As the saying goes, “write what you know,” and in my case, my background is in IT. From my early days working on a service desk to running an entire organization’s IT strategy, my career has prepared me by familiarizing me with various methodologies such as ITIL/ITSM and project management frameworks like Scrum/Agile. These experiences have given me a deep understanding of IT operations, service delivery, and the importance of continuously improving processes. This knowledge has prepared me well for pursuing Lean Six Sigma certification, as it shares many principles with these other methodologies, such as a focus on process improvement, data-driven decision-making, and customer satisfaction, and not focused solely on IT processes like ITIL/ITSM, but that’s not why you’re here.

Even if you decide that you do not want the Lean Six Sigma certification for your entrepreneurial endeavors, I would still highly recommend taking the training. The skills and knowledge you gain can help you develop areas of improvement that you may not even know you needed. Lean Six Sigma principles can be applied to any industry or business process, and the training can help you identify and eliminate inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction. Additionally, the training will help you develop a data-driven mindset and learn how to make decisions based on facts and data rather than intuition or assumptions. These are valuable skills for any entrepreneur, regardless of their industry or business model. Even if you don’t end up using Lean Six Sigma in your business, the training can still provide valuable insights and help you become a more effective leader and problem solver.

Conceptualizing Lean Six Sigma

The Lean Six Sigma methodology has become a popular approach for organizations looking to improve processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. As I said previously, my background is in IT so I’ll be using that as my way of explaining the concepts, (don’t worry it’s a 10-mile high-level overview, but it just might pique your interest in learning about other topics discussed).

So, if you work in IT, you may be familiar with other frameworks, such as ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) and ITSM (IT Service Management), which are used to manage IT services and align them with business needs. The good news is that many of the skills and knowledge you already possess from working with ITIL and ITSM can be applied to Lean Six Sigma. Here’s an example of how your ITIL and ITSM experience can be applied to the different Lean Six Sigma belt levels:

1. White Belt Level At the White Belt level, you can start by learning the basics of Lean Six Sigma and its benefits. If you work in IT, you should already be familiar with ITIL’s Service Strategy, which is used to define and align IT services with business objectives. By applying Lean Six Sigma principles, you can identify inefficiencies in the IT Service Strategy, such as over or under-investment in certain services, and make recommendations for improvements.
2. Yellow Belt Level At the Yellow Belt level, you can start to contribute to process improvement projects by learning basic Lean Six Sigma tools. For example, if you work in ITSM, you may be familiar with Incident Management, which is a process used to restore normal service operations as quickly as possible. By using Lean Six Sigma tools, such as the Fishbone diagram (see example above), you can identify the root cause of incidents and suggest improvements to prevent them from recurring.
3. Green Belt Level To reach the Green Belt level, you will need to develop your leadership and project management skills. For example, if you work in ITIL’s Service Design phase, you may already be familiar with the importance of designing efficient and effective IT services. By leading a Lean Six Sigma project, you can use the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process to identify inefficiencies in the IT Service Design phase, develop data-driven solutions, and implement a control plan to sustain the improvements.
4. Black Belt Level To become a Black Belt, you will need to become an expert in process improvement and project management. For example, if you work in ITIL’s Service Operation phase, you may be familiar with the importance of using data to monitor and manage IT services. By using Lean Six Sigma techniques, such as Statistical Process Control (SPC), you can analyze the data collected from IT services and identify trends and patterns that indicate potential issues. You can then develop a solution that addresses the root cause and implement a control plan to ensure the process remains stable.
5. Master Black Belt Level At the Master Black Belt level, you will need to demonstrate strong leadership and strategic thinking skills. For example, if you work in ITIL’s Continual Service Improvement phase, you may be involved in strategic planning and performance management initiatives. By using Lean Six Sigma principles, you can identify improvement opportunities, set measurable goals, and use data to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of your initiatives.

Here is a list of resources you can use to learn more about Lean Six Sigma:

• Online training courses: Websites like Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning offer affordable online courses that cover the fundamentals of Lean Six Sigma.
• Books: There are many books available on Lean Six Sigma, including “Lean Six Sigma for Dummies” by John Morgan and Martin Brenig-Jones and “The Lean Six Sigma Pocket Toolbook” by Michael George.
• Webinars: Many Lean Six Sigma consulting firms and training organizations offer free webinars that cover specific topics related to the methodology.
• Certification programs: There are several organizations that offer Lean Six Sigma certification programs, including the American Society for Quality (ASQ), the International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC), and the Council for Six Sigma Certification (CSSC).
• Online communities: There are many online communities and forums where you can connect with other Lean Six Sigma practitioners and ask questions or share ideas. Some popular options include the Lean Six Sigma Group on LinkedIn and the Six Sigma Forum on Reddit.

In conclusion, Lean Six Sigma is a powerful methodology that can be applied to almost any industry or business process. Whether you’re working in healthcare, manufacturing, finance, or any other field, there are opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance customer satisfaction using Lean Six Sigma principles. By pursuing Lean Six Sigma certification or taking training courses, you can develop a valuable set of skills that will help you become a more effective problem solver and leader in your industry. Don’t be afraid to explore the possibilities of Lean Six Sigma and apply its principles to your particular industry. You may be surprised at how much it can improve your business processes and bottom line.