Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt Sustainability Project from edX

Every employee is involved in business processes to create products or services. The causes of decreasing customer satisfaction and increasing quality costs are often unknown, so derived solutions often only address symptoms. Six Sigma methods and tools enable a systematic solution of typical process problems and lead to sustainable operational excellence.

Go from Yellow to Green Belt in this project-based Lean Six Sigma course. With the TUM Yellow Belt, you have mastered the body of knowledge of our Green Belt (according to the American Society for Quality standards). Our Green Belt certification requires the implementation of a Six Sigma project (as recommended by the International Society of Six Sigma Professionals), just as the driving experience is necessary to obtain a driver’s license.

To earn the TUM Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, you will implement a predefined standard project on environmental littering. The goal: “Improve the cleanliness of areas around selected places in your hometown and control the sustainability of your measures.” This project topic supports the United Nations Sustainability Goal #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. To reach this goal you will drive along the DMAIC, accompanied by a Master Black Belt as co-pilot. The route is determined by our navigation software (sigma guide). We will stop at every important sigma tool, which you will then apply in practice and document in a project storybook. This storybook will demonstrate the operational excellence of and in your work. (Please note: The implementation of company-specific, individually supported business projects for certification are not included in this edX/TUM course)

We will guide you through your improvement project. Each DMAIC phase concludes with a project review by a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. With the feedback on your achieved project results, we keep you on track before you start the next DMAIC phase. You will also participate in weekly live sessions online, where we will discuss the tools and logic of Six Sigma in-depth and answer any questions. The e-book for the course, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Project, is included in the course price.

Green Belt Certification: Learners will be awarded the TUM Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification after completing this course and all of its requirements, including:

Previous acquisition of the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate,
Application of the sigma tools (sigma guide),
Documentation of the results in a project storybook,
Five graded reviews of the project storybook along with the DMAIC phases,
Participation in at least 10 open-online-sessions,
Delivery of the completed project storybook and the collected data.

Once a year we present the Environment Green Belt Award for the best Lean Six Sigma certification project. In addition to the basic certification criteria - a correctly implemented and documented project - an excellent project is required, with a project sponsor and a strong, sustainable reduction of litter at a local hotspot.

This course won the 2021 Runner-Up Award - Blended Learning - Academic Division 2021 of the International E-Learning Association (IELA)

What's inside

Learning objectives

To identify and define suitable six sigma project topics.
To implement a six sigma project along with its dmaic phases with all relevant qualitative and quantitative tools.
To evaluate the success of a six sigma project with process performance indicators and the derived financial benefits.

To apply all relevant dmaic tools, for example, project definition, voice of customer/ctq's, project charter, process mapping, cause & effect matrix, hypotheses, and their statistical tests, root-cause-analysis, etc.
Iela award 2021 -
This course won the 2021 runner-up award - blended learning - academic division 2021 of the international e-learning association (iela) {

To identify and define suitable six sigma project topics.
To implement a six sigma project along with its dmaic phases with all relevant qualitative and quantitative tools.
To evaluate the success of a six sigma project with process performance indicators and the derived financial benefits.
To apply all relevant dmaic tools, for example, project definition, voice of customer/ctq's, project charter, process mapping, cause & effect matrix, hypotheses, and their statistical tests, root-cause-analysis, etc.
Iela award 2021 -
This course won the 2021 runner-up award - blended learning - academic division 2021 of the international e-learning association (iela) {

Syllabus

Part 1: Introduction

Introduction to Six Sigma as a company-wide improvement program, based on a structured approach to linking reality, methods, and statistics.

Part 2: DEFINE

Identification and definition of a suitable Six Sigma project, structuring the project field in its core process steps (SIPOC), translating Voice of Customer (VoC) and Voice of Business (VoB) to CtQ’s as most important problems (Y), summarized in a Project-Charter for all stakeholders and supplemented by a stakeholder communication plan.

Part 3: MEASURE

Input-Analysis and Process-Mapping and -Analysis for identifying the triggering influences (x) of the problems (Y). Determination of the relationships between influences (x) and problems (Y) (C&E-Matrix), as the basis for deriving hypotheses. Operationalization of measurands for influences (x) and problems (Y) in a data collection plan, as the basis, to collect a sample of corresponding data.

