Training Agenda: Six Sigma Black Belt Certification

Duration: 120 Hours (15 Days)
Target Audience: Professionals experienced with Six Sigma (Green Belts or equivalent) who want to lead larger projects, mentor other Six Sigma practitioners, and be experts in process improvement.
Objective: To provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and methodologies necessary to lead high-impact Six Sigma projects, utilizing advanced statistical analysis, Lean principles, and leadership techniques.


Day 1: Introduction and Black Belt Role Overview (8 hours)

Registration and Welcome

  • Introduction to the Black Belt course objectives and structure
  • Participant introductions and setting goals
  • Review of Green Belt knowledge and how Black Belt builds on it

Break

Six Sigma Overview and Black Belt Role

  • Review of Six Sigma methodology and principles
  • The role of the Black Belt in project leadership and mentoring
  • Differences between Green Belt and Black Belt roles
  • Overview of the DMAIC framework for Black Belts

Lunch Break

Project Selection and Leadership

  • Criteria for selecting high-impact Six Sigma projects
  • Aligning Six Sigma projects with business strategy
  • Stakeholder management and leadership skills for Black Belts
  • Practical exercise: Identifying potential Black Belt-level projects

Day 2: Define Phase – Advanced Tools 

Project Charters and Leadership

  • Writing a comprehensive project charter for Black Belt projects
  • Establishing SMART goals and critical success factors
  • Leadership and team dynamics in Six Sigma project management

Break

Voice of the Customer (VOC) and CTQ

  • Advanced techniques for capturing and analyzing the Voice of the Customer
  • Translating VOC into Critical to Quality (CTQ) metrics
  • Practical exercise: Creating a VOC-to-CTQ matrix

Lunch Break

SIPOC and High-Level Process Mapping

  • Creating detailed SIPOC diagrams for complex processes
  • Process mapping to understand high-level flows and identify bottlenecks
  • Practical exercise: Developing a SIPOC for a real-world problem

Project Management Tools for Black Belts

  • Advanced project management techniques (Gantt charts, RACI, risk management)
  • Practical exercise: Developing a project management plan for a Six Sigma project

Day 3: Measure Phase – Part 1 

Advanced Data Collection and Sampling

  • Designing effective data collection plans for complex projects
  • Sampling methods and techniques for high-precision data collection
  • Practical exercise: Developing a data collection strategy for a project

Break

Measurement System Analysis (MSA) – Advanced

  • In-depth Gage R&R analysis
  • Attribute Agreement Analysis (AAA) for non-numerical data
  • Practical exercise: Conducting advanced MSA and interpreting results

Lunch Break

Process Capability and Benchmarking

  • Advanced process capability analysis (Cp, Cpk, Pp, Ppk)
  • Benchmarking against industry standards and best practices
  • Practical exercise: Capability analysis on real-world data sets

Day 4: Measure Phase – Part 2 

Process Mapping and Value Stream Mapping (VSM)

  • Detailed process mapping for complex processes
  • Introduction to Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
  • Identifying waste and inefficiencies in a process

Break

Control Charts – Advanced

  • Understanding advanced control charts (e.g., Individuals and Moving Range charts, EWMA)
  • Selecting appropriate control charts for different types of data
  • Practical exercise: Developing control charts for complex processes

Lunch Break

Process Capability Indices for Non-Normal Data

  • Handling non-normal data distributions in capability analysis
  • Transformation techniques and alternate capability indices
  • Practical exercise: Analyzing non-normal data for process capability

Day 5: Analyze Phase – Part 1 

Root Cause Analysis – Advanced Techniques

  • Beyond 5 Whys: Advanced tools for root cause analysis
  • Using Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams with additional analytical techniques
  • Practical exercise: Conducting root cause analysis for complex issues

Break

Hypothesis Testing – Advanced

  • Understanding hypothesis testing in-depth: p-values, confidence intervals
  • One-sample and two-sample t-tests, F-tests, Chi-square tests, and ANOVA
  • Practical exercise: Setting up and conducting hypothesis tests using real data

