Add a Lean Six Sigma Certification To Your To-do List Today

by Amelia Jackson Content Strategist

The business world is dynamic and highly competitive these days, no matter what field. Everyone wants to maximize revenues and minimise costs. But how do the world’s most successful organisations do so? The answer’s simple.

Go Lean.

The concept is simple and successful. I could name quite a few firms that effectively implement and acquire results with Lean Six Sigma and I will, but not just yet.

What is it all about?

You may have come across the term several times or might even know what it implies but for the sake of this read, here’s a brief explanation.

The Lean Six Sigma (LSS) consists of two parts: Lean and 6 Sigma. Lean refers to the methodology of reducing waste to increase value and 6 Sigma aims to find defects in a service or a product and identifying the causes so they can be eliminated. Below is a link that’d help you understand the concept more thoroughly.

Why Is It Necessary?

Of course you have this question in mind. No matter what industry you are a part of, if you work in project management or for that matter just about any department, the LSS is going to be your stepping stone. I’ll give you 6 reasons why.

Gives measurable goals - Unlike other theories, the implementation of LSS results in more measurable outcomes; you know exactly your much your organisation is wasting on non-required processes and how much revenue it could generate if all waste was eliminated.
Results in better employee performance - All organisations need to work on optimizing the performance of their employees. When more and more employees, starting from the top most level all the way down are able to apply the LSS, it results in better time management, accountability and sense of ownership for a particular project.
Increases efficiency - This is a very direct outcome of LSS. Essentially, by eliminating unnecessary processes, cost is considerably reduced and by identifying reasons for defects in a product or a service, the chances of a shortcoming are fairly lowered. This, in turn, results in improved efficiency overall for an organisation.
Increases customer loyalty which in turn increases revenue - This outcome is a result of both, better employee performance and the application of Lean 6 Sigma itself that helps remove defects from products or services. With the quality increased and customer services improved, customer satisfaction becomes easier to achieve.
Almost everyone is using it - If all reasons above weren’t enough, this one ought to do the job. Did you know that more than 82% of the Fortune 100 companies use the LSS methodology? How else would they be the fortune 100?
Proven to be successful - The LSS methodology has been in play since the 1980s and since then, we’ve seen countless organisations adapting it and recording great numbers. One example would be Motorola, which is known to have recording around $17 billion worth of savings due to LSS.

For Whom Is It Worth Learning?

You may have figured this out by now; no matter at what professional level you are, the LSS is worth gaining a qualification in. There are fundamentally 3 levels of expertise in Lean Six Sigma: Yellow, green and black certifications and diplomas widely accepted by employers. All you have to do is to look for a Lean Six Sigma training course online that comes at a reasonable price and a well sought for reward.

As far as the industries are concerned, it’s worth for almost all of them. One organisation that benefited hugely with the adaptation of LSS is the Ford Motor Company. Ford estimates a $300 million contribution from LSS projects and has recorded a two-point increase in customer satisfaction.

It’s everywhere!
You’ll be surprised to know that even governments use the LSS at various occasions in order to be more productive. The US army for instance, was able to reduce the number of days for the induction of equipment from 57 to just 28 days. Moreover, by April 2013, the army was able to make average savings of 31.5% since the fiscal year 2008.

Six Sigma has forever changed GE. Everyone – from the Six Sigma zealots emerging from their Black Belt tours, to the engineers, the auditors, and the scientists, to the senior leadership that will take this Company into the new millennium – is a true believer in Six Sigma, the way this Company now works.

– GE Chairman John F. Welch.

Read up COMPLETE COLLECTION OF Lean & Six Sigma Success Stories by industry here.