Belt System helps members of Six Sigma understand their responsibilities and coordinate their work. To understand what makes the Six Sigma team work together well, it’s important to get acquainted with Belt System. Like belt ranking in martial arts, Belt System Six Sigma gives individuals different levels of authority and responsibility based on their training and experience.
Six Sigma White Belt – This is the first level of knowledge of Six Sigma. White Belts completes several hours of Six Sigma practice that helps them understand the basics of Six Sigma and promote it within the organization. White Belts appears throughout the organization chart, from frontline workers to corporate executives.
Six Sigma Yellow Belt – When required, Yellow Belts acts as an additional set of eyes and hands for the Six Sigma project team. They help create process maps and collect data. They get 10 to 15 hours of Six Sigma training in the classroom that helps them contribute in this to the project team.
Six Sigma Green Belt – Green Belt is the backbone of a successful project team. They do most of the day-to-day work within the project and are selected because they really understand the process being improved. Green Belts typically spend 25% – 50% of their time on Six Sigma projects.
The certification body has requirements for Green Belt certification. Employees must attend classroom training, pass the written exam and, most importantly, serve on the Six Sigma project team.
Six Sigma Black Belt – Black Belt has a full-time job at Six Sigma. Black Belts usually rise from the lower belt level and have gained experience from previous Six Sigma projects. To declare it as a Black Belt, the candidate must pass a written exam and successfully complete two Six Sigma projects.
Black Belts is a master of statistical analysis and process improvement. As project team leaders, they must have good skills and can help employees with different backgrounds and perspectives work well together. Black Belts not only leads the project team, it also teaches team members and instills Six Sigma principles throughout the organization.
Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MBB) – MBB is the highest Belt Six Sigma rank, and has the most demanding certification requirements. The Black Belt Master certification requires five years of experience as a Black Belt and successfully completes at least 10 Six Sigma projects.
Master Black Belts fosters Six Sigma efforts from top to bottom. They play an important role in communicating with senior executives to gain support and resources for Six Sigma projects. As MBB is required to teach other lower Belts, and always look for opportunities to improve the organization using Six Sigma.
The strength in the Belts Six Sigma system is its mobility. Employees can start as a White Belt and advance as far as the hierarchy because of their interest and ability to carry it. Understanding the Belt System can help you understand how Six Sigma manages and manages its roles and resources.