What is a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt?

A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification can be achieved by anyone who is new to the methodology and has a passion for learning. Entry-level employees who wish to learn more about Lean Six Sigma or the DMAIC process can become a Yellow Belt by taking a 2-day (16-hour) training. Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt professionals will be able to understand the concepts of Six Sigma and LEAN and assist the Green and Black Belts in projects. They are responsible for small projects that are managed using a simplified roadmap called PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act), or they can serve as a team member in more complex improvement projects led by a Certified Green Belt or Certified Black Belt, typically in a part-time role.

Who should get certified?

If you want to quickly gain a competitive edge in your organization without having to learn complex topics like statistics, then you should investigate earning a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. The certification allows you to manage unique projects and perform basic data analysis to find the root cause of a process problem. These skills and knowledge make them extremely valuable to an organization.

Free online lean six sigma white belt certification course
FREE White Belt certification course (a $99.99 value)

What are the responsibilities of a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt?

The Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification gives an overview of Lean Six Sigma, as well as basic methods for improvement. Certified individuals are expected to be able to use Lean Six Sigma methods to improve production and transactional systems to meet customer expectations and achieve organizational objectives.

Yellow Belt professionals are expected to be able to use Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve production and transactional systems to better meet customer and organization expectations.

Yellow Belts can be a part of a core team for a project. They are often responsible for small-scale process improvement projects using the PDCA process. These small-scale PDCA projects can be escalated to Black Belt or Green Belt levels if needed, where DMAIC methodology can be used to maximize cost savings using more advanced statistical tools.

Yellow Belt certification training introduces basic Six Sigma tools and process management. This gives the candidates a better understanding of processes and allows them to help achieve the organizational goals.  They receive a general overview of the Lean Six Sigma methodology which allows them to align with the company’s goals and intentions. 

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, what are the benefits to you?

Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification offers several benefits to individuals who seek to improve their knowledge and skills:

It is great for your resume!

Employers seek out team members with Lean Six Sigma certification for advancement. It shows that the employees understand basic root cause analysis tools and are committed to the DMAIC process.

High-salary potential.

The certification does not guarantee a higher wage, but you will be a more valuable worker to your employer. Employers are constantly on the lookout to find candidates who have a variety of skills. The employer will always look for someone who is able to accomplish more. Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts will give you an edge over others who do not have the certification.

Solve simple team-based problems in a localized area.

Everyone has seen localized problems which never get solved because nobody has the time or, more importantly, no one knows what they should do. We often try a few things, but when it still happens, we give up. Yellow Belts will use a structured method to solve these problems by tackling the root causes. This results in improved business performance and team morale.

It takes less time to get certified than Green pr Black Belt

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training is usually done over a period of two working days. This means that you won’t be away from your business for a long time to learn the basics. The benefits gained far outweigh the time spent. This is also a good stepping-stone if you want to move on to a Green Belt or Black Belt qualification.

Project success can be improved with the help of a Yellow Belt

There is no doubt that the likelihood of a successful project delivery increases if Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts are working with Green Belt or Black Belt leaders. This is not the only factor, but it is a particularly important one. The work needed for the project can be understood and carried out to achieve the best outcome.

A larger population of improvements.

The more improvement methods are used within your organization, the closer you will be to a culture of continuous improvement. Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt can be used to train a greater number of people on some of the basics. This is because it takes less time and costs less than Green Belt or Black Belt.

Gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of Lean Six Sigma

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts are familiar with the roles and responsibilities of all the people involved in the deployment of Lean Six Sigma. They understand basic Lean Six Sigma statistical and qualitative principles/tools like the FMEA, C&E Matrix, VSM, and Standard Deviation. They can act as support staff on process improvement teams to help higher-level belts.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, what are the benefits to an organizations?

Lean Six Sigma has a profound impact on every aspect of a business. It could mean improving staff services or putting in more effort on the final product. Lean Six Sigma can improve your business operations in many ways.

Customer satisfaction:

The term is used to describe the level of satisfaction a client has with a particular product. Lean Six Sigma techniques can be used to improve procedures and quality control. The final product will be better, and the client’s satisfaction will increase.

Customer loyalty:

Customers who are satisfied will return to make additional purchases. For a product to gain a loyal client, it must maintain a consistent quality.

Improved bottom-line:

Delighted customers spread positive word-of mouth recommendations. Satisfied customers return for more. All these factors lead to increased revenue.

Employee satisfaction:

Lean Six Sigma can unite employees behind a common goal. Lean Six Sigma gives leaders the opportunity to rationalize and explain their message. The improved results can foster a community spirit. It leads to better results.

Collaborations that work better:

If a company is successful, it will benefit other companies that are linked to it. This can lead long-term partnerships and to the adoption of Lean Six Sigma methods.

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt vs other certifications.

If you are seeking a certification, which should you choose? We know that yellow belts refer to a professional with a solid understanding of the Six Sigma methodologies’ basic concepts. They are trained to resolve process problems on a localized basis. They can also be responsible for small-scale Six Sigma initiatives or part of a large-scale team working on complex projects.

Let’s compare the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt to other belt levels.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belts

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is the next level, which will either work independently or as a leader of a team. Green Belts work as assistants for Black Belts and executives, or champions of large-scale projects. Green Belts will work with Black Belts on smaller projects in their field of expertise once they are qualified. These professionals will collect data, analyze the information, and then gather results. The level of authority they have for a project will determine the decisions that are made. They will use statistical data that has been professionally researched and proven to suggest improvements and changes to the way an organization is run.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belts

Black Belts are the leaders of the Six Sigma Methodology. They have the most expertise and knowledge. Black Belts are those who have received more intensive training and have a prominent level of expertise in Six Sigma methods and tools. They take on more demanding leadership roles that are in line with their level of experience and expertise. Black Belts tend to be the ones who are given full-time project management and leadership tasks.

