Quality Engineer certification vs. six sigma training

F

floyd2511

#1
Hello all,

I'm in a bit of a dilema at the moment and could do with some advice. Let me explain my situation quickly.

Back in the days after high school I did an apprenticeship alongside college diploma in mechanical engineering (both in germany). After I sucessfully graduated, my employer at the time shoved me straight in the quality department as patrol inspector. At the time it was a win/win situ because they needed an additional inspector, and I was young and needed the money:notme:.
Now, over ten years later and working for an employer in the UK, I'm still in Quality and have gathered a considerable amount experience and had quite a bit of certified training in internal quality systems auditing, metrology and so on.
In my current role I'm employed as a "Quality Engineer" where the term "engineer" is purely based on experience rather than actual qualification.
That is something I would like to change, but I'm not quite shure how to approach this.

Here's my question (finally :))
In this day and age, would I benefit more from becoming a certified quality engineer or a six sigma green/black belt?
Both approaches seem to teach the same skills and tools (most of which I already use everyday anyway).
I have read, in some of the discussions in this forum, that employers especially in north america expect six sigma qualification as a minimum requirement. Since I am hoping to relocate to canada one day that aspect is of high importance to me.

Can anyone help please?
 
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Jen Kirley

Quality and Auditing Expert
Staff member
Admin
#2
Welcome to The Cove!

The virtues and pro/cons of certified quality engineering/6S cert have been energetically debated here before. A couple of the threads linked at the bottom of this page offer examples.

I can personally attest to seeing advertisements list the 6S far more than certified quality engineer. This is in part true because people outside of the QA field (like project managers) can become 6S certified. So I see 6S on the wish list in various ads, while CQE is mentioned but once in awhile, and then as an option for 6S.
 
F

floyd2511

#3
Thanks for your reply:thanx:

So you think that going the six sigma route would make more sense, considering the given circumstances that I'm basically a QE already (in practice, not on paper).
By getting 6s certified I would build on the foundation that is my experience.

I find it all very confusing and its really difficult to figure out what the next step in my career should be, but it certainly helps to have an independent opinion.

Thanks alot for that!!!:agree1:
 

Stijloor

Staff member
Super Moderator
#4
Thanks for your reply:thanx:

So you think that going the six sigma route would make more sense, considering the given circumstances that I'm basically a QE already (in practice, not on paper).
By getting 6s certified I would build on the foundation that is my experience.

I find it all very confusing and its really difficult to figure out what the next step in my career should be, but it certainly helps to have an independent opinion.

Thanks alot for that!!!:agree1:
Even though some Covers here have serious concerns about Six Sigma, you made the right decision to pursue 6S certification. Apparently that's what the market is asking for. You may never get to do a 6S project, but it gets you in the door and that's what counts in these tough and trying times.

BTW, there's a lot of good stuff about 6S here at The Cove Forums. Pro and Con. ;)

Good luck to you and Happy Easter.

Stijloor.
 
J

Just Askin

#5
Floyd2511,

I think you've been given some good advice, but please understand...as Stijloor said, "...gets you in the door...". You still have to perform once you get there. I look at certifications as simply marketing, either for me or my company, and I picked up a 6S certification. But eventually, I had to perform. I suggest that if you're unsure of the tools and techniques, get the best training you can. If you feel pretty comfortable, go with something less so, but one that "sounds good".

Walt
 
F

floyd2511

#6
Even though some Covers here have serious concerns about Six Sigma, you made the right decision to pursue 6S certification. Apparently that's what the market is asking for. You may never get to do a 6S project, but it gets you in the door and that's what counts in these tough and trying times.

BTW, there's a lot of good stuff about 6S here at The Cove Forums. Pro and Con. ;)

Good luck to you and Happy Easter.

Stijloor.

Thanks for replying, I'll definitely be browsing the cove for info on 6s.

:thanx: Floyd
 
F

floyd2511

#7
Floyd2511,

I think you've been given some good advice, but please understand...as Stijloor said, "...gets you in the door...". You still have to perform once you get there. I look at certifications as simply marketing, either for me or my company, and I picked up a 6S certification. But eventually, I had to perform. I suggest that if you're unsure of the tools and techniques, get the best training you can. If you feel pretty comfortable, go with something less so, but one that "sounds good".

Walt
Hi Walt,

I completely agree, I don't want to talk the talk without walking the walk anyway.
Can you say anything about the importance of which organization you obtain your 6s training from.
I've read somewhere on the cove that some certifiers are dodgier than others which apparently also makes a difference to potential employers.

Thanks for replying

Floyd
 
B

Bill Pflanz

#8
Why not think about getting a Six Sigma certification from ASQ? This would be dependent on whether it is available in the United Kingdom. But beware that the ASQ certification is difficult and requires almost as much study as the CQE. The benefit is that you will learn useful theory and methods that are used by CQE's and still get the title of SSBB.

Bill Pflanz
 
F

floyd2511

#9
Why not think about getting a Six Sigma certification from ASQ? This would be dependent on whether it is available in the United Kingdom. But beware that the ASQ certification is difficult and requires almost as much study as the CQE. The benefit is that you will learn useful theory and methods that are used by CQE's and still get the title of SSBB.

Bill Pflanz
Hi Bill,

Thanks for the recomendation.

I have actually already been looking at ASQ certification. I don't know wether it is available in the UK or not but that shouln't be too difficult to find out. Right now however I'm hoping to get on one of our customers 6S programs. If that fails (which will be the case if our management can't see a instant benefit :notme:) I'll certainly look into ASQ.

Thanks alot

Floyd
 
R

ralphsulser

#10
Why not think about getting a Six Sigma certification from ASQ? This would be dependent on whether it is available in the United Kingdom. But beware that the ASQ certification is difficult and requires almost as much study as the CQE. The benefit is that you will learn useful theory and methods that are used by CQE's and still get the title of SSBB.

Bill Pflanz
I suggest you get both, the 6S first then the CQE
 
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