Part 4: ANALYZE

Data evaluation and graphical display of data, representation of the process performance, in control charts and indices of the process capability, a test of hypotheses on the differences between problems (Y1 – Yn) and relationships between influences (x) and problems (Y) up to the analysis of root causes (fault tree).

Part 5: IMPROVE

Development and selection of solutions to eliminate, adjust or circumvent the root causes (x´), specification of solutions as measures, detection of their risks (FMEA), and development of countermeasures, hints for implementation.

Part 6: CONTROL

Data evaluation and graphical display of data, representation of the process performance, in control charts and indices of the process capability, a test of hypotheses on the differences (before vs. after), derivation of financial and non-financial benefits of the improvements, development of a Process-Management-Plan to control the improved process.

Part 7: Project Conclusion

Preparation of the lessons learned, completion of the Project-Story-Book, and review of this project documentation by our Master Black Belt for certification.

Learning is supported by:

* Videos: Animated application of all DMAIC tools in a sample project (43 lessons, 5:15h)

* sigma guide: Software for the implementation of Six Sigma projects (32 tools and charts)

* Methods and tools for process improvement (86 slides with the figures of this book)

* Statistics with Minitab (136 slides)

* Project-Story-Book: PowerPoint template for project documentation (60 slides)

* Project Guideline: Overview poster of all DMAIC phases and tools

* Weekly live online sessions for your questions and exchange with other learners.

* eBook: Hutwelker, R. (2019). Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Project – Identification, Implementation, Evaluation. Springer International Publishing

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Students interested in quality assurance, process management, and operational excellence in business can benefit from this course

Six Sigma certification is a valuable asset for professionals in various industries

The project-based approach provides opportunities for practical application and contextual learning

The Green Belt certification aligns with the American Society for Quality standards, ensuring industry recognition

The inclusion of an e-book on the Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Project provides additional resources for deeper learning

Weekly live online sessions facilitate real-time interaction with instructors and peers, enhancing the learning experience

Reviews summary

Lean six sigma green belt: excellent materials and personalized support

According to students, the Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt Sustainability Project course is largely positive with excellent materials and personalized support. The course is highly recommended for those seeking to enhance their process improvement skills and make a meaningful impact on sustainability.

Application of Lean Six Sigma principles to sustainability projects.

"This course is about the littering situation in your hometown – it’s a nice idea to have a positive impact on our planet while doing this certification project."

"By attending this course, I learned about how to improve processes by using the DMAIC steps in a project."

"The Green Belt Certification was well put together. The Master Black Belt instructor, Reiner, was fantastic helping navigate the DMAIC methodology."

Rigorous curriculum that requires effort but prepares students well.

"The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Project really helped to get the meat on the bone and ensure a full understanding of the process."

"In addition to learning the Six Sigma methods, I also learned some basic concepts that have helped me to face the challenges much better prepared."

"The gained knowledge is like a Swiss Army Knife for continuously improvements - I’m sure being able to leverage it at many occasions to become more efficient/effective, increase the customer satisfaction and finally save costs."

Clear and comprehensive materials, including videos, readings, and tools.

"The course material is really good and the professors are very competent."

"The program materials and online lectures are very clear and challenged me to develop this skill set."

Regular live sessions, personalized feedback, and easy access to instructors.

"You have the possibility to attend to weekly live sessions with the professor and other peers"

"You get your submittals back appraised with personal comments."

"You have easy access to the professor via email. They are very responsive."

"Dr. Reiner answered all of my questions and encouraged me to make further effort like presenting my work in the online discussion."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt Sustainability Project with these activities:

Review Six Sigma Concepts

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Review the fundamental concepts of Six Sigma to strengthen your foundational understanding and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Six Sigma

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Review the basics of Six Sigma, including its principles, methodologies, and tools.
Explore different Six Sigma methodologies, such as DMAIC and DFSS.
Practice applying Six Sigma tools to real-world scenarios.

Compile a Six Sigma Resource Toolkit

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Organize and expand your learning materials by compiling a toolkit of useful resources, including articles, templates, and software tools related to Six Sigma.

