Can a Six Sigma Yellow Belt take on Green Belt Projects?
We often get calls from various companies wanting an instructor to come to their organization to train Six SigmaSix Sigma Definition: Six Sigma is a set of techniques and t... Learn More... Yellow Belts. Before we answer the question, we ask “what is the purpose for the training?”.
The answer is often “to train the Yellow Belts so that they can take on Projects”. What they are really saying is that we want to train our people for one or two days and expect them to take on the role of a Green or Black BeltSix Sigma Black Belt A Certified Six Sigma Black Belt can be... Learn More....
This is a common mistake that can lead to a failed LeanLEAN Definition LEAN is a production method aimed primarily ... Learn More... and Six Sigma Deployment. The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is not considered a trained Six Sigma Change AgentA change agent encourages and facilitates change within an o... Learn More... (Lean and Six Sigma Green BeltThe Six Sigma Green Belt is a certificate that professionals... Learn More..., Black Belt or Master Black BeltThe utmost level in the Six Sigma hierarchy is the Master Bl... Learn More...).
In a Six Sigma deployment, the Six Sigma Yellow Belt does not take on Six Sigma projects. The Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a S.M.E (Subject Matter ExpertA subject-matter expert (SME) is a person who is a... Learn More...) who is trained as a Yellow Belt so they can effectively contribute as a Six Sigma project teamA project team level may consist of master black belts or gr... Learn More... member.
The S.M.E is the processThere are many ways to organize your lean six sigma processe... owner of the process that the Six Sigma team is investigating. There is usually more than one S.M.E. in a team. The S.M.E. (Yellow Belt) is the most important person on the team. The Change Agent relies on the S.M.E. for process knowledge and experience.

The Six Sigma Yellow Belt training is usually a 2 day training that educates the S.M.E. on the tools that they will be exposed to during the Six Sigma project.
The following topics/tools are discussed in Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.’s Six Sigma Yellow Belt course:
- Deployment roles of Lean and Six Sigma
- Six Sigma Project Definition (Project CharterWhat is a Six Sigma Project Charter? The project charte... Learn More...)
- Project Selection Process
- Process Mapping (SIPOCLean Six Sigma SIPOC stands for Suppliers' Inputs Process Ou... Learn More..., Value Stream MappingWhat is a Value Stream Map? Six Sigma's Value Stream Map is ... Learn More..., Variables Mapping)
- Input Prioritization Tools (Using the C&E Matrix)
- Failure ModeA failure mode is the manner in which a process could potent... Learn More... EffectIt's the change in the average value of the output caused by... Learn More... Analysis (FMEA)
- Basic Statistics
- Controlling the Process
Is your company tasking you with getting trained as a Six Sigma Yellow Belt so you can take on Six Sigma cost savings projects?