Which Certification to Choose? Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma

The Lean Six Sigma certification is a new addition to the Six Sigma certification. It's the latest evolution of the process improvement and quality management movement. Suppose you're considering a career in Quality Management. In that case, Six Sigma certification can help you prove your mettle and advance towards your goals.

Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma are two of the most popular methodologies for improving operations. This is because both heavily focus on analyzing data. However, lean Six Sigma is more about eliminating waste (wasting time and money) in the process, whereas Six Sigma is about improving productivity.

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a quality management system that focuses on processes and defects. Six Sigma aims to reduce the number of defects in your product or service to as close to zero as possible without compromising quality.

Six Sigma is an improvement methodology that many companies have proved to be an effective tool for managing quality, reducing costs, and increasing customer satisfaction.

The Six Sigma concept can be applied to any business process, but it's most commonly used in manufacturing or services. It usually involves three steps: Define the problem, develop the design and implement it.

What is Lean Six Sigma?

Lean Six Sigma is a concept created by the manufacturing industry to help them improve the efficiency of their processes. It is a handy tool for businesses, especially in improving their operations.

Lean Six Sigma is a set of tools and methods to eliminate waste from a process or system. Waste, in this context, means any activity or decision that does not add value to your company's processes, goals, or objectives.

Lean Six Sigma involves identifying and eliminating waste, allowing you to create more value while reducing costs and increasing profits.

When to choose Lean Six Sigma over Six Sigma?

When you choose Lean Six Sigma over Six Sigma, you will be able to focus on the customer experience and provide more value to your customers.

Lean Six Sigma is a practical method of reducing waste in any process. A complete management system focuses on eliminating defects before they enter the production line.

Lean Six Sigma aims to provide a continuous improvement program that improves processes at every stage of production.

Lean Six Sigma vs. Six Sigma

Level of Certification

Green Belt

1. Six Sigma

Eligibility: Candidates must have at least 3 years of experience in their field of expertise.

Examination: Pass a 100 marks multiple choice question paper in 4 hours.

2. Lean Six Sigma

Eligibility: IASSC has no prerequisite to sit in a Lean Six Sigma examination.

Examination: 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours with a minimum score of 385 out of 500 points.

Black Belt

1. Six Sigma

Eligibility: Candidates for this position do not have to have a Six Sigma Green Belt certification. However, they should have completed one or two projects and have at least 3 years of full-time work experience in their expertise.

Examination: Pass a 150 marks question paper of multiple-choice questions within 4 hours

2. Lean Six Sigma

Eligibility: No prerequisite is required.

Examination: You must pass 4hr of the MCQ examinations with a min score of 580 out of 750.

3. Master Six Sigma

Eligibility: Candidates should have a Six Sigma Black Belt certification and five years of work experience as a Six Sigma Black Belt or Masters Black Belt. They should have completed 10 Six Sigma Black Belt projects.

Examination: Portfolio

Lean Six Sigma or Six Sigma, which one is better?

Lean Six Sigma has benefits over Six Sigma, including:

• It is easier to implement than Six Sigma because it is not as complex.
• It requires less training than Six Sigma.
• Lean Six Sigma requires fewer people to run it than Six Sigma does.
• Lean focuses on reducing waste, whereas Six Sigma focuses on reducing defects.
• Lower cost per unit
• Higher productivity
• Better customer satisfaction
• Lean principles are applicable across all industries and can be implemented in many situations.

Conclusion

The fact is that Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma are used interchangeably, as both are different facets of the same process. However, in some circles of quality training organizations, arguments can be over which to choose. The key distinguishing factor is the level of expertise you wish to obtain.

For instance, one can be certified in Lean and get training for using the DMAIC structure without pursuing Six Sigma certification. Ultimately, you will have to decide which path is best for you. In either case, however, you will be better off undertaking any training in quality management systems.