Understanding The Role And Significance Of Belt Colors

For anyone familiar with the belt color system in the Martial Arts, especially Karate, understanding the belt system of Six Sigma will be much easier. This is one of the unique differences that make Six Sigma unique and a stand alone in any business environment situation. The efforts of each individual are ranked in standing or training and where they rank compared with other trained individuals within a company project process and in relation to other co-workers or belts. The tiered structure of the system is designed to make everyone aware of their place and importance in the process and ensure that everyone is on the same page, paragraph and sentence. The belts and their specific roles are as follows.

Let's examine the role and importance of the Master Black Belts. This is the very top tier level position in the Six Sigma structure and are usually made up of top managers within the company. They are Six Sigma organizers and developers within the company infrastructure that is also concerned with helping everyone understand their roles, and assessing the process, including implementing changes periodically. They also wear the employee coaching hat concerning strategies because they are the most informed about the process at hand.

Descending down the tier to the next level which is Black Belts. This is the station of managers as well. They also do employee training and report information from the higher level Master Black Belts to a lower level Green Belt. They routinely make decisions, answer questions and solve problems at their tier level in addition to receiving guidance from the Master Black Belt level.

Green Belts - These individuals are the implementers. They help to make sure Yellow Belts understand what they need to do on their level but they also strategize with the higher ups and try to come up with the goals and changes that need to be made. As they see specific things working or failing to work on their level and from what they learn from the Yellow Belts they point out these issues to the Black Belts and help to implement more effective changes.

Yellow Belts - These are the front end employees and usually those that have the greatest impact on the 6 Sigma process. Their perspective is extremely necessary because many times the employees in these roles have a much better idea then their higher ups about the changes that are warranted and can also provide the most feedback about the implementation of such changes on a more practical level. The Six Sigma belt system helps to involve all employees in the implementation process. Allowing every employee to not only understand the changes that are being made but also to have a say in the implementation of these changes helps to create a more cohesive business structure.

Details about Six sigma training is available online and is easy to find. You will be amazed by all that Six sigma can do for your business.