Chapter One: Introduction

Welcome to this audio course on preparing for the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam, also known as CSSYB! I will guide you through the course material. As you may or may not know, Six Sigma is a methodology used to improve any type of workflow or process; it promotes aims of achieving a high level of quality control. Implementing this methodology successfully has a direct and positive impact on an organization's bottom line.

Since you’re listening to this audio course, you may already be preparing to take the certification exam. Maybe you’re just looking to explore your options with a career in Six Sigma. Whatever your reasons for listening, I would like to congratulate you on considering such a potentially rewarding career path.

The CSSYB exam is administered by ASQ: The American Society for Quality. Certifications by ASQ are highly respected across many industries. Having this credential indicates that you possess the necessary skills to help your organization improve its bottom line. Certification shows that you thoroughly understand the fundamentals of the five stages of the Six Sigma methodology DMAIC. That stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.

So, what actually is quality, in terms of Six Sigma?

The Six Sigma methodology is all about process improvement. Motorola engineer Bill Smith introduced the methodology in the nineteen eighties. It’s a statistics based strategy to reduce the variation in a process, allowing for consistently positive outcomes.

We can consider this idea of variation in terms of defects. The ultimate goal of Six Sigma is this: developing a process that’s ninety nine point nine nine nine six six percent free of defects. In other words, you're shooting for perfection.

Fewer defects mean better quality. Better quality means a more successful business. Ultimately, the organization's customers benefit. Six Sigma encourages businesses to zone in on the factors that are most important to customers.

The methodology turns the concept of quality into something quantitative – something statistically measurable. Six Sigma is accurate and thorough, saving companies millions of dollars by enabling them to minimize production defects. In fact, General Electric has saved more than one billion dollars thanks to Six Sigma. Customers benefit, profits increase, and everyone wins.

The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is an entry level certification. If you’ve decided to take the exam, perhaps you’re completely new to Six Sigma. The good news is, CSSYB certification has no education or work experience requirements. This audio course will give you the foundational knowledge you’ll need to understand the world of Six Sigma.

The CSSYB certification indicates to potential employers that you are dedicated to quality and process improvement. Your certification can open doors to positions in Supply Chain Management, Business Process Optimization, and Continuous Improvement Management, among others.

The average annual salary you can earn with Yellow Belt certification is sixty six thousand, seven hundred and thirty four dollars. Of course, this number can vary depending on the particular job and industry.

Six Sigma projects are usually carried out in larger organizations. Many prestigious employers seek Yellow Belts, including -HSBC, -IBM, and Accenture. So, getting certified is definitely worthwhile to help you start climbing the career ladder of quality improvement. Yellow Belt job titles include Quality Analyst, Inspector, and various roles in Management, to name a few.

After you have some experience as a Yellow Belt, you may decide to work towards further certifications. The next step up in the Six Sigma world is the Green Belt certification. Green Belts often lead projects and have job titles like Process Development Engineer, Project Manager, or Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist. The average annual salary for a Green Belt is seventy four thousand, eight hundred and seventy two dollars.

After you have some experience as a Green Belt, you can become a Black Belt. Black Belts earn, on average, ninety nine thousand four hundred and seventy three dollars a year. Some job titles include Operations Director and Senior Business Process Analyst.