Can a Six Sigma certification boost your earning potential?

What do companies such as Amazon, 3M and Ford have in common? All three have applied Six Sigma methodologies to bolster their performances. If large companies can benefit from from it, so can you.

ProjectManager.com described Six Sigma as “a disciplined, data-driven approach or methodology to project management that eliminates defects in any process.” They add: “Six Sigma mostly measures [the] quality of manufacturing output, but also [the] quality of products and services.”

Companies such as Boeing and the US army and the marines have applied it and found success with the approach. Still, Six Sigma isn’t the standard across all aspects of these companies — it can be used where needed and show positive results, notes the portal.

As companies are always on the lookout to improve business processes within the organisation and save cost, a certification in the field could come in handy to validate your skills.

Should you get certified in Six Sigma methodologies?

Six Sigma certifications come in various levels: White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. They can be obtained through an accreditation body like the International Association of Six Sigma (IASSC) and the American Society for Quality (ASQ). 

Some universities also offer certifications in the field. The University of New South Wales, for instance, offers a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course that aims to build on your existing capability to prepare you to lead organisation-wide initiatives.

Purdue University offers the following courses online: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Principles, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Six Sigma Green Belt Refresher. Six Sigma certifications can be completed online or at testing centres.

There are many reasons to get certified. For starters, it can be beneficial to develop tools and techniques that can help improve the processes within an organisation.

Reports note that Six Sigma methodologies can help organisations identify and eliminate errors that would otherwise have led to poor customer satisfaction and profit losses. A Six Sigma certification can make you an asset to an organisation when you can solve challenges and make an impact within the company.

Meanwhile, the average Six Sigma Green Belt salary is US$107,000 as of May 27, 2021, but the range typically falls between US$86,800 and US$113,000. 

They add that salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. 

The data suggests it pays to get certified, especially with more advanced courses.