Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Earn your Black Belt from the University of Michigan.
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Course Summary
| Instruction Time | Completion Time | CEUs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSS Black Belt In-Person/Remote-Live | 10 days total | 365 days | 8 |
| LSS Black Belt Online | ~ 120 self-paced hours | 365 days | 8 |
Learn advanced analytical and problem solving techniques, and gain the skills to become a quality improvement leader. With a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, you can gain advanced continuous improvement and quality engineering analysis skills.
Choose the option that best meets your needs from three unique Black Belt courses. Earn your certification in person or remotely, or choose an online program that focuses on manufacturing or transactional/healthcare. Whatever path you take, your Black Belt will help you as you advance in your career.
Learning Objectives
Learning objectives are the same for all three courses. The manufacturing and transactional/healthcare online courses each focus on examples from those industries. The remote-live/in-person option focuses on examples from across industry.
- Understand variability through the graphical representation of data
- Describe a process visually through process mapping techniques
- Apply DMAIC problem solving process toward process improvement at the Black Belt skill level
- Interpret test results and draw conclusions based on data
- Develop recommendations and control plans to improve processes
- Complete a process improvement project outside of class that demonstrates the application of the full DMAIC methodology
Course Overview
In-Person / Remote-Live
The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course is offered as a two-week hyflex training. This means that in-class learning occurs in two separate weeks, typically about a month apart. Professionals can choose to attend in Ann Arbor or remotely.
View Sample Project
Online
The Manufacturing and Healthcare/Transactional Lean Six Sigma Black Belt courses are offered year round. Registration is always open, and you are able to learn at your own pace within 365 days of your start date.
Manufacturing Track:
This course focuses on applications primarily drawn from manufacturing companies. Project results include increased throughput, improved equipment utilization, reduced maintenance costs, and more. View Sample Project
Transactional/Healthcare Track:
Using examples and case studies, this course focuses on applications primarily drawn from office processes within both manufacturing and non-manufacturing organizations. Project results include reduced internal processing of transaction time, improved customer satisfaction scores, reduced service costs, and more.
View Sample Project
Course Outline
Six Sigma Overview and Define Phase
- DMAIC Problem Solving Process and DEFINE Phase
- Sampling, Descriptive Statistics, and Basic Graphical Tools (Run Chart, Histogram, Box Plot)
- Introduction to Minitab (Tutorial)
Process and Value Stream Mapping Analysis
- Process Maps (Review of SIPOC/Swim Lane, Current and Future State Maps)
- Value Stream Mapping (VSM) Analysis (Value Stream Process Redesign, Current State VSM, Value Add Timeline, Future State VSM)
- Value Stream Productivity Analysis (Takt, Nominal vs. Effective Process Time, Detractors, Operator Bar Charts, Capacity and Utilization)
Measuring the Current State
- MEASURE: Measure the Current State – Continuous Outputs (Yield, PPM Defective, Mean vs. Variation)
- Measure Current State – Defect Count Data (DPMO, Rolled Yield, Tabulation, Check Sheets, and Pareto)
- Minitab Tutorial – Measure Phase
- Measuring Current State Using Survey Methods
Statistical Process Control and Process Capability Analysis
- Assessing Process Stability: Variable Control Charts (X-Bar/Range, I/MR)
- Statistical Process Control: Attribute Charts (e.g., p-chart, u-chart)
- Minitab Tutorial – SPC
- Process Capability Analysis (Cp and Cpk) – Mean vs. Variation, Normal/Non-Normal Distributions
- Minitab Tutorial – Process Capability Analysis
Data Collection and Hypothesis Testing
- Data Collection and Qualitative Process Analysis (Data Collection, Cause and Effect, P-Diagram)
- Two Group Hypothesis Tests (F-tests, t-tests, 2 Proportion, ANOVA)
- One-Factor ANOVA – Operating Windows
- Power and Sample Size Planning
- Minitab Tutorial – Hypothesis Testing
Improve and Control
- IMPROVE Phase – Countermeasures and Short Term Verification
- IMPROVE Phase – Standardized Work and Load Leveling
- CONTROL – Methods of Control, Visual Controls, and Control Plans
- Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) – Improving Methods of Control (Detection)
Categorical Data Analysis and Transactional Measurement Systems Analysis
- Nonparametric Hypothesis Tests
- Categorical Data Analysis (Measures of Association)
- Minitab Tutorial – Categorical Data Analysis
- Transactional Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) (Sources of Measurement Error, Accuracy and Repeated Measurement Studies)
- Attribute Agreement Analysis
- Minitab Tutorial – Transactional MSA
Regression Analysis
- Two Variable Analysis – Simple Linear Regression/Correlation
- Multiple Regression/Stepwise Regression/Best Subset
- Binary Logistic Regression Analysis
- Minitab Tutorial – Regression Analysis
Design of Experiments and General Linear Model
- Multi-Vari Studies
- Principles of Design of Experiments (DOE)
- DOE – 2k Factorial
- Minitab Tutorial – DOE
- General Linear Model (GLM)
- Minitab Tutorial – GLM
Project Selection and DMAIC Gate Review Process
- Tolerance Analysis and Adjustment
- Project Identification and Selection Techniques
- DMAIC Project Management
- Course Summary and DMAIC Gate Review Process
Time Commitment & Work Pace
In-Person / Remote-Live:
The course spans two weeks total, with daily sessions running from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Students can choose to attend either in-person or remote-live. Students will have a blend of coursework to complete in and outside of class. After successfully finishing the course, students must complete the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Exam within 365 days.
