How Will A Six Sigma Black Belt Be Useful In Your Company?

Six sigma black belts are managers within their organization. They are full time project team leaders who are accountable for implementing process improvement projects in the business or corporation. Black belts are skilled in the use of six sigma methodology, procedures and tools. They are also highly skilled in change management.

Six sigma black belt training typically varies in its timeframe during which the candidate demonstrates his or her skills of the subject matter through completion of a project and a written final assessment.  Black belts coach green belts while at the same time receive coaching from master black belts. Black belts generally become master black belts after the many years of experience and additional training.

Six sigma training has uncovered a series of traits inherent in all good black belts, including, customer advocation-where the black belt candidate knows that the consumer is usually the final judge of quality and service; be passionate about what he or she does, takes initiative and presents positivity at all times;  change leadership-six sigma black belts are agents of change and are expected to cheer lead other workers through the change process;  effective communication skills as trainers, coaches and mentors, with an ability to tailor the message to the audience;  Ahead of the curve on new business practice; Understanding that six sigma is accomplished one project at a time;  Can be both a team player and a team leader; has a good technical aptitude and an ability to analyze data rapidly; six sigma black belts are always results oriented; and finally, they are fun and passionate about the job they do each day.

Some other qualities that make for a good black belt candidate are trust and integrity, deep process knowledge, diverse work experience, a degree which demonstrates advanced thought skills, and has experience of Six sigma, ISO and other quality control procedures and skill sets.  Some of the things that can sabotage a successful black belt training project occurs when your six sigma black belts get no support from their champion or sponsor, there are not enough or no green belts in your program, your mentor or master black belt is too busy to mentor, there is very little communication with other six sigma personnel, or senior management distributes projects with the outcome already decided.