Lunch Break

Regression Analysis – Advanced

  • Multiple linear regression and logistic regression
  • Identifying significant factors and interactions in process data
  • Practical exercise: Performing regression analysis on complex data sets

Day 6: Analyze Phase – Part 2 

Design of Experiments (DOE) – Introduction

  • The principles of DOE and its application in process improvement
  • Factorial designs: Full and fractional factorial designs
  • Practical exercise: Setting up a factorial DOE

Break

Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) – Advanced

  • In-depth FMEA: Prioritizing risks and identifying mitigation strategies
  • Practical exercise: Conducting a detailed FMEA on a real-world process

Lunch Break

Advanced Statistical Analysis in Minitab

  • Using Minitab for advanced statistical analysis
  • Hands-on session: Hypothesis testing, ANOVA, and regression in Minitab

Day 7: Improve Phase – Part 1 

Generating and Selecting Solutions

  • Techniques for brainstorming and creative problem-solving (TRIZ, SCAMPER)
  • Solution prioritization using an Impact/Effort Matrix
  • Practical exercise: Generating and selecting solutions for process improvement

Break

Lean Tools in Process Improvement

  • Lean techniques: 5S, Kaizen, SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die)
  • Integrating Lean and Six Sigma for faster improvements
  • Practical exercise: Implementing Lean tools in a real-world scenario

Lunch Break

Piloting and Validating Solutions

  • Running pilot tests to validate solutions
  • Introduction to Design of Experiments (DOE) – Full vs. fractional
  • Practical exercise: Running a DOE pilot and interpreting the results

Day 8: Improve Phase – Part 2 

Process Simulation and Optimization

  • Process simulation tools: Using software to model and optimize processes
  • Practical exercise: Simulating process improvements

Break

Mistake Proofing (Poka-Yoke)

  • Designing error-proof processes to prevent defects
  • Practical exercise: Applying Poka-Yoke techniques to process improvements

Lunch Break

Cost-Benefit Analysis and ROI

  • Financial impact analysis of process improvements
  • Calculating Return on Investment (ROI) for Six Sigma projects
  • Practical exercise: Performing cost-benefit analysis for an improvement

Day 9: Control Phase – Part 1 

Sustaining Improvements with Control Plans

  • Creating detailed control plans to maintain process improvements
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and documentation
  • Practical exercise: Developing a comprehensive control plan

Break

Statistical Process Control (SPC) – Advanced

  • Advanced SPC techniques: EWMA, Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) charts
  • Monitoring ongoing process performance with SPC
  • Practical exercise: Implementing SPC for a process

Lunch Break

Process Audits and Control Systems

  • Developing and implementing process audits for long-term control
  • Visual management and control mechanisms for sustained improvements
  • Practical exercise: Conducting a mock process audit

Day 10: Control Phase – Part 2

Control Charts for Attribute Data

  • P-charts, NP-charts, C-charts, and U-charts for attribute data
  • Practical exercise: Creating and interpreting attribute control charts

Break

Documentation and Knowledge Transfer

  • Ensuring proper documentation of process improvements
  • Creating training materials and transferring knowledge across teams
  • Practical exercise: Creating process documentation and training materials

Lunch Break

Finalize Control Plans

  • Comprehensive review and finalization of control plans
  • Implementing visual management and dashboards
  • Practical exercise: Developing a control system for a complex process

Day 11–14: Six Sigma Project Simulation 

End-to-End Project Simulation

  • Participants work in teams to complete a simulated Six Sigma project from start to finish
  • Using DMAIC methodology to solve a real-world problem
  • Application of advanced tools learned (e.g., FMEA, DOE, control charts, SPC)

Day 15: Final Case Study Presentation and Certification Exam (8 hours)

Final Project Presentations

  • Teams present their final Six Sigma projects
  • Feedback from peers and instructors on project implementation and improvements

Lunch Break

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Exam

  • 2-hour written exam covering all aspects of the Black Belt curriculum
  • Review and closing discussion