Six Sigma is a methodology that utilizes statistical tools and concepts to identify variations or defects in a process. An Accredited Lean Six Sigma professional in Engineering indicates an individual has achieved a particular level of knowledge in the study and application of this methodology. This type of certification will make you a more valuable asset in any industry and enhance your career greatly. The roots of the Six Sigma Process are in the Engineering sector of business, in fact in the 1980s, a group of engineers developed the program for their company, Motorola. The whole point of the Six Sigma process is to find, diagnose, and fix errors or defects while increasing the quality and efficiency of products or services that exceed customer expectations. Six Sigma engineers look at each step of a process in a data-driven way to determine where defects are coming from and how they could be avoided or reversed, leading to a sustainable 6 sigma level of perfection, or less than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. This increases customer satisfaction and bottom-line profit –necessary measures of success for any company. Engineers have long been responsible for creating products as well as the processes used to manufacture those products. By giving an engineer the tools and mind-set they need to create positive quality-driven change in the workplace, they can better help the companies that employ them.
Cut Costs by Eliminating Errors
When it comes to Engineering, errors can be disastrous or deadly. For example, a chemical engineer cannot make mistakes when mixing certain chemicals, the aeronautical engineer can not make mistakes when designing airplanes for commercial travel, and a structural engineer cannot make mistakes when building a bridge to transport heavy loads. In these situations, the Six Sigma Methodology is not just helpful, but necessary to avoid dangerous mistakes.
Improve Quality
When it comes to Engineering, errors can be disastrous or deadly. For example, a chemical engineer cannot make mistakes when mixing certain chemicals, an aeronautical engineer cannot make mistakes when designing airplanes for commercial travel, and a structural engineer cannot make mistakes when building a bridge to transport heavy loads. In these situations, the Six Sigma Methodology is not just helpful, but necessary to avoid dangerous mistakes.
Increase Customer Loyalty
The process of eliminating errors in products naturally leads to improved quality. A specialized Six Sigma Certification in Engineering will allow an engineer to design a product or process from the start that is free of defects. This is a skill set that all of the leading manufacturers of the world know to invest in when it comes time to hire their employees.
Increased Employability and Salary Potential
Companies who utilize Six Sigma methods know the importance of quality, and the quality of their employees are at the top of the list. Six Sigma Certified Engineers are a resource that companies are willing to invest in. This is why salaries of Six Sigma Certified individuals are on average, significantly more than their non-certified colleagues. Almost every successful company needs an engineer; when that engineer is Six Sigma Certified, hiring personnel always take notice.
Improved Corporate Culture
Six Sigma improves the overall corporate culture within a company. Because of the hierarchy of Six Sigma Certified individuals, everyone knows their role and expectations within the company –and exactly how teams need to work together to bring about positive changes within a company. As these teams reach both short term and long-term goals, they form bonds that strengthen the overall company as a whole. Furthermore, as they start to see the results of their hard work (decreased defects, increased profits, and more loyal customers) the drive to continue to reach goals is fostered and rewarded. Six Sigma Certified Engineers can seamlessly join Six Sigma Teams already working on projects. This helps the Engineer in many ways including assistance in change management as well as company morale.