All requirements must be completed within 365 days after your start date. If you do not complete the course within one year of your start date, you will be required to re-enroll at a reduced cost of $500.
Online:
The online course includes approximately 90 hours of lecture recordings and exercises and 20-40 hours of project work. In total, the course requires an estimated 120 self-paced hours. All requirements must be completed within 365 days of your start date. If you do not complete the course within one year of your start date, you will be required to re-enroll at a reduced cost of $500.
This is a self-paced online course consisting of 46 lecture modules with 10 exercises (multiple choice tests to complete after each learning module) and 2 case study assignments. Most lecture tapes are approximately one hour in length. While the course is self-paced, we recommend completing two sessions/week.
Project Information
Lean Six Sigma DMAIC analysis may be applied to a vast array of process improvement opportunities. Participants are expected to complete a project to practice and apply course concepts. Learn more about the DMAIC project.
Certification Requirements
Participants pursuing their University of Michigan Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification are required to:
- Participate in all course training days and successfully complete all in-class and online exercises and case studies (hyflex offering only)
- Complete all required online lecture modules (online offering only)
- Complete all testing exercises and case studies and obtain an overall cumulative score > 80%
- Obtain an 80% or above on Black Belt Certification Exam
- Successfully complete a Black Belt Project (reviewed by U-M faculty)
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
Participants are expected to have knowledge in statistical concepts and linear statistical models along with their application to data analysis. Recommended prerequisite topics include:
- Descriptive statistics
- Sampling and distributions (e.g., Normal)
- Simple linear regression and correlation
- Hypothesis testing
Successful completion of an undergraduate Statistics and/or Linear Statistical Models course is desired. Completion of Green Belt certification is desired but not required, especially if candidates have background in the above prerequisite topics.
Support
Administrative/Online Technical Support
Support staff are available via phone and email to help with administrative and technical issues during our normal business hours (Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time).
Content Questions/Certification Project Support
Candidates are welcome to contact the course instructors for content questions and project support. The instructors will provide support via email, phone consultation, and/or online videoconferencing.
In-Person/Remote-Live Course Access
In-Person/Remote-Live learners will receive access to both the online Green Belt and Black Belt courses to review for project work and exam preparation. Supplemental modules are available for topics including:
- Measurement Systems Analysis: Gage R&R Study
- Introduction to Sample Size Planning (Single Statistics, Margin of Error, CV)
- Complex Regression and Data Transforms
- DOE Fractional Factorial Designs, 3k Factorial, 2k w/ Center Points
- Pugh Concept Selection Process
Software Requirements
The assignment exercises and case studies involve the extensive use of Minitab (not Minitab Express) Statistical Software for analysis. Lectures and assignments are developed for Minitab or equivalent software (SPSS, STAT SOFT, SAS).
If your organization does not offer Minitab please email [email protected] and we will help provide access for this course.
Mac Users
- Install VMWare Fusion for Mac
- Create a Broadcom Account
- Visit the Broadcom Registration Page (https://profile.broadcom.com/web/registration).
- Complete the Registration Form by filling in the required details to create your account.
- Check your email for a verification code from Broadcom and enter the code on the verification page to confirm your email.
- Download VMware Fusion Pro for Personal Use
- Navigate to the VMware Fusion downloads page (https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware+Fusion).
- Click on the latest version of “VMware Fusion Pro for Personal Use”.
- Check the box next to “I agree to Terms and Conditions”.
- From the drop down menu, select “VMware Fusion Pro for Personal Use (For Intel-based and Apple silicon Macs)” and click the download button.
- The installer for VMware Fusion Pro will begin downloading.
- Create a Broadcom Account
- Create a Windows Virtual machine using VMWare Fusion.
- Install Minitab (Full version) inside the newly created Virtual Windows machine.
Six Sigma Content Subscription
Interested in maintaining access to course materials after you earn your certification?
Purchase a 1-year Six Sigma Content Subscription and retain access to your Canvas account.
LSS Black Belt
LSS Black Belt Online - Manufacturing
LSS Black Belt Online - Transac/Healthcare
Credentials
Digital Badge
Digital badge earned after successful completion of this certification.
Digital Certificate
Certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of this certification.
Instructional Team
Pat Hammett, PhD
- Lead Faculty, Six Sigma Programs
- Academic Program Director, ME-OPE
- Lecturer, College of Engineering
Don Lynch, Ph.D.
- Vice President of Quality, Strategy, and Transformation, SKF USA Inc.
Nicole Friedberg
- Lecturer, Mechanical Engineering
Luis Guzman, Ph.D.
- Lecturer, Industrial & Operations Engineering
Get Started
For more information or answers to any questions please email [email protected] or fill out the form.
