sigma yellow belt certification. The aim of this certification is the achievement of the organizations overall objectives.

The use of different colors

According to six sigma the word belt refers to the level or the position, of a person in an organization at the time of performing a work or at the time of implementation of a project. Several personalities take part at the time of the implementation of a work, so as to meet and make sure that the project is launched with zero defects and is able to meet the customer satisfaction. Hence results in sustaining the quality and profit of the company or the organization.

Each belt is given different colors for the purpose their six sigma success identification. Each color represents each responsibility. This is because the aim of six sigma is not only the production of defect free projects and products, but also the fast implementation of the projects with out time waste. This is able when the work is divided into several parts. More over each color indicates each quality or level of skills. This identification could help the project leaders to find out the apt person for assigning the different tasks. Each color is having different task responsibilities and skills to perform. Therefore the color will also help the project leader to find out the skills and the responsibilities of the person assigned to the work.

The 3 major levels of belts and colors are

Green belt

Black belt

Master black belt

There are training and certifications for each color of belt. For example:

CSSGB- Six Sigma Green Belt

Here the six sigma green belt operators are given training to operate in the support or under the supervision of a six sigma black belt. Through this certification the person is trained to analyze and solve quality problems. This results in the quality improvement projects. The person, who had undergone the six sigma green belt certification, has at least three years of work experience in demonstrating the knowledge of six sigma tools and processes.

CSSBB- Six Sigma Black Belt

The candidate who had undergone six sigma black belt certification is a professional who is capable in the explanation of six sigma philosophies and the principles. His knowledge also includes the supporting systems and the tools. This certification also deals with the training of the candidate in developing the demonstrating of the team leadership, understanding team dynamics and assigning team member roles and responsibilities. A six sigma black belt will be well versed will all the aspects of the DMAIC model in accordance with the six sigma principles. These professionals have basic knowledge of lean enterprise concepts. They are capable in identifying non-value added elements and activities. They are also capable in the use of specific tools

Master Black Belt

The professionals who had undergone the master black belt certification are considered as a six sigma quality experts and they are responsible for the strategic implementations within an organization. The training is given for the improvement of the responsibilities of a master black belt, which includes training and mentoring of black belts and the green belts. Moreover the responsibilities or the duties of a master black belt extend to the range of helping the both belts in prioritizing, selecting and charting high impact projects.

Maintaining the integrity of the six sigma measurements, improvements and developing, revising six sigma training materials, qualifying or teaching the other six sigma facilitators about the methodologies, tools and applications in all functional areas of a company are some of the other responsibilities of a person who has completed master black belt certification.

The major works and responsibilities are done under these sections. Meanwhile there are some concepts which is related to the customer requirements and the process of thinking. These are the sections done by the yellow belt.

Yellow Belt

Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification provides with the attendees an overall insight to the use age of the six sigma techniques. The training is also given in the field of six sigma metrics and the basic improvement methodologies. It is essential for six sigma yellow belt to learn how to integrate lean and six sigma methodologies to get the high level production and transactional systems. This is to meet the customer’s expectations and the objectives of the organization from the bottom, to its best. The certification helps the trainees to receive an idea about the introduction to the process management and the basic tools of six sigma. Strong understanding of the processes, enabling each individual to provide meaningful assistance is the other characteristics of the six sigma yellow belt certification. The aim of this certification is the achievement of the organizations overall objectives.

The purpose and the origin of the process six sigma is the result of need for business improvement through customer satisfaction, reduced costs, production of high quality products with less defects and increased profits. Hence the fundamental aim of the six sigma methodology is the implementation of a systematically based measurement strategy focusing the improvement process. Within this improvement aspects the six sigma methodology includes the responsibilities of the improving the team, helping the team in identifying the process, the defects and the corresponding measurements. It is because of this wide range of flexibility in quality improvement, six sigma methodology toolkit is the best existing software process implementation.

Six sigma implements the quality improvement process through the application of six sigma improvement projects. These projects are accomplished with the help of the use of two six sigma sub-methodologies: DMAIC & DMADV.

DMAIC method:   the six sigma methodology is consisted of five steps which include Defining, Measuring, Analyzing, Improvement and Controlling. DMAIC involves in the improvement of an existing business process. Here the six sigma methodology deals with defining of the process improvement needed for setting the goals on the basis of customer demands and the enterprise strategy. Once the goal defining is done the project conductors are asked to measure the current strategy of the process or the work done and then to collect the data for the future comparisons. The third step is of analyzing the relationship between the cause (data) and with the result and defining it, making sure that all factors involved are taken into consideration. The fourth step follows the analysis report, by providing with sufficient improvements using the techniques like Design of Experiments. It should be ensured that all the variances are corrected before it result it defects. This is done through the controlling of the process, which is the final step in six sigma process of systematical improvement of the process.

DMAIC Six sigma leader roles are to establish the selection criteria of the project, approving the projects, selecting the project leaders, providing the resources and training, reviewing the Black Belt and Green Belt projects monthly, ensuring the communication process, reviewing the entire process every 3-6 months, establishing and linking the rewards with the performances, and finally being accountable for the success of the effort.

DMADV methods:  as in the DMAIC method, here also it has 5 steps like defining, measuring, analyzing, designing and verifying. DMADV method is used in creating a new product or process, setting designs for predicting and then ensuring defect-free performances. The method deals with the duties like defining the goals, which comes out form the designed activity which is related to the customer demands and enterprise strategy. Once the goals is defined out of the activity, measuring and identifying the quality, product capabilities, production process capability and risk assessments are done.

The third step of the method involves in the analyzing process for developing the designing alternatives, creating high level design, evaluating designs and selecting the best design. Then comes the step, where detailing about the design selected, optimizing the design, and setting plans for the verification of the designs. This step is required simulations. At the final step the design set is verified and the pilots are run. There by the production process is implemented and the process is hand over to the process owners.

Apart from the above said six sigma methods there are other designs for six sigma methodologies. They are:

CDOC –        conceptualize, design, optimize, control

DCCDI –       define, customer concept, design and implement

DCDOV-       define, concept, design, optimize, verify

D-IDOV-M –   define, identify, design, optimize, verify, monitors

DMADOV –   define, measure, analyze, design, optimizes and verify

DMAI C –      define, measure, analyze, improve, implement, control

DMEDI –       define, measure, explore, develops and implement

IDOV –          identify, design, optimizes and validate

I2DOV –         invent, innovate, develop, optimize, validate

MEDIC –     map and measure, explore and evaluate, define and describe, implement and improve, control and conform

VCPCIA –    visualize, commit, prioritize, characterize, improve, achieve