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When you walk into your kitchen to cook dinner, you\u2019re constantly moving, searching for the utensils and ingredients you need\u2026and they seem to be all over the place. You\u2019re wondering: How can I possibly have 12 different pots and pans, yet not find the ONE skillet I need?<\/p>\n
Does the painted picture sound familiar? (I can relate!)<\/p>\n
And wouldn\u2019t more efficiency\u2014with reduced effort\u2014be nice? (Of course).<\/p>\n
This is where Lean Six Sigma comes in. While the popular process improvement tool can be used in your personal life, it is typically applied in organizations all over the world to optimize operational performance. Dr. Serkan Varol, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at UTC, states, \u201cThe aim of Lean Six Sigma is to increase efficiency and productivity without sacrificing quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earning a Lean Six Sigma certification reaps many benefits, both personally and organizationally. Here are 12 reasons to consider certification and begin you and your organization\u2019s journey to greater efficiency.<\/p>\n
When creating this article, I spoke with Kenco Group\u2019s Director of Organization Effectiveness, Rebecca Wilson, on the value of Lean Six Sigma certification. One of the biggest personal benefits she highlighted is potential career advancement. \u201cGetting green belt certification can certainly help your career in terms of advancement, especially if you can lean back on a project,\u201d Rebecca said. Certification boosts your resume, and when you can not only hear but also APPLY what you\u2019ve learned, you set yourself apart from competitors. Rebecca said, \u201cWhen I interview people, I want to see how they execute the methodology.\u201d The skills you learn will be valued tremendously, and you can continue advancing your skill set by earning higher-level belts.<\/p>\n
The earlier kitchen example shows that when you can easily locate the items you need and reduce time wasted, your life is made easier on a daily basis. The same is true for individuals in their workplace. \u201cIf you can learn some of the basic lean principles, and that everything has a proper location,\u201d Rebecca said, \u201cthen your life is made much easier in many different ways.\u201d It may take time to learn how to use Lean Six Sigma tools like control charts and sampling processes. However, you\u2019ll shorten the time you spend on tasks if you take the time to learn how to use the tools up front.<\/p>\n
Unlike some certifications that limit you to one industry, Lean Six Sigma can be applied in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, finance, technology, and more. No matter what industry you work in, you can use Lean Six Sigma to create positive change in your organization. Lean Six Sigma certification is also globally recognized, meaning you can move across the world and still use your certification.<\/p>\n
Six Sigma Daily<\/a> writes that \u201cdata analytics are used to automate everything from manufacturing processes to handling government paperwork, and ideas gleaned from data help companies innovate production operations, customer service, and more.\u201d As data analysis has become more important in the manufacturing industry, professional needs to learn how to approach data with confidence. Lean Six Sigma equips individuals with a new perspective, evaluating data for trends and inconsistencies. And in turn, if you feel more comfortable with data, you\u2019ll also have\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cLean Six Sigma uses data to drive your decision making as opposed to making decisions based on feelings,\u201d Rebecca said. \u201c I always tell people learning Lean Six Sigma that when it comes to data, data doesn\u2019t have feelings. We don\u2019t do things because it feels right or because we believe it\u2019s right. We do things because we know that if we change something, a certain outcome will happen. I tell people that their gut is probably right, but we never want to get into a bad situation because we made a decision based on feelings.\u201d The more backing you have to your decisions, the more confidence you will have in your decisions.<\/p>\n Once you earn your green belt certification<\/a>, you are certified for life! There are no renewal certification exams or CPEs that must be completed later on. While individuals should definitely continue their education through professional development<\/a>, those working toward certification are often encouraged by the fact that they won\u2019t be taking an exam once a year for the rest of their lives\u2014especially if they have test anxiety.<\/p>\n \u201cLean Six Sigma is one of the most cost-effective methodologies to improve the operational performance of most organizations,\u201d said Dr. Seong Dae Kim, associate professor in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at UTC. The lean aspect of Lean Six Sigma is focused on waste reduction, and the Six Sigma aspect is focused on reducing variation\u2014finding ways to make processes as consistent and efficient as possible. When waste and variance is eliminated in a company, money will be saved as production and resource costs decrease. \u201cYou typically link projects to savings that are achieved at the company,\u201d Rebecca said. \u201cSo, for the company, that will always be a benefit of Lean Six Sigma.\u201d<\/p>\n Becoming Lean Six Sigma certified, you will learn how to effectively implement risk management strategies. If you identify risks and potential responses ahead of time, you are more prepared to handle crises\u2019 when they do arrive, creating a smaller margin for error. This also goes hand-in-hand with saving money; the less mess you have to clean up, the less money you spend on messes.<\/p>\n While there are many process improvement methodologies to choose from, Lean Six Sigma has proven to be effective because of the focus on the bottom line. Managers can use data to tangibly prove how Lean Six Sigma processes benefit the organization. For example, they can measure how less product was thrown away because product quality improved, or how overtime was reduced and products were made more efficiently. \u201cWhen you look at process improvement using Lean Six Sigma, you analyze the baseline, make improvements, and then you must prove that your improvement was the one that made the difference and drove change,\u201d Rebecca said.