Lean Six Sigma Green Belt: Is It Right for You?
Green Belts carry the language of Lean Six Sigma deeper into the organization, driving culture change in how the organization sees problems and in its approach to solving them.
Six Sigma is a problem-solving methodology and data-driven approach to reducing process variation. Lean is a complementary improvement and problem-solving methodology that strives to reduce or eliminate activities that don’t add value to the customer.
Today’s Green Belt practitioners need to be well-versed in both as process improvement activities require aspects of both. Together Lean and Six Sigma are a powerful combination for improving process performance and instilling continuous improvement throughout your organization.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belts are often part-time resources, dedicating 25 to 50 percent of their time to Lean Six Sigma activities. They implement smaller-scale projects that have direct impact to daily duties. They also assist Black Belts with team activities and tool application.
To become a Green Belt, people usually go through a training and certification process that covers a body of knowledge, quizzes and exams, and a project for real-world application. Green Belts should be skilled in the DMAIC methodology (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) and principles of Six Sigma, as well as in-process mapping, root-cause analysis, and basic statistical analysis.
Green Belts are also instrumental in spreading the language of Lean Six Sigma, when discussing processes, data, maps and metrics, throughout the organization. They become local advocates, supporting improvement efforts through data-driven decision-making and accelerating the number of employees positively affected by Lean Six Sigma. To help in this endeavor, Green Belts also benefit from change leadership and facilitation skills.
“Our experience with the Green Belt program has been one of extremely high-quality training and trainers. Highly recommended!”
—Larry Sullivan, Network Appliance Inc.
If you’re thinking of getting your Green Belt or looking to train and certify your team, our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Program offers an unparalleled experience. The Lean Methods Group is the trusted partner to corporations, organizations and individuals.
To help you in your exploratory process, we’ve gathered some resources that expand on what it means to be a Green Belt and what you can expect from the program.
| Knowledge, Skills and Salary of Green Belts | |
|---|---|
| 101 Things a Green Belt Should Know | iSixSigma.com |
| Six Qualities of Successful Green Belts | iSixSigma.com |
| Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Salary | Indeed.com |
FAQs: The Lean Methods Group’s Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training and Certification
Is the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program right for me?
Green Belt training is appropriate for anyone in any industry who wants to develop new or refine existing problem-solving skills. If you are interested in moving into more of a process improvement role, or are just looking to grow your ability to improve processes, solve problems and do data analysis in your day-to-day work, our Green Belt program is for you.
What prerequisites do I need to enroll in the Green Belt program?
No prerequisites are required but basic math, project management, and communication and leadership skills are desirable.
What requirements must I meet to complete the program?
The Green Belt curriculum must be completed through our classroom course or online program. Blended programs are also available temporarily. To gain certification, candidates must:
- Pass all quizzes and exams.
- Complete one real-world, workplace improvement project and submit for review.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The time to complete the program varies depending on how long your project runs. Classroom courses are 10 days. After the training is completed, candidates must also complete their projects. Most people complete the program within 6 months, but you have up to one year. Extensions are also available.
Which format is better: classroom, online or blended?
Classroom courses provide the advantage of in-person time with your instructor and a mix of classmates from all industries and a range of locations, which provides a great chance to network with like-minded problem-solvers and build lasting relationships. The classroom also offers many interactive and experiential activities, discussion and mock simulations of real-life business scenarios.
Online learning offers a flexible, cost-effective method for skills development, featuring the same world-class curriculum as our classroom versions, with engaging visual content, animated modules, activities and real-world case studies delivered in a pure HTML format so you can access it across desktop and mobile devices. Please note: for individuals interested in our online training, certification is not included.
Blended learning is a good option for those who have internal support for training but desire hands-on, experiential coaching on Lean Six Sigma tools. All options provide interaction with instructors, recognized as leaders in Lean Six Sigma education.
What kind of support do I receive throughout the program?
All classroom certification programs are managed and supported by Lean Methods Group Master Black Belts, recognized as some of the best process excellence educators in the industry. Candidates have a designated program manager who helps guide you through the process.
What organizations recognize the Lean Methods Group’s training?
The Lean Methods Group’s courses are recognized by many organizations, including:
- The International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)
- The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
- The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
- Rollins College, Graduate School of Business
- Monterrey Tech University, School of Engineering
- University of Phoenix
- More than 300 global corporations
Does the Lean Methods Group’s Green Belt program prepare me to pass the ASQ certification exam?
Generally speaking, belts who pass the Lean Methods Group’s certification exam should be prepared to pass the ASQ exam. A comparison of the Lean Methods Group and ASQ Green Belt certification exams indicates that the content is fairly similar and that the most notable differences are related to the administration processes.
What makes the Lean Methods Group’s program and certification different?
With personalized attention provided to each candidate, our Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training and certification is the best choice for building your problem-solving skills in both Six Sigma and Lean. In addition, we include change leadership skills and creative thinking modules from our innovation courses.
Unlike other providers, such as ASQ which will certify Green Belts on coursework and exams alone, we require a completed project with review and approval, thus certifying the development of successful practitioner skills with coaching feedback from a Master Black Belt. The Lean Methods Group’s emphasis on real-world project work and individualized coaching promotes personal growth and business success.
Ready to Learn More?
Visit the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt page to learn more about the curriculum and requirements, or contact us to set up a time to speak with our director of public training or an instructor.
