Once you have had the proper training and been appointed as the Six Sigma Black Belt, you will then be responsible for implementing the improvement that the projects require. You should also be able to give direction to your employees, as well as helping them reach their goals by providing accurate statistics and reports. If you are running a lean manufacturing operation, you may need to reduce labor costs in order to improve efficiency, so you will need to keep that in mind during your management training. It’s important to remember that the Six Sigma Black Belt certification isn’t a license to be an increase in productivity, but rather a sign of leadership skills and the ability to lead and organize.
In addition to gaining knowledge and understanding of the processes involved, you will also be tested on your methods. These tests will gauge how well you’re educated and trained in the areas of Six Sigma, which will be useful for your new role. When you take the actual Six Sigma Black Belt examination, you will have to answer a battery of questions in order to pass. Since you probably already have some Six Sigma training under your belt, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if not, you can find many resources online to help you understand the process thoroughly.
The Six Sigma Black Belt description would have you assume that you’ll be leading projects that implement the Six Sigma methodologies everywhere. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, you will be implementing the strategy in a particular company, and you will need to make sure that you know the right way to approach it according to the needs of that particular company.
The typical Six Sigma Black Belt description will make you assume that you’ll be given a task to design a whole new system in order to implement it in the workplace. What you need to realize is that, in most cases, you don’t need to do this. What you need to do is ensure that you have all the necessary tools and training to get the job done properly. This could mean that you need to take a course on Six Sigma, but this is certainly not mandatory.
Once you’ve completed your project and passed the Six Sigma Black Belt certification test, you’re probably still employed. You may have your job title changed (or reworded), but your position doesn’t change unless you want to. What you need to understand is that you don’t want to spend your entire career getting trained for one project only to find that you don’t like it or that you didn’t get the project that you wanted anyway. You also don’t want to spend your whole career re-training for a new project every year. You’re better off spending the time you need to figure out what you want to do next.
If you do end up having to take another six sigma training course, this is actually fine. You’ll learn a lot more in the classroom and in on-the-job applications when you take refresher courses. Keep in mind that companies are using Six Sigma around the clock – it’s now become a staple of management and project management at every level of the business. It will help you find jobs and get promotions within your company, which is always a plus.
The six sigma black belt description that you see above is what your job is really about. You need to be able to explain it, explain its impact, and explain how you are experienced to use it. Beyond that, just ensure that you are doing everything in your power to stay on top of the latest developments within the Six Sigma Process. Stay on top of it by reviewing resources, training, certifications, articles, etc., so that you know you’re as informed as possible on the subject.