Can Six Sigma be self taught? Serious Question.

ScottK

Not out of the crisis
Staff member
Super Moderator
#11
Simple answers (a miracle for me!):
  1. Learn 6S (sure- no requirement to take a class to sit for or pass ASQ SSBB certification) Several good sources for the "booklearning" are available - use the ASQ list on the certification pages (http://www.asq.org/certification/apply.html) and (http://www.asq.org/certification/six-sigma/references.html) and check the ASQ Discussion Forum on Certification for personal recommendations (http://www.asq.org/discussionBoards/forum.jspa?forumID=52)
  2. Complete 6S project (required for ASQSSBB) - if you can fit the project into the ASQ form and get a responsible party to attest to completion, you are in!

that's exaclty what I have in mind for some resume padding.
 
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ScottK

Not out of the crisis
Staff member
Super Moderator
#12
:uhoh: Discordian, I missed an essential part of your OP above. Sorry!! Given your actual question above, my posts are not relevant, and may come across quite haughty.

To answer your real question, probably very little. I would love to study under a master BB OJT if I had the chance, but our organization does not do SS.

I happen to know some of the local people teaching the classes, and they are quite knowledgeable in the area. I would benefit from them; I just don't have the time right now for the classes.

Are you wanting to do SS? Not saying you have to have it, but have you considered taking the certified SS exam? May be a piece of mind for you, and possibly get you in at a decent pay level at a SS organization.

Just some thoughts.

In all honesty I don't think I NEED and SS cert.
I'm doing pretty well without.
But having it on the resume helps get past the gatekeeper when looking for new opportunities, and in NJ you ALWAYS have to be looking for new opportunities (usually to try to get out of NJ ;) )
 
B

Bill Pflanz

#15
Really. I'm not being facetious.

Can one teach oneself 'six sigma' and then do a black belt project of one's own volition?
The problem with answering the question lies in what is meant by "six sigma". If it is defined as the 4 week, $20,000 course that has been shopped around, you probably have enough knowledge that it would be more of a refresher than learning anything new. If it is defined as the body of knowledge needed to pass the ASQ exam, you may have to do some more studying. Of course, with enough experience even that could be done self study.

The other part of your question relates to what it means to do a black belt project. Some courses and companies require a certain format with defined signatures and some estimate of the financial benefits. For ASQ, you could do almost any improvement project using any quality techniques that you have learned and getting your boss or someone from management to sign it.

Even a certification may not help you in a job search since you may be in an interview with someone who has no experience except for the 4 week course where they bought their paper certificate. Do you really want to work at a company where six sigma improvement is just the current management fad?

Bill Pflanz
 
W

WALLACE

#16
I work with a lot of well educated engineers (OEM), who have excellent book knowledge regarding the tools and techniques of SS. SS can be self taught but, the whole package is prisoner to the constraints of organizational beurocracy regarding the pecking order of the belt system.
I can say by experience, many of the non engineers who have used learning systems such as Jay Arthurs Six sigma simplified had more of a theoretical and practical knowledge of Six Sigma than qualified engineers.
Just my thoughts.;)
Wallace.
 

ScottK

Not out of the crisis
Staff member
Super Moderator
#17
The problem with answering the question lies in what is meant by "six sigma". If it is defined as the 4 week, $20,000 course that has been shopped around, you probably have enough knowledge that it would be more of a refresher than learning anything new. If it is defined as the body of knowledge needed to pass the ASQ exam, you may have to do some more studying. Of course, with enough experience even that could be done self study.

The other part of your question relates to what it means to do a black belt project. Some courses and companies require a certain format with defined signatures and some estimate of the financial benefits. For ASQ, you could do almost any improvement project using any quality techniques that you have learned and getting your boss or someone from management to sign it.

Even a certification may not help you in a job search since you may be in an interview with someone who has no experience except for the 4 week course where they bought their paper certificate. Do you really want to work at a company where six sigma improvement is just the current management fad?

Bill Pflanz
It's a gatekeeper thing, not a company cutlure thing.

There are way too many gatekeepers, who really don't know anything about the job itself, that won't even let you pass on to the people who know anything unless they see SIX SIGMA _______ BELT somewhere on your resume.
 

Bev D

Heretical Statistician
Staff member
Super Moderator
#20
do it.

as you say - its' just to get past the gatekeeper (without lying)
the key as I've found is to be bale to clearly articulate your approaches and provide solid examples of how you have solved problems in a methodical way...worked for me!
 
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