Career enhancement is the aspiration of each and every professional, irrespective of the industry they are into, but why would a company promote a person to a managerial or higher position without greater deliverables and job responsibilities and the ability to accomplish the same, besides the experience of working? Picking up a small training course certainly helps in enhancing a person’s credibility in any area of expertise. In a series of articles, StitchWorld will discuss training programs that can be undertaken by students or professionals looking at long-term growth in the apparel & textile industry, without taking a long break from the same.
Today businesses are taking corporate training to new levels by offering Six Sigma training to their key leaders and front-line employees. Developed by Dr. Mikel Harry, formerly of Motorola Inc., the Six Sigma methodology uses complex yet clear-cut measurement tools to help businesses improve on weaknesses and build on their strengths. Six Sigma simply means a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. The statistical representation of Six Sigma describes that a process must not produce more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities.
The two most common methodologies used under Six Sigma is DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control), which is an improvement system for existing processes falling below specification and looking for incremental improvement; the other method is DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, Verify), which is an improvement system used to develop new processes or products at Six Sigma quality levels. The main advantage of Six Sigma compared to other approaches to quality control is that Six Sigma is customer-driven. Six Sigma addresses the entire process behind the production of an item or completion of a service, rather than just the final outcome. It is proactive rather than reactive, as it sets out to determine how improvements can be made even before defects or shortcomings are found.
Six Sigma certification is awarded under different “belts” which is a measure of expertise in the concept and are colour coded as Yellow, Green, Black and Master Black Belts. Yellow being the most basic doesn’t get many takers as nothing much can be achieved in an organization at this novice level and people typically go for the higher belts. The Yellow Belt is trumped by the Green Belt. People with this certification are the ones who gather all the necessary information, do a majority of experiments and tests throughout the project. The main goals of a Green Belt are to ensure the success of the training techniques and lead smaller improvement projects. The Six Sigma Green Belt is generally an individual who does project management or process improvement work in addition to his or her current work responsibilities.
Six Sigma Black Belt holders are put in charge of the Six Sigma projects within their respective companies on a full-time basis. Once the project is completed and everything has been implemented, they will return to their regular duties. Apart from heading the project, they also are expected to coach, develop and advise other managers so that the organization can achieve a common goal.
The highest level in Six Sigma certification is the Master Black Belt. One will not necessarily find a Master Black Belt in a company just because they are implementing Six Sigma because this person is a highly trained Black Belt who will do the work full time, even after the project is completed, to execute the practices throughout the company, not just within the project. The Master Black Belt will make sure everything continues and runs smoothly.
NOTE: One doesn’t necessarily need a Green Belt to apply for a Black Belt course, although that is preferable, but most Black Belt course would cover the Green Belt syllabus as well.
From the perspective of a job applicant, recommendation or testimonials in terms of significant savings registered credit to the skill used and attained from the Six Sigma training are bound to impress a prospective employer. The average salary of a Six Sigma Black Belt in USA is US $ 80,000. Companies who have participated in Six Sigma training (and know its benefits) can appreciate the complexity of the process and how effective it is in exposing and eliminating business waste (for example, time-wasting workflows and unnecessary equipment). The “Six habits of Six Sigma leaders” addresses the importance of team collaboration in meeting organizational needs and will ultimately lead to a work environment that is more collaborative than competitive.
A small business that achieves the coveted Six Sigma quality certification will certainly stand out among its competitors. Even businesses that are unable to implement Six Sigma due to cost or practicality may benefit from having employee learn and implement some of the basics of the system, especially the philosophy of proactivity and customer satisfaction that underlies Six Sigma.
Convincing apparel executives to accept the process, other than as a selling tool, has been a difficult task. The only agreement reached is that every garment cannot be manufactured to the perfect specification. However, the typical manufacturing plant is producing apparel at about a 3 sigma level with 2.5% to 4% defects. That is 4 defects per 100 pieces and not the 3.4 defects per 10,00,000 pieces accounted for by a Six Sigma manufacturer. The gap is wide enough for significant improvement to be made in any such plant. Historical studies have shown savings for a US $ 1 million company of at least US $ 10,000 to US $ 20,000 for each improvement of just one Sigma.
Centres for Six Sigma Training
MSME-TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, under the Government of India, is providing a comprehensive range of services to the small scale industrial sector in terms of technical assistance, provision of workshop facilities, training and other general consultancy services.
