Many of our users display Six Sigma certification in their signature and there are a collection of threads here on how to study and from where to obtain it. Big question, however: what is it? Also, for whom and to whom is Six Sigma beneficial or relevant? BTW, the correct answer is not "Google it!" As one who is not in business nor a business major, the explanations I have found online sound like Hindu philosophy to me. Also, it's always nice to add to the DegreeInfo online library of eternal knowledge and wisdom :yup:
Six Sigma is a quality assurance system used in industry. It originated, I believe, in the manufacturing world but found more widespread applications across numerous industries. How to reduce the percentage of defective products. How to make things work better. More efficient. Less wasted time. It's a process of analyzing and solving process problems. Often times this is now combined with another QA process known as Lean. Typically you will start by getting a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification it's the entry level cert. Then, if you want you can earn a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt cert which obviously calls for additional training, experience and knowledge. Look here: https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd/LeanSixSigma
A system of applied statistics for process improvement. …Just the other day I noticed that the University of Idaho had had an online graduate certificate in Six Sigma Innovation and Design. That's in the past tense because it's been renamed: It's now the graduate certificate in Process and Performance Excellence.
It is also used in the service, public, and education sectors. There are lots of books on the subject including those listed here: Search: - ASQ
Thanks, everyone, for your responses. So far, the only one that really makes sense to me is this: Awesome. Some questions: 1) Is it one of many competing systems, or is Six Sigma a catch-all term for any such system? 2) What kind of professional would benefit from such certification? 3) What kind of employer recognizes and values such certification? 4) Are Six Sigma certifications all based upon course completion, or is there a self-study/competency exam method?
Ummm, I think 1) it's not a catch-all, it's a specific system, probably the best known. 2) it originated in manufacturing but has many other applications, any place you seek to improve results/products, etc. 3) any organization that has a QA dept will understand the value 4) you can do it DL but there are specific courses (plus projects) that you have to complete.
