American Society for Quality (ASQ)
Six Sigma Certification
The American Society for Quality (ASQ) Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification provides value to potential employers through reduced costs, increased revenue, streamlined business processes, and improved employee buy-in, which all lead to a better bottom line. Six Sigma provides value to our students by improving skill sets for in demand positions, displaying commitment to improving business acumen, preparing students for leadership roles, and increased earning potential.
Six Sigma is a structured and disciplined process designed to consistently deliver quality products and services, with the aim to improve the bottom line by eliminating mistakes in business processes. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt (CSSYB) is designed for entry-level employees who seek to improve analytical and leadership skill sets that qualify them for more positions within modern business environments. Common job functions include administrator, champion, executive, first-line operator, inspector, junior-level employee, manager, project manager, quality analyst, and representative. Common industries include education, energy, government, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, medical device, military, pharmaceutical, and service. Six Sigma professionals continue to be in demand, as companies worldwide seek to cut costs, improve processes, and decrease waste. Countless employers see hiring Six Sigma belts as an investment that offers a high return because they know how to achieve more using fewer resources.
Hear from Our Students
Find out what goes into preparation for the Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification from 大众彩票 students who have shared their experience.Why I suggest this certification
I strongly encourage you to consider a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification even if you are not an Operations Management or Business Analytics Major because the skills you will learn can be applied to various aspects of work and life to drive improvements and efficiency. Not only this, but having this certification on your resume can make you a more attractive candidate for job opportunities and promotions as Yellow Belt training equips individuals with the skills to collaborate effectively in a team setting. Through this experience, I have gained an awareness for quality in all aspects of work as well as several problem-solving techniques that have helped me during my internship.
My Experience
I registered for the test in March and took my exam in May at the Prometric Testing center in Clarks Summit, PA the weekend school ended. I used a study guide lent to me by fellow student, Christina Piscitelli and the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt book by Govind Ramu with Dr. David Mahalak, 大众彩票, let me borrow for studying for the test. I studied about a month in advance (a new chapter each week) and treated it like another course at the end of my semester and I felt this prepared me very well. Having an open book is a great bonus. I actually had a flat tire 3 minutes out from the testing site but the people at Prometric were very helpful and encouraging. The celebration after with them was sweet.
Signing up for the Exam
- To sign up for the test you need to submit an application a month in advance. Keep in mind that testing windows are every other month. Application process is easy. Once application is approved, register for test date.
- I recommend receiving an ASQ Certification as they are widely and globally recognized and respected in the field of quality management and improvement.
- No prerequisite or experience is required for Yellow Belt Certification.
- Must select a Prometric testing center near you or take the computer delivered option (10 more questions).
- Testing fee is $422.
Exam Material
The test is to prove your basic knowledge of process improvement. Topics on the test are as follows but not limited to
History of Six Sigma, Basics of Lean, DMAIC, 5S, Maps of Value Streams, Control Charts.
Test Day
- One-part, 80 questions
- 2 hour exam taken on provided computer
- Open-book, (notes must be bounded)
- Must present a valid ID
- Personal items are put in a locker during your test except book and TI-84 (they provide pencil and paper)
- Arrive half hour early for check in
- Results provided immediately after
Everything you need to know about the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt Exam
The Exam
Single part 90 question exam (80 questions scored) online test administered in prometric testing centers or through testing software with a time allowance of 2 hours and 18 minutes (BONUS: you can bring bounded notes with you)
Requirements and Fee
There is no credit or experience requirement. The exam is $422.
Results
You are immediately notified if you pass or fail when you submit the exam.
Testing Windows
There are month-long testing windows every other month (March, May, July, etc.), so be cognizant when scheduling (book @asq.org).
What is on the Exam?
The purpose of the exam and certification is to prove your basic knowledge of process improvement. Therefore, the exam focuses on topics like Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, DMAIC, and various skills for leading a team.
Personal Experience
As