Six sigma origin, certifications, salaries and principles

Origin of Six Sigma

It was in the early 1980s that Bill Smith at Motorola developed Six Sigma principles in order to measure defects and improve overall quality. This original idea still forms the core of Six Sigma methodologies with a few more additions, which include improving process in regard to interaction and product design.

Average salaries for Six Sigma certifications

A CSSC issued certification is a credential that employers trust to ensure you have met our industry-recognized standardization.

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a quality control and process improvement methodology that takes a data-driven approach to solving challenges in any type of operation. Its success rests on the fact that it’s a proven strategy that applies to any type of business.

Practitioners of Six Sigma designed tools that allow project teams to identify the root causes of problems, collect data on how a process currently works, develop solutions to the problem, test those solutions and then put the best option into place. They then measure the results of the change and start the entire process again.

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How much does a six sigma certification cost?

Primary Certifications:

• White Belt: FREE
• Yellow Belt: R$491.25
• Green Belt: R$788.97
• Black Belt: R$1,136.32

Advanced Certifications (Requires Project Completion):

• Green Belt Level II: +R$1,488.63
• Black Belt Level II: +R$1,488.63
• Black Belt Level III: +R$1,488.63
• Master Black Belt: +R$3,299.80

Why Is It Called ‘Six Sigma’?

Six Sigma refers to a quality control methodology that takes a systematic approach to improving any type of process. It’s called Six Sigma because the term sigma refers to one standard deviation in a data set. The idea is that six such deviations should occur before the process results in a defect.

When a process achieves Six Sigma, it reaches a point where only 3.4 errors per one million process events result in a defect. It’s an extremely high bar to clear. But Six Sigma provides the tools that allow businesses to achieve that standard.

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5 Key Principles of Six Sigma

1) Working for the customer
The primary goal of any change in the implementation process should be to deliver maximum benefit to the customers. Establishing a clear standard of quality in the early stages defines what the customer/market demands.

2) Finding problems and focusing on it
During the implementation process, it’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of changes and lose focus on the initial problem. Gathering data that shows where a specific problem lies helps to concentrate on correcting that area.

3) Removing variations and bottlenecks
Once the problem is identified, it’s time to look for ways to nullify defects. These openings often come in the form of long, intricate processes that leave significant room for mistakes and resource waste. Streamlining these functions can help to achieve quality control and efficiency.

4) Communicating clearly and training teams
A major necessity for a Six Sigma methodology to succeed is having all team members are well-versed in Six Sigma, understand the goal, and are informed on the project’s progress. The methodology can cause a huge shift in work environments as it requires specialized focus on management to run the entire process smoothly.

5) Being flexible and responsive
Change and Six Sigma go next to each other! It’s a process that identifies defects and works on refining them. Clinging to a failed approached is not an option for a Six Sigma expert. Change might seem challenging at first, but it has a huge benefit for business in the coming future.

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Does GE use Six Sigma?

They needed to be exceptional, so in the late 1980s, the company began focusing solely on quality control. In 1995, CEO Jack Welch made a goal for GE to become a Six Sigma company within five years by adopting the “Six Sigma Quality” as a part of the company's culture.