Certified Black belts are also expected to coach and develop other managers for the company to achieve its goal. They lead the teams, and train others to become team leaders. Black Belts can lead teams effectively because they have a thorough understanding of Six Sigma Methodology and human behavior. Black Belts must be intuitive and work well with team members. It is important to identify the talents and skills of their team members so they can assign tasks to those that will achieve project goals most effectively.

Is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt worth it?
Is a Six Sigma Yellow Belt worth it?

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Is it worth it?

  • A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is a cost-effective and time-efficient way to become more valuable to your organization.
    • Normally a 16-hour course.
    • You will learn skills and knowledge that you can immediately use to solve problems in your everyday work environment.
    • The price for training is usually cost-effective when compared to the other more advanced Lean Six Sigma certifications.
  • Our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification is a globally recognized certification.
  • It is a stepping-stone to other more advanced Lean Six Sigma certifications like the Green Belt and the Black Belt.

How do I get certified as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt?

Certification by the International Association for Six Sigma Certification

The IASSC Yellow Belt is a proctored, closed-book exam that has 60 questions. There are two hours of time allowed. This is the first level of a hierarchy for education and training in both Lean Six Sigma (Six Sigma) and Lean Six Sigma. The Yellow Belt is a Level 3 qualification or “Advanced apprenticeship”, which is equal to two A-levels. This is a basic introduction of Lean Six Sigma methods.

The Yellow Belt is an excellent certification for team members and team leaders who are dealing with problems that arise in the local area. It can open the door to process improvement.

Both the IASSC Lean Six Sigma standards and certifications and ASQ Lean Six Sigma standards and certifications are widely recognized and respected in the Lean Six Sigma Industry.

The certification program is designed to be completed in one to three weeks by users who are new to the system.

Certification by The American Society for Quality (ASQ)

The ASQ Six Sigma Yellow Belt is a certification that will qualify you for a variety of positions within the business world. This is the first level of a hierarchy for education and training in both Lean Six Sigma as well as Six Sigma. In many industries, the certification is regarded as a sign of excellence in quality.

Non-members pay $394, while members pay $294. The cost of retaking the exam is $184. The 90-question exam has a duration of 2 hours and 18 minutes. The exam is scored 80/100.

This certification will allow you to qualify for more positions in modern business environments. The certification can also demonstrate your commitment to improve your analytical and business skills. 

Certification through Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.

Six Sigma Development Solution, Inc’s onsite 2-day Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification course is full of games, videos and simulations. We play with dice, Legos, and airplanes to make the Lean Six Sigma Methodology come to life. You will not be sitting down long.

Your team will be introduced to the basic concepts and tools of both Lean and Six Sigma. They will be able to participate as a core team member or subject matter expert (SME) on a Lean Six Sigma projects.

We use the Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt tools to take you through a detailed root cause analysis of your organization’s opportunities. We develop a project charter using a “Quad Chart”. We will use a SIPOC to verify our focus. We move on to a Value Stream Map to uncover waste. The team then develops a “Quick Change Process Map” to dig deep into the process. We then use Fishbone Diagrams to uncover the root causes of the issue. Last, we identify and prioritize improvements as well as develop a detailed project plan for implementation.

Course contents include:

  • LEAN and Six Sigma Concepts Overview
  • Using the Pareto Chart to Focus the Project
  • Developing the Project Charter
  • Showing Baseline Statistical Control and Capability
  • Completing the SIPOC to Ensure the Correct Focus
  • Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to Identify Waste
  • Using the “Quick Change Process Mapping Technique” for Process Discovery
  • Root Cause Analysis using the Fishbone
  • How to Select, Manage, and Control the Right Solutions
  • Showing Improved Statistical Control and Capability
LEGO Airplane Game
LEAN LEGO Airplane Game
MSA
Learning MSA
Process Mapping
Process Mapping

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification

Career opportunities and advancement with a Yellow Belt certification

Yellow Belt certification opens doors in many distinct roles, from Business Optimization Specialist and Supply Chain Manager through Process Analyst, Continuous Improvement Manager and Continuous Quality Engineering – to Operations Manager, Six Sigma Analyst Consultant and Process Improvement Analyst roles.

Quality Assurance Analyst-Yellow Belts can take part in project teams that conduct process improvement reviews or create process maps outlining steps and parameters of a process.

Yellow Belts can support green or black belt project leaders by managing smaller process improvement initiatives using the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) framework.

Yellow Belts have the capacity to find employment across many fields, including IT, sales, marketing, HR, quality assurance, accounting customer service operations.

Yellow Belts can improve stakeholder management and communication skills by getting to the root cause of problems rather than treating only their symptoms, managing performance with verified data while eliminating guesswork altogether.

What is the Salary of a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt?

According to Indeed, depending on their location, experience and employer, professionals with a Six Sigma yellow belt may earn between $70,000 and $80,000 per year, and the national average salary for a lean Six Sigma specialist is $99,653 per year.

In conclusion

A Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification can be used by anyone who is new to Lean Six Sigma and has a passion for learning the basics of the methodology. This acquired skill makes them extremely valuable to an organization and potential employers, and it is a great steppingstone for further training in the methodology which can lead to better jobs, promotions, and earnings.

Learn more about our Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification