Description
A BlackBelt in Six Sigma has become a valuable credential in today's marketplace and an NGS Certification verifies that a student has done more than completed the course content. It also verifies that the student has demonstrated comprehension and application of the tools and methods by achieving tangible results on a real project.

A Black Belt in Six Sigma prepares the student to effectively lead project teams in process improvement activities.  The NGS program provides the students with the skills and knowledge they need for leading enterprise-wide business improvement projects. Each student will immediately apply concepts and tools to real improvement projects under the guidance and coaching of an experienced faculty-practioner.
Refer to the Program Requirements and Policies for more information.

Objectives
The NGS BlackBelt Certification is intended to advance current six sigma practitioners in more advanced degrees of knowledge and application of six sigma principles and practices beyond that of Green Belt training; to ensure thorough understanding of six sigma methodologies; to prepare Black Belts for demonstration of practical application of six sigma techniques.  Certified Black Belts are also expected to lead a team in broadly scoped projects of significant value to organizational mission while receiving coaching/mentoring from a NGS faculty member and Master Black Belt.

As a result of completing this training, participants will be able to competently and confidently apply Lean/Six Sigma tools and methodologies

1. Define, solve problems and lead change persistently and patiently using analytical thinking and data driven approaches (DMAIC)
2. Coach, mentor and teach Green Belts and project team members in Six Sigma tools.
3. Leverage and build the synergism among Lean and Six Sigma in the organization.
4. Achieve project results in an accelerated timeframe
5. Report-out project results
6. Understand and apply the following Lean/Six Sigma concepts and tools:
   (This list builds on the GreenBelt list of concepts and tools)

Voice of the Customer Inferences fractional factorials Total System/Enterprise thinking Reliability analysis statistical tolerance Theory of constraints Probability hypothesis testing Distributions comparison testing The 5 S’s Probability plotting metrics Process Improvement Teams Variance components confidence intervals Kaizen/Lean Events/AIW’s Control charting regression Total Preventive Maintenance Process capability randomized blocking Control Plans Gauge R&R DOE

Who should attend?
This BlackBelt Program by NGS is appropriate for any team or individual responsible for managing or significantly participating in business process improvement activities.  This would include managers, professionals, and key staff members on improvement teams. NGS encourages diverse participant classes to enhance the learning and understanding of application of principles in multiple industries.

Typical Black Belts students are individuals familiar with data collection philosophy or practice and supportive of data analyses as a precursor to decision-making. Black Belts need to have an existing applied statistics capability (e.g. Green Belt certified) and also have the interpersonal skills to lead and influence other people within the unit through a change/improvement process (e.g. NGS MSQSM Alumni )

Represented Industries & Participants

Industries Participants Customer Service  Managers, Professionals, and Staff Military and Homeland Security Operations Process Owners Information Services Business Service Representatives Banking and Retail Finance and Business Administration Manufacturing and Repair Supply Chain Management Education and consulting Manufacturing and Quality Engineers