Six sigma is a popular technique for the improvement of businesses across many sectors with trained professionals teaching businesses how to run more efficiently and cost effectively. When earning qualifications in the six sigma techniques there are different levels of expertise to work towards, also known as the ‘Belts’ of six sigma. The categorisation of the different belts is as follows;
- The Yellow Belt is the most basic belt available and one of the least commonly attained as many people prefer to train for the higher belts. A yellow belt qualification would mean that the holder has a strong understand of the six sigma style of working and can apply this to a certain degree to their everyday working standards. However, many people simply holding a yellow belt will be unable to work on a higher belted project.
- The Green Belt is the next stage in the stages of six sigma training and those holding this qualification are often referred to as the ‘worker bees’ because they are given the most work during projects. Those holding green belts are tasked with gathering all of the necessary information during a project and also carrying out the majority of the experiments. Sometimes, the green belts can also be charged with leading small development groups independently of the larger group and like the yellow belts must have a firm grasp of the six sigma development techniques.
- The Black Belt is one of the highest belts and those holding it are usually the people in charge of six sigma projects that could save up to $100,000 within their company. Often when a project is started, the black belts will be asked to put their regular duties aside and focus on the project full time instead due to the importance and the amount of money that can be saved through the implementation of a project. The black belts are in charge of heading the project, delegating tasks to lower belt holders and ensuring that the project runs smoothly. Not only this, they are also responsible for teaching, developing and coaching other managers within the company so that the entire company is on board to achieve the goals of the project.
- The Master Black Belt. The highest belt achievable, the master black belt is a highly experienced black belt and will work on six sigma techniques within a company even once projects have been completed. Master black belts ensure that everything is running smoothly from a six sigma perspective within the company and are responsible for the overall six sigma education throughout the company. They are not project specific, rather they are company specific.