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Identify and gather relevant resources from various sources.
Organize the resources into a structured and accessible format.
Use the toolkit as a reference throughout your Six Sigma learning journey.

Solve Six Sigma Practice Problems

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Enhance your problem-solving abilities by working through practice problems related to Six Sigma principles and methodologies.

Browse courses on Process Analysis

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Identify and analyze different types of Six Sigma problems.
Apply Six Sigma tools and techniques to solve these problems.
Interpret the results and develop improvement plans.

One other activity

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Show all four activities

Develop a Six Sigma Project Plan

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Apply your knowledge by creating a comprehensive Six Sigma project plan, outlining the steps, resources, and timeline for a real-world improvement project.

Browse courses on Project Planning

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Define the problem or opportunity that your project will address.
Identify the project scope, goals, and objectives.
Develop a detailed plan outlining the project phases, timelines, and resources.

Career center

Learners who complete Lean Six Sigma: Green Belt Sustainability Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quality Assurance Manager

A project of this level of difficulty is typical on the entry level of quality assurance, establishing you as an asset for the organization. Not only will you be able to confidently execute the quality assurance process, you will also be able to use your Lean Six Sigma training to streamline these processes and improve quality throughout the organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Quality Control Engineer

The role of the quality control engineer is to create and maintain the systems and processes that ensure quality in your organization's products and services. A Lean Six Sigma certification will help you excel in this role by establishing your deep understanding of these fundamental quality assurance processes and methods.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Engineer

Project Engineer

Lean Six Sigma is a highly valuable skill for a project engineer to have, no matter the industry. This certification will help you improve your planning and execution of projects, as well as in risk management and product development.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Engineer

Data Analyst

A Lean Six Sigma certification is a significant addition to a data analyst's toolkit, establishing not only your understanding of data analytics, but also of the quality control processes and methods necessary to ensure successful implementation of data-based solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Lean Six Sigma is a valuable tool for uncovering inefficiencies that can stand in the way of effective business analysis. This certification will provide you with the skills you need to contribute to your company's growth and efficiency at the process level.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Performance Improvement Specialist

Performance improvement specialists use a variety of techniques to improve the performance of their organization. The focus on process improvement in Lean Six Sigma will certainly be a valuable contribution to your skillset, whether you enter this role from an engineering or business administration background.

See salaries and explore the career path for Performance Improvement Specialist

Six Sigma Consultant

A Lean Six Sigma certification, especially from a prestigious institution like TUM, will immediately establish you as an expert in the field and give your consulting practice a solid foundation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Six Sigma Consultant

Process Engineer

Lean Six Sigma can be a key part of an organization's continuous improvement efforts, an area of expertise that is in high demand. This certification will help you understand the core principles and methods of process engineering, as well as the quantitative and qualitative tools that are most often used.

See salaries and explore the career path for Process Engineer

Manufacturing Engineer

Lean Six Sigma is highly applicable in the field of manufacturing engineering, providing you with the fundamentals of process improvement and the tools to optimize production, reduce waste, and increase efficiency.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manufacturing Engineer

Quality Manager

In the role of quality manager, your focus is on ensuring that your organization's products and services meet customer requirements. Lean Six Sigma is a structured project management framework to help you achieve that goal, and this certification will give you the skills you need to lead your team to successful implementation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Manager

Operations Manager

Lean Six Sigma is a vital quality control process that is especially useful in operations management, where efficiency and quality are crucial. This certification will establish your knowledge and expertise in this essential skill and make you a valuable asset in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Manager

Continuous Improvement Manager

Lean Six Sigma is the cornerstone of continuous improvement practices, which is an important management responsibility. This certification will undoubtedly help you to gain a competitive advantage in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Continuous Improvement Manager

Product Manager

A project of this level of difficulty is typical on the entry level of product management, establishing you as an asset for the organization. Not only will you be able to confidently execute the product management process, you will also be able to use your Lean Six Sigma training to streamline these processes and improve quality throughout the organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Data Scientist

Data science and Lean Six Sigma share a common emphasis on problem solving through data analysis.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Mechanical Engineer

The tools and methods of Lean Six Sigma can be applied to all phases of a mechanical engineering project.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer