The Six Sigma Green Belt level comes right after the initial Yellow Belt in the Six Sigma professional hierarchy. Professionals in this level act as an intermediary between Yellow Belt professionals and Black Belt professionals. Green Belts have two major jobs: the first is to successfully assist in organizing the Six Sigma methods, and second – head a small-scale development assignment within their own departments.
Acting as a support group, Green Belts are also involved in gathering as much data as possible and performing testing and research to support projects of the Black Belts. These professionals spend around twenty-eight percent of their time on managing their own Six Sigma projects or supporting projects of the Black Belts.
While the Yellow Belt professionals act as team members, the Green Belt practitioners can either be team members of a big project or lead a minor departmental project. These individuals are in charge of effectively and efficiently utilizing and implementing the Six Sigma concepts. Yellow Belts use the PDCA technique in handling the process, the Green Belts use the DMAIC approach in solving and creating an action plan.
The Green Belt training focuses more on the DMAIC principle and its applications. Here, individuals will be given problem cases which they need to solve using the DMAIC approach. The analytical and problem-solving skills of an individual will be enhanced once they are introduced to several exercises. The training comprises of thirty percent classroom discussion and seventy percent case application. The classroom discussion usually runs two weeks and the case application will depend on how long a trainee can implement the initiative and improvement should be evident to prove worthiness of the created process. Trainers usually ask trainees to create action item/s that can generate positive impact within the first two weeks of implementation.
The usual cost of one Green Belt course is from $350.00 – $750.00. Some companies hire Master Black Belts to train their deserving employees. The Six Sigma certification course sponsored by a certain company for its employees varies depending on the company’s procedures and policies. Which means getting a Green Belt certification from one organization does not automatically mean that the individual will be able to bring the same qualification over to another organization. To graduate the training course, a trainee should pass both theoretical and case exams. Online courses are also available for those who want to get certified.
When dealing with big projects, Green Belts work under the instructions of a Black Belt. Green Belt gives numerical feedback essential to identify the underlying condition of the project. They do most of the legwork which makes them very important to the success of the project. They spend around twenty-five percent to forty percent of their time organizing and developing assignments. These professionals are very knowledgeable when it comes to Six Sigma tools. Green Belts can promptly calculate both short-term and long-term Sigma Six equivalent of any given assignment.
Individuals who complete the training course will be skilled in adopting the function of a trained team affiliate working within an organization’s identified department and level.
Because of their focus and being successful with their projects, a Six Sigma Green Belt certification is most often offered with other benefits – sometimes a job promotion. They are well sought even by other organizations because of their aptitude, expertise and commitment to process development.