<\/p>\n Many organizations hold contracts that have a cost savings requirement (for example, reducing the contractor\u2019s invoice by 3% on an annual basis). \u201cIf you\u2019re using the appropriate amount of labor already,\u201d Rebecca said, \u201cthe only real way to reduce costs is through other means\u2026like process improvement.\u201d When you meet your key performance indicators, you are more likely to retain customers for the upcoming years. And if you continue to implement Lean Six Sigma and go above and beyond, even when things are going relatively well, you will not only retain but also highly impress your customer base.<\/p>\n During the sales process, you can boost client confidence and credibility in your organization by touting that your organization utilizes Lean Six Sigma. There are several aspects of Lean Six Sigma that can be advertised during the marketing process, such as \u201cwe have this number of certifications\u201d or \u201cwe have this number as our satisfaction rate.\u201d These aspects can position your organization levels above your competition. According to Seong, \u201cUnless the organization requires a high level of innovativeness, making their processes more efficient by eliminating hidden wastes can help the organization become more competitive!\u201d Trust is also built because your customers know you\u2019re striving to provide high-quality services and\/or products.<\/p>\n If all employees of an organization use the same process improvement method, then the company will be standardized across the board. When different parts of an organization use different methods in their work, things often get lost in translation. However, when everyone uses the same vocabulary, tools, and approaches to projects, confusion is less likely to be a problem.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re looking for career advancement or to simplify your day-to-day activity, to save more in your organization or improve your bottom line\u2014Lean Six Sigma can help you achieve your goal. And who knows, maybe your kitchen will become tidier after you are certified, too!<\/p>\n Many thanks to our guest contributors for sharing their Lean Six Sigma knowledge!<\/p>\n Rebecca Wilson<\/a>, PMP<\/p>\n Director of Organization Effectiveness at Kenco Group<\/p>\n Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt<\/p>\n Dr. Seong Dae Kim<\/a>, PMP<\/p>\n Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/p>\n University of Tennessee at Chattanooga<\/p>\n Dr. Serkan Varol<\/a><\/p>\n Assistant Professor, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/p>\n University of Tennessee at Chattanooga<\/p>\n The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers comprehensive Lean Six Sigma programs designed for working professionals to thrive in today\u2019s changing business environment. The courses draw on what Lean Six Sigma experts practice every day in the field to provide professionals with the most effective ways to learn and implement Lean Six Sigma.<\/p>\n UTC offers the following courses 100% online:<\/p>\n Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Workshop<\/a><\/p>\n Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (Exam Cost Included)<\/a><\/p>\n Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Exam Cost Included)<\/a><\/p>\n Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Exam Cost Included)<\/a><\/p>\n To see more lean courses, visit our course catalog<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marah Whitaker (think Laura with an M) serves as the marketing assistant for UTC Center for Professional Education. During the workday, she spends time writing blog posts, creating content for social media, developing email campaigns, and building relationships with CPE\u2019s customer base. During her free time, you can find her getting lost in a good book, having spontaneous dance parties, playing piano, and going to Buffalo Wild Wings on Wing Night. Professionally and personally, she aspires to live by Mr. Feeny\u2019s advice, \u201cDream. Believe. Try. Do Good.\u201d She strives to use her passions to serve others and contribute positively to the world around her.<\/p>\n\n
IMPROVED DECISION-MAKING SKILLS<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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LIFETIME CERTIFICATIO<\/strong>N<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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<\/p>\nORGANIZATIONAL BENEFITS<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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SAVE MONEY<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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REDUCE RISK AND ELIMINATE ERRORS<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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TANGIBLY PROVE YOUR BOTTOM-LINE IMPROVEMENT<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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RETAIN MORE BUSINESS<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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USE MARKETING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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STANDARDIZED SYSTEM<\/h4>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n![\"Rebecca](\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/files\/2020\/10\/rebecca-wilson-headshot.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Seong](\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/files\/2020\/10\/kim-seong-dae-revised-1-1.png\")
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\nABOUT UTC CPE\u2019S LEAN SIX SIGMA COURSES:<\/h3>\n
\nABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/h4>\n
![\"Marah](\"https:\/\/marvel-b1-cdn.bc0a.com\/f00000000184993\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/center-professional-education\/files\/2020\/06\/bio.png?x99666\")
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