Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Earn your Green Belt from the University of Michigan.
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Course Summary
| Instruction Time | Completion Time | CEUs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSS Green Belt In-Person | 5 days | 180 days | 4 |
| LSS Green Belt Remote-Live | Four 2-hour check-ins | 180 days | 4 |
| LSS Green Belt Online | ~ 120 self-paced hours | 180 days | 4 |
Learn how to effectively solve problems by integrating Lean and Six Sigma within the DMAIC approach. With a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, you can lay the foundation for sustained improvement.
Choose the option that best meets your needs from four unique Green Belt courses. Earn your certification in person or remotely, or choose an online program that focuses on healthcare, manufacturing, or transactional/service. Whatever path you take, your Green Belt will help you as you advance in your career.
Learning Objectives
Learning objectives are the same for all four courses. The healthcare, manufacturing, and transactional/service 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 Green 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 Green Belt course is offered as a week-long, in-person training once per year. The same course is also offered once per year in a remote-live format. The remote-live offering includes a mix of pre-recorded lectures and remote-live check-in sessions delivered over several weeks. The interactive live sessions offer the opportunity to engage with U-M faculty, ask questions, and network with other professionals.
View Sample Project
Online
The Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Transactional/Service online tracks have the same general course outline but use track-specific references and examples. Registration for the online courses is always open and you are able to learn at your own pace within 180 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
Healthcare 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/Service 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
Continuous Improvement Overview and Define Phase
- Integrating Lean-Six Sigma/DMAIC Process
- Overview of DMAIC Problem Solving Process
- Linking Metrics to VOC (voice of the customer) and VOB (voice of the business)
- Identifying Classic Forms of Waste
- Define Phase and Creating Effective Project Charters
- Process Mapping: SIPOC, Swim lane, Process Mapping Diagram
Measure Phase
- Basic Graphical Tools and Descriptive Statistics
- Measuring Current State: Exploring and Understanding Data Patterns
- Basic Data Collection, Sampling, and Graphical Analysis Tools: Run Chart, Histogram, Box Plot
- Rolled Yield Analysis
Analyze Phase
- Value Stream Mapping
- Qualitative and Quantitative Process Analysis
- Stratification Analysis: Grouping Variables, Bar/Pie Charts Pareto Analysis and Drill Down, Multiple Box Plots, Scatter Plot
- Check Sheets and Pareto Analysis
Improve Phase
- Introduction to Hypothesis Testing
- Lean-Six Sigma Process Improvement
- Lean-Six Sigma Improvement Countermeasures
- Standardized Work, Mistake Proofing, Visual Aids
- Process Flow Improvement: Little’s Law, Batch Reduction/One Piece Flow
- Setup Reduction
- Simple Pull Systems
- Simplified Process/Cell Layout
- Volume/Mix Leveling and Takt Time
Control Phase, DMAIC Review, and Executing a DMAIC Project
- Methods of Control
- Project Selection and Scoping
- Applying the Six Sigma Methodology and Course Summary
Time Commitment & Work Pace
In Person:
The in-person course consists of five days of classroom learning in Ann Arbor, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm daily. Students may be asked to complete minimal prework before each lesson. After successfully finishing the in-person course, students must complete the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Exam within 180 days.
Remote-Live:
The remote-live course consists of approximately 60 hours of self-paced work, in addition to four 2-hour remote live check-in sessions. All requirements — including a self-paced Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Exam — must be completed within 180 days after completion of the remote-live course.
Online:
The online course includes approximately 40 hours of lecture recordings and exercises and 10-30 hours of project work. In total, the course requires an estimated 60 self-paced hours. All requirements must be completed within 180 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 24 lecture modules with 22 exercises (multiple choice tests to complete after each learning module). 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 Green Belt Certification are required to:
- Complete all required online lecture modules
- Participate in remote live check-in sessions (remote-live offering only)
- Obtain an 80% or above on Green Belt Certification Exam
- Successfully complete a Green Belt Project (reviewed by U-M faculty)
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
A basic understanding of statistical analysis methods is recommended, including:
- Basic Microsoft Excel Skills
- Basic Statistics
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.
Complimentary Software
U-M’s Green Belt Certification courses include a copy of QE Tools statistical analysis software.
QE Tools is a user-friendly Excel add-in tool designed for Lean Six Sigma Green Belts. Students will use QE Tools to apply the various problem solving and statistical analysis methods both within the course and for their Lean Six Sigma project.
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 Green Belt
LSS Green Belt Online - Manufacturing
LSS Green Belt Online - Healthcare
LSS Green Belt Online - Transac/Service
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.
