Six-Sigma Black Belt Program

J.G. Noguera & Associates

in conjunction with

Air Academy Associates

BUILDING A SIX SIGMA CULTURE

Participants of the Six Sigma training class will learn the KISS (Keep It Simple Statistically) approach to Prioritize, Characterize, Optimize, and Realize Return on Investment (ROI)


TRAINING OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM:

4-Week Expert (Black Belt) Training:
This is 4 weeks of training over a 4-month period, where we have one week of training, then one month to apply what has been learned, etc. This 4 weeks of training is the ultimate in topical coverage and time allotted for practicing, applying, and reviewing the use of tools on their projects. The in-class time allotted for reviewing their projects is 3 days, one day in each of Weeks 2, 3, and 4.

3-Week Expert (Black Belt) Training:
This 3-week Expert training does everything the 4-week training accomplishes except for the Advanced Statistical Tools. Time allotted for in-class project reviews is 2 days, one day in each of Weeks 2 and 3.

2-Week Accelerated Expert (Black Belt) Training:
This 2-week accelerated format for the Expert training covers the same topics as the 3-week training session (namely, Knowledge Based Management, Statistical Tools with SPC, and DOE) except that less time is devoted to practicing the tools within the classroom setting. That is, the classroom exercises will typically not be quite as involved and not as much time will be allocated to briefing the results of the classroom exercises. From the Present-Practice-Apply-Review training strategy, less time will be spent in class in the "Practice" mode, but this is countered by allowing more time between each of the 2 one-week class sessions for applying the tools to their projects. There will be about two months between class sessions to allow the Expert candidates to apply the tools to their projects. The time allotted to in-class project reviews is restricted to one day in Week 2.

2-Week Transactional Expert (Black Belt) Training:
This training has one week of training, then about 2 months to apply, then another week of training. This training targets the service industry, like human resources, procurement, sales and marketing, accounting and finance, etc. Although the time frames are the same, this is different from our accelerated Expert training in that less DOE is covered and more time is spent on transactional or service-related processes. The statistical tools covered are the same as in the Expert training because the statistical tools do not discriminate as to what application produces the data. But more time is spent on what to measure and getting good measurement systems.

2-Week Specialist (Green Belt) Training:
This two weeks of training is conducted over a 4-6 week period, with about a month between each of the training sessions to apply what was learned in the first session. The topical coverage for Specialists is very similar to the 2-week accelerated Black Belt coverage except that DOE coverage is restricted to just 2-level designs and there is not as much depth in some of the statistical tools areas such as measurement system analysis, regression analysis, and historical data analysis. There is less breadth and less depth in the Specialist training vis-á-vis the Expert training. There is typically no time allocated for project briefings in class.


GOALS

·         Support the long range business plan to achieve total customer satisfaction resulting in increased market share and improved profit margin.

·         Develop leaders in breakthrough technologies to meet stretch goals associated with Better, Faster, Lower Cost Products and Services.

·         Develop a world class culture for competitive advantage.



BENEFITS

·         Expand knowledge of products and processes through characterization and optimization

·         Decrease defects and cycle time

·         Improve customer satisfaction

·         Generate business growth and improve profitability

·         Improve communication and teamwork through sharing of ideas, problems, successes, and failures

·         Develop a common set of tools and techniques

CURRICULUM


Knowledge Based Management: Basics of Six Sigma

·         Motivation, Process Definition/Knowledge

·         Questions Managers Need to Answer

·         Barriers to Continuous Improvement

·         Questions Managers Need to Ask

·         Tools Needed to Answer Questions

·         Variation Reduction Techniques


Statistical Tools for Continuous Improvement

·         KISS (Keep It Simple Statistically)

·         Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ)

·         Process Mapping

·         Cause and Effect Diagrams with CNX

·         Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

·         FMEAs

·         Six Sigma Concepts

·         Probability Distributions

·         Confidence Intervals and Hypothesis Testing

·         X-bar/R, individuals, c and p charts, SPC

·         MSE and Gage R&R

·         Catapult Exercises

·         Identifying a Project


Design of Experiments

·         Experimental Design Overview

·         Introduction to Design and Analysis

·         Rules of Thumb

·         Analysis of Variance

·         Regression Modeling

·         2-Level and 3-Level Designs

·         Planning and Selecting a Design and Sample Size

·         Performing the Analysis

·         Drawing Conclusions and Confirming Results

·         Project Review


Advanced Statistical Tools

·         More Depth and Breadth on SPC and DOE Topics

·         Randomization, Gray Code Sequencing

·         Parameter Estimation and Sample Size

·         Modified Box-Meyer Method

·         Robust Design and Analysis

·         Multiple Regression, R vs. Adj R

·         Setting Tolerances

·         Analyzing Multiple Responses

·         Historical Data Analysis

·         Locking in the Gains of a Six Sigma Project

·         Simulation Exercises and Project Reviews

INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH

A Keep-It-Simple Statistically (KISS) approach is used, with the intention to avoid statistical complexity. Statistics is not presented as an "end", but rather the means to gaining knowledge for making good decisions which are critical for success. There are a variety of Six Sigma tools and techniques, and participants will have an opportunity to practice them in class through the use of physical demonstrations and computer simulations. Participants will also be required to demonstrate the use of these methodologies in their specific areas. A report will be written to document their success story and their impact to the company's bottom line.


Return to Home Page