Six Sigma is a reliable and proven way for businesses and corporations to reduce wasteful spending and streamline their processes. This integrated approach to the pursuit of improving customer satisfaction is based in a data-driven, disciplined environment. Six Sigma training focuses on preparing specialists to develop and hone their skills at gathering, analyzing and applying their data to reduce waste, defects, errors and customer service failures. Six Sigma is not exactly a job in and of itself, but a specific role carried out according to the requirement of an employer.
Six Sigma certification training is divided into several categories, including Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Black Belt. There is also the opportunity to pursue healthcare-specific Six Sigma training.
An increasing number of organizations of all sizes are making the move to hire Six Sigma professionals as permanent employees or consultants, and there are a number of rewarding career paths worth exploring once you have completed your Six Sigma training. While many companies are opting to train their existing employees in Six Sigma methodologies and concepts, others are exploring their external options and hiring Six Sigma professionals to perform an organization-wide, full-scale implementation.
The job titles associated with Six Sigma will vary depending on the organization’s requirements. Some of these positions may include:
- Six Sigma Analyst
- Six Sigma Black Belt
- Six Sigma Consultant
- Director of Operational Excellence
- Functional Project Lead
- Senior Project Manager
- Six Sigma Projects Manager
- Business Process Manager
- Lead Analyst/Project Manager
The above-mentioned titles typically refer to a Six Sigma professional who has completed his or her Black Belt certification. The professionals in these positions have had necessary training in Six Sigma methodologies as well as experience with cross-functional process improvement.
The healthcare field has nearly endless possibilities with Six Sigma. While Six Sigma has long been used in the corporate world, its healthcare applications are a bit different, requiring a thorough understanding of how the Six Sigma tools and methodologies transfer to the people-oriented processes of caring for patients. Essentially, the most worthwhile uses of Six Sigma in healthcare are:
- Shortening lengths of stay
- Improving care for patients
- Preventing medical errors
- Decreasing mortality rates
- Decreasing medical supply waste
With the passing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more than $147 billion in funding to healthcare over the next several years will become available. This funding makes it possible to apply Six Sigma to the previously listed target areas. It will also help generate savings through the improvement of patient outcomes, a decrease in medical errors, a reduction in waste and the detection, prevention and management of chronic diseases.
The manufacturing field is also known to actively seek Six Sigma professionals to fill positions such as:
- Reliability engineer
- Operating system specialist
- Lead manufacturing engineer
- Warehouse operations manager
- Project engineer
- Compliance structural engineer
Six Sigma significantly improves a business’ performance in management, design, service, production and customer satisfaction. Despite today’s shaky economic climate, Six Sigma professionals remain the shining stars for many companies seeking to improve their products, processes and customer experience.
