Quality Management is a means of maintaining the desired level of quality for the products and services offered by an organization by improving its business processes. It involves a set of rules followed to ensure that the processes are aligned with the business objectives and the services provided meet the customer’s expectations. Earning a quality management certification will help you assist your organization in improving the performance, efficiency, complying with the quality standards, and delivering a high-quality product.

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a quality management strategy adopted by companies to enhance their business processes by reducing or eliminating errors and ensuring that the product is of superior quality. Quality plays a crucial role in organizations that aim for the long-term success of their products and services. Six Sigma methodologies focus on improving existing processes as well as introducing new strategies that can remove defects and result in better customer satisfaction. 

Top Quality Management Certifications

Achieving certification is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in a particular domain. There are some recognized quality management certifications which you can pursue and validate your command in various methods and techniques of quality management. 

While there are accreditation bodies for certifications in other domains, there is no standard certification body for Six Sigma. Some of the providers include American Society for Quality (ASQ), Boston University, International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), and Motorola Solutions.

Six Sigma White Belt 

Professionals with this certification level have a basic understanding of Six Sigma and are involved in problem-solving activities of Six Sigma projects. Six Sigma White Belt training is ideal for individuals who do not have a prior understanding of Six Sigma but are interested to know about its methodologies. Candidates have to attend online training and pass the exam of the respective certification provider to become Six Sigma White Belt certified. This certification comes with no prerequisites.

Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a credential offered by ASQ and is best suited for individuals who wish to gain a basic knowledge of Six Sigma. Professionals with a limited role in a Six Sigma team can benefit from this certification. It requires the candidates to qualify the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB) Exam, which consists of multiple-choice questions. The accreditation body offers material and training resources to prepare for the exam. 

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt 

This certification is offered by IASSC. Professionals learn how to apply DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) methodology and all the other aspects of Lean Six Sigma method. This certification is ideal for project managers, process owners, financial managers, and administrators who wish to apply Lean Six Sigma with a higher proficiency level. Candidates need to pass the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Exam to achieve this certification. While there are no prior conditions to take the exam, the candidates are expected to have some experience working in Lean Six Sigma projects.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt 

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, offered by IASSC, empowers individuals to manage projects involving complex improvements. Professionals can acquire an advanced understanding of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and all the aspects of the DMAIC model. They have the ability to train Green Belts within an organization and solve the complicated calculations of business processes. To pursue this certification, candidates need to pass the IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Exam.

Six Sigma Master Black Belt 

Six Sigma Master Black Belt, offered by ASQ, is a highly sought after certification among professionals. Black Belts excel at using Six Sigma tools, lead full-scale projects, and know the latest industry practices to ensure superior quality and improvement.  Candidates need to have some prior requirements along with qualifying the Master Black Belt certification exam. The requirements include:

  • At least 5 years of experience in the role of an SSBB or MBB.

OR

  • Completion of 10 Six Sigma Black Belt projects.

Benefits of Quality Management Certifications

The Six Sigma Certifications that we just elaborated on can greatly impact your career in the future. Adding such a credential in your array of skills will demonstrate your capability to work for the overall improvement and enhancing the quality of the products that a company offers. Professionals can also aim for leadership roles after getting certified in Six Sigma. An important decision here would be to decide which certification would be best suited as per your qualifications, interest, and current role in the organization. To know more about which certification would be beneficial for your career, you can check this article. 

Salary Prospects in the field of Quality Management

According to Payscale, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Certified professionals earn an average salary of $129,808 in the U.S. It has also been observed that Project Managers that are involved in process improvement methods of a project have better salary prospects. So, now is the right time to pursue a quality management certification and gain the necessary skills to acquire a leadership role in an enterprise. 

Final Words  

If you are willing to explore your opportunities in the field of quality management, then pursuing a certification is definitely worth your time and effort. If you are new to this field, then you can consider taking Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Training. The course will help you understand the Lean Six Sigma core principles, DMAIC methodologies, Six Sigma tools, and all the other necessary aspects. Attempting a certification exam would then be easier as the course will give you a detailed understanding of Six Sigma. So, start your journey in quality management today!