Overview
In February 1946, the American Society for Quality Control was formed. Headquartered in Milwaukee, ASQ traces its
beginnings to the end of World War II, as quality experts and manufacturers sought ways to sustain the many
quality-improvement techniques used during wartime. ASQ has played a crucial role in upholding these standards from
the past while, at the same time, championing continued innovation in the field of quality. Today, ASQ has become
a global organization, with members in more than 140 countries. ASQ now has service centers in Mexico, China, and
India, and has established strategic alliances with numerous organizations to promote ASQ products and training.
There are multi-levels of credentials:
- Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
- Certified Six Sigma Black Belt
- Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt
Additional information about Six Sigma certification may be found on the ASQ
Web site.
Six Sigma Green Belt Required Experience
Six Sigma Green Belts are employees who spend some of their time on process improvement teams. They analyze and
solve quality problems, and are involved with Six Sigma, lean or other quality improvement projects. The Six Sigma
Green Belt certification requires three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Green Belt
Body of Knowledge. Work experience must be in a full time, paid role. Paid intern, co-op or any other course work
cannot be applied towards the work experience requirement. Educational waivers are not granted.
Minimum Expectations for a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt
- Operates in support of or under the supervision of a Six Sigma Black Belt
- Analyzes and solves quality problems
- Involved in quality improvement projects
- Participated in a project, but has not led a project
- Has at least three years of work experience
- Has ability to demonstrate their knowledge of Six Sigma tools and processes
Examination
Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple choice questions
that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Six Sigma Green Belt Certification is a four-hour, 100
multiple-choice question examination. It is offered in the English language only.
- Examinations are conducted twice a year, in June and December, by local ASQ sections and international
organizations.
- Examinations are open-book.
- Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials.
- Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the seating letter provided to applicants.
Six Sigma Black Belt Required Experience
Six Sigma Black Belt requires two completed projects with signed affidavits or one completed project with signed
affidavit and three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge. For more
information, please see the list of Six Sigma Project Affidavit FAQs. You do NOT need to be a Certified Six Sigma
Green Belt.
Minimum Expectations of a Six Sigma Black Belt
- Will be able to explain six sigma philosophies and principles, including related systems and tools (lean,
quality, process/continuous improvement, etc.), and will be able to describe their impact on various business
processes throughout the organization.
- Will understand the various leadership and six sigma roles and responsibilities. Will recognize organization
roadblocks and be able to use change management techniques to manage organizational change.
- Will be able to define benchmarking and will understand various financial and other business performance
measures. Will be able to identify customer requirements and describe the impact that six sigma projects can have
on various types of customers.
- Will have a fundamental understanding of the components and techniques used in managing teams, including time
management, planning and decision-making tools, team formation, and performance evaluation and reward. Will know
how to use appropriate techniques to overcome various group dynamics challenges.
- Will understand the elements of a project charter (problem statement, scope, goals, etc.) and be able to use
various tools to track the project progress.
- Will be able to use customer feedback to determine customer requirements.
- Will have a basic understanding of data collection techniques, process elements, and process analysis tools.
- Will have a basic understanding of measurement systems.
- Will have a basic understanding of probability concepts and distributions.
- Will be able to perform statistical and process capability calculations.
- Will be able to analyze the results of correlation and regression. analyses. Will be able to interpret
multi-vari study results and interpret attributes data to find sources of variation.
- Will be able to define multivariate tools.
- Will be able to perform hypothesis testing and analyze their results.
- Will understand the elements and purpose of FMEA and be able to use root cause analysis tools.
- Will be able to identify and interpret the 7 classic wastes.
- Will be able to use gap analysis tools.
- Will be able to plan design of experiments (DOE) and be able to analyze their results.
- Will be able to use various tools to eliminate waste and reduce cycle-time.
- Will be able to define kaizen, kaizen blitz, and theory of constraints.
- Will have a fundamental understanding of how to implement an improved process and how to analyze and interpret
risk studies.
- Will be able to implement statistical process control (SPC).
- Will understand total productive maintenance (TPM) and visual factory concepts.
- Will be able to develop control plans and use various tools to maintain and sustain improvements.
- Will understand common DFSS and DFX methodologies, robust design and processes, and techniques for strategic
and tactical design.
Examination
Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions
that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Six Sigma Black Belt Certification is a four-hour, 150
multiple-choice question examination. It is offered in English.
- Examinations are conducted twice a year, in June and December, by local ASQ sections and international
organizations.
- Examinations are open-book.
- Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials.
- Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the seating letter provided to applicants.
Six Sigma Master Black Belt Required Experience
To become certified as an ASQ MBB, a candidate must successfully meet all requirements. To be eligible to apply for
the MBB examination, a candidate must hold a current ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)*. In addition, a
candidate must have either of the following experience levels.
1) At least 5 years of experience in the role of a SSBB or MBB.
OR
2) Completion of 10 Six Sigma Black Belt projects.
Candidates must be able to meet these minimum eligibility requirements in order to have their portfolio reviewed.
*For those applicants whose ASQ CSSBB certificate has expired, ASQ will waive the requirement of holding a
“current” ASQ CSSBB through December 31, 2011. After that date, all applicants will be required to hold a current
CSSBB.
Portfolio Review
Once a candidate has met the eligibility requirements, the next step in the process is a portfolio review of the
candidate’s body of SSBB or MBB work. When the review panel approves a candidate’s portfolio, the candidate will be
eligible to register for and take the MBB examination. Only after successfully completing all requirements &
passing the examination, will candidates receive MBB certification.
Your Portfolio must include the following topics to be reviewed by panel of expert MBBs showing evidence of:
Teaching, Coaching, Mentoring, Occupational Experience & Responsibility, Technical Experience, and Innovation.
Candidates must meet the minimum scoring requirements for each of the three key performance indicators.
- Teaching, Coaching, Mentoring
- Occupational Experience & Responsibility
- Technical Experience/Innovation
The portfolio evaluation process will be conducted by a panel of subject matter experts who are Master Black Belts
themselves. This panel will operate independently but under the guidance of ASQ. The panel will have ultimate
responsibility for judging the quality and appropriateness of the material and evidence presented in the portfolio.
Candidates who meet the required minimums for each section of the portfolio will receive an approval letter from
the review panel stating that they are eligible to take the MBB examination. Candidates who do not achieve the
necessary points will receive feedback from the review panel. This feedback will include information about why the
application failed, resubmission requirements, additional evidence requests, etc.
Examination
Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions
that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Master Black Belt certification is a five-hour examination
that has two assessment components, a 100 item multiple choice test and a performance-based assessment that
includes situation specific materials that candidates will be directed to evaluate and respond to. It is offered in
English.
- Examinations are conducted twice a year, in August and March, by local ASQ sections and international
organizations.
- All examinations are open-book.
- Each participant must bring his or her own reference materials.
- Use of reference materials and calculators is explained in the seating letter provided to applicants.