The centre runs a certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt program, which is an introductory course in Six Sigma. The course is designed to
give knowledge of Six Sigma methodology along with concepts, tools & techniques. The program includes examples and case studies. The course is designed in such a way that any person with one or two years of working experience can easily understand the concept/ principles of the Six Sigma methodology. The cost of the course is Rs. 3,000.
https://www.ppdcagra.in/SIXSIGMAYELLOW.pdf
The organization also offers a Six Sigma Green Belt course in Noida, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. Anyone with a degree and a diploma may apply. The fee for the course is Rs. 20,000.
https://www.ppdcagra.in/SIXSIGMAGREEN.pdf
There is also a course for Black Belt certification, which is conducted at Noida, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. The eligibility criteria is the same as for above course. The one time course fee is Rs. 40,000.
https://www.ppdcagra.in/SIXSIGMABLACK.pdf
INDIAN STATISTICAL INSTITUTE
The Indian Statistical Institute offers Six Sigma Green Belt training under a three days’ program. The total number of seats is 75 and the course fee is Rs. 8,989 per participant, which includes course material, lunch and refreshment (Registration fee once deposited is non-refundable/non-transferable). The minimum marks to be obtained in the examination are 60% in theory and 60% in project.
https://www.isid.ac.in/~sqc/gb.html
The institute also offers a Black Belt certification course at a course fee of Rs. 44,944 per participant which includes course material, lunch and refreshment. This 14 days’ course, with additional project work, requires the applicant to either have a Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics, Statistics, Physics or BE/B. Tech degree or MBA, and Six Sigma Green Belt with 2 years of experience. Minimum marks to be obtained in the examination are 70% in all modules, 70% in projects and 70% in presentation.
https://www.isid.ac.in/~sqc/bb.html
The institute is amongst the few to offer a programme on Six Sigma Master Black Belt for duration of 10 days. The participant requires a Bachelor’s degree with Mathematics/Statistics/Physics or BE/B. Tech degree or MBA, and Six Sigma Black Belt with completion of at least five Black Belt projects. The course fee is Rs. 39,326 per participant which includes course material, lunch and refreshment. Minimum marks to be obtained in the examination are 80%.
https://www.isid.ac.in/~sqc/mbb.html
British Standard Institution (BSI)BSI offers a 5 days’ Six Sigma Green Belt certification at a cost of Rs. 25,000+ taxes at its centres in Delhi, Chennai, Chandigarh and Kolkata. The participant receives an introduction to the tools and methods that are necessary to successfully participate in Problem Solving and DMAIC improvement projects in a manufacturing or transactional environment. These tools will be introduced by a mix of upfront teaching, and group exercises to ensure learning and knowledge retention.
https://www.bsigroup.co.in/en-in/training/six-sigma/training-courses/six-sigma-green-belt-certificate/
Also, offered is a Lean Six Sigma Operational Black Belt. This 16-day Lean Six Sigma Operational Black Belt training programme is delivered in 5 modules of 4 days (typically one month between modules) to allow participants to apply what they have learned to a project within their own business while under the guidance of one of our highly experienced Master Black Belts. The project should be challenging, yet of a scale that can be progressed as far as possible during the training.
https://www.bsigroup.co.in/en-in/training/six-sigma/training-courses/lean-six-sigma-operational-bb/
TÜV INDIA
A subsidiary of the TÜV NORD Group, TÜV India offers two days’ Six Sigma Yellow Belt course which covers the basic requirements of Six Sigma methodology and the application of the different tools and techniques for a specific problem or process improvement. The company also offers a Six Sigma Green Belt course which is held for duration of 5 days. The course highlights the DMAIC techniques and applications of the classroom training on one of the selected practice improvement projects.
https://www.tuv-nord.com/in/six-sigma/green-belt-course-1422.htm
Both the courses are so designed that any person with one or two years of working experience would understand the fundamental principles of the Six Sigma methodology. Knowledge of Statistical techniques and use of software such as Minitab will be desirable. However, special coaching sessions are provided for fresh graduates on the use of Minitab Software in the workshops.
https://www.tuv-nord.com/in/six-sigma/yellow-belt-course-1418.htm
QAI Global Institute
The QAI Global Institute offers 4 days’ course in Lean Six Sigma Green Belt at Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Program includes using Minitab Statistical software for data analysis and interpretation of results. Case studies and caselets are used to demonstrate and practice the use of appropriate tools.
https://www.qaiglobalinstitute.com/Lean-Six-Sigma-Green-Belt-33278240236-222.html
Also offered is a 10 days’ Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification attending the program on successful completion of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification requirements will be eligible for the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate. Participants are provided free templates and guidelines to help them accelerate their project journey.
https://www.qaiglobalinstitute.com/Lean-Six-Sigma-Black-Belt-33272540236-222.html
