I talked with a person today that was excited to start their Lean Six Sigma learning journey. They asked about training methods and certification methods.
During the discussion, we talked about the ASQ Green Belt certification. I guess I have been out-of-touch because I did not know the certification requirements. NO project is required!
ASQ requires five things to get a green belt certification as shown below:
- Operates in support of or under the supervision of a project sponsor or Six Sigma Black Belt.
- Analyzes and solves quality problems.
- Involved in quality or continuous improvement projects.
- Has at least three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge. Work experience must be in a full-time, paid role. Paid intern, co-op or any other course work cannot be applied toward the work experience requirement. Educational waivers are not granted.
- Has ability to demonstrate their knowledge of Six Sigma tools and processes.
You can see that leading an improvement project is not required. Does this list of 5 requirements mean that you will be good functioning Green Belt? Lets see
- Supports a black belt or is supervised by a black belt: This assumes that you work in an improvement role, but you could be in any role and meet this one.
- Analyzes and solves quality problems: Why just quality problems? No other performance problems are allowed? By the way, we all do this stuff when we proof or review letters and documents.
- Involved in improvement projects: This can mean they were on a team? The change impacted their work? Involvement does not equal leadership.
- Three years of paid full-time experience in at least one area of the GB Body of Knowledge: The body of knowledge requires a lot of useless areas, such as the history of process improvement. How about if the person performed data collection for three years, would that meet this requirement? Yes. This is another weak requirement that does not really say that the person is a functioning green belt.
- Demonstrates Green belt knowledge: This means they can take the test and pass it. The only real thing that needs to be completed to become an ASQ green belt. Pay them to take a test.
I guess I am really disappointed about this. Until now I have considered the ASQ certification tests requirements be equivalent to the good businesses and consulting firms. I was wrong for Green Belt. Now black belt does require the completion of two projects prior to taking the exam, which is reasonable.
If I was an employer, I would not consider an ASQ certified green belt as acceptable to fulfill an improvement role unless they could also demonstrate that they had led a DMAIC improvement effort. Not any improvement effort, but one that follows the DMAIC model.