Six Sigma Yellow Belt (SSYB)

The Six Sigma Yellow Belt (SSYB) certification is an entry-level credential that validates your foundational knowledge of Six Sigma, a methodology for continuous improvement and process optimization. Earning this certification demonstrates your ability to:

• Identify and understand basic Six Sigma concepts.
• Apply basic tools and techniques for data analysis and process improvement.
• Contribute to Six Sigma projects as part of a team.

Who Should Get This Certification?

The SSYB certification is ideal for a variety of individuals, including:

• New Entrants to Process Improvement: Those seeking to launch their careers in quality management or continuous improvement.
• Entry-Level Business Analysts: Gaining a foundational understanding of Six Sigma to complement their analytical skills.
• Team Members in Improvement Projects: Individuals who want to contribute effectively to Six Sigma projects led by experienced professionals.

Prerequisites

There are typically no formal prerequisites for obtaining the Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. However, basic computer literacy and familiarity with data concepts would be beneficial.

Roles and Responsibilties

While the exam focuses on the fundamentals of Six Sigma, the skills you gain can be applied to various roles involved in process improvement:

• Quality Specialists: Assisting with data collection, analysis, and improvement initiatives aligned with Six Sigma methodology.
• Project Management Teams: Contributing to Six Sigma projects as part of a cross-functional team.
• Non-Management Staff: Understanding and applying basic Six Sigma tools to improve their own work processes.
• Business Process Analysts: Utilizing Six Sigma principles to identify areas for process improvement and efficiency gains.

Exam Details 

• Exam Duration 2  hours and 18 mins
• Exam Format Multiple Choice and Multi-Response Questions
• Exam Type Entry-Level
• Number of Questions 85 Questions (Out of which 10 are unscored)
• Eligibility/Pre-Requisite NIL

Course Outline

I. Six Sigma Fundamentals (20 Questions)

A. Six Sigma Foundations and Principles

Describing the purpose of Six Sigma (reducing variation), its methodology (DMAIC), and its evolution from quality. Describing the value of Six Sigma to the organization as a whole. (Understand)

B. Lean Foundations and Principles

Describing the purpose of lean (waste elimination) and its methodologies (just-in-time, poka-yoke, kanban, value stream mapping) and the value of lean to the organization as a whole. 

C. Six Sigma Roles and Responsibilities

‘Define and Describing the roles and responsibilities of Six Sigma team members (i.e., individual team members, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt, process owner, champion, sponsor). 

D. Team Basics

1. Types of teams

Identify the various types of teams that operate within an organization (i.e., continuous improvement, self-managed, and cross-functional) and their value.

2. Stages of development

Describing the various stages of team evolution: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. 

3. Decision-making tools

Define brainstorming, multivoting, and nominal group technique (NGT), and Describing how these tools are used by teams. 

4. Communication methods

Explain how teams use agendas, meeting minutes, and project status reports, and how they support project success. 

E. Quality Tools and Six Sigma Metrics

1. Quality tools

Select and use these tools throughout the DMAIC process: Pareto charts, cause and effect diagrams, flowcharts, run charts, check sheets, scatter diagrams, and histograms. 

2. Six Sigma metrics

Select and use these metrics throughout the DMAIC process: defects per unit (DPU), defects per million opportunities (DPMO), rolled throughput yield (RTY), cycle time, and cost of poor quality

II. Define Phase (14 Questions)

A. Project Identification

1. Voice of the customer

Define the voice of the customer and Describing how customer needs are translated into quantifiable, critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics. 

2. Project selection

Describing how projects are identified and selected as suitable for a Six Sigma project using the DMAIC methodology. 

3. Stakeholder analysis

Identify end users, subject matter experts, process owners, and other people or factors that will be affected by a project, and Describing how each of them can influence the project. 

4. Process inputs and outputs

Use SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process, outputs, customers) to identify and define important elements of a process. (Apply)

B. Project Management (PM) Basics

1. Project charter

Describing the purpose of a charter and its components: problem statement, project scope, baseline data, and project goal. 

2. Communication plan

Explain the purpose and benefits of a communication plan and how it can impact the success of the project. 

3. Project planning

Define work breakdown structure (WBS) and Gantt charts, and Describing how they are used to plan and monitor projects. 

4. Project management tools

Select and use various PM tools: activity network diagrams, affinity diagrams, matrix charts, relations charts, and tree diagrams. (Understand)

5. Phase reviews

Explain how tollgate or phase reviews are used throughout the DMAIC life cycle. 

III. Measure Phase (15 Questions)

A. Basic Statistics

Define, calculate, and interpret measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of dispersion (standard deviation, range, variance).

B. Data Collection

1. Data collection plans

Describing the critical elements of a data collection plan, including an operational definition, data sources, the method to be used for gathering data, and how frequently it will be gathered. Describing why data collection plans are important. 

2. Qualitative and quantitative data

Define and distinguish between these types of data. (Understand)

3. Data collection techniques

Use various data collection techniques, including surveys, interviews, check sheets, and checklists to gather data that contributes to the process being improved. 

C. Measurement System Analysis (MSA)

1. MSA terms

Define precision, accuracy, bias, linearity, and stability, and Describing how these terms are applied in the measurement phase.

2. Gauge repeatability and reproducibility (GR&R)

Describe how and why GR&R is used in the measurement phase. 

IV. Analyze Phase (17 Questions)

A. Process Analysis Tools

1. Lean tools

Define how 5S and value analysis can be used to identify and eliminate waste. 

2. Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)

Define the elements of severity, opportunity, and detection, and determine how they are used to calculate the risk priority number. Describing how FMEA can be used to identify potential failures in a process. 

B. Root Cause Analysis

Describing how the 5 Whys, process mapping, force-field analysis, and matrix charts can be used to identify the root causes of a problem. 

C. Corrective action

Explain and apply elements of the corrective action process: identify the problem, contain the problem (interim action), determine the causes of the problem and propose solutions to eliminate it or prevent its recurrence (permanent action), verify that the solutions are implemented, and confirm their effectiveness (validation). (Apply)

D. Preventive action

Explain and apply elements of a preventive action process: understand various process analysis techniques to identify potential failures, defects, or process deficiencies; improve the process (e.g., understand error- or mistake-proofing devices or methods, initiate procedural changes), and verify the effectiveness of the preventive action. (Apply)

E. Data Analysis

1. Basic distribution types

Define and distinguish between normal and binomial distributions and Describing how their shapes (skewed and bimodal) can affect data interpretation.

2. Common and special cause variation

Describing and distinguish between these types of variation. 

F. Correlation and Regression

1. Correlation

Describing how correlation is used to identify relationships between variables. (Understand) 

2. Regression

Describing how regression analysis is used to predict outcomes. (Understand)

G. Hypothesis Testing

Define and distinguish between hypothesis terms (i.e., null and alternative, type I and type II error, p-value and power). 

V. Improve and Control Phases 

A. Improvement Techniques

1. Kaizen and kaizen blitz

Define and distinguish between these two methods and Describing how they can be used to make improvements to any process in an organization. 

2. Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle

Define and distinguish between the steps in this process improvement tool. 

3. Cost-benefit analysis

Explain the importance of this analysis and how it is used in the improve phase. 

B. Control Tools and Documentation

1. Control plan

Describing the importance of a control plan for maintaining improvements. 

2. Control charts

Describing how X-R charts are used for monitoring and sustaining improved processes. 

3. Document control

Describing the importance of documenting changes to a process and communicating those changes to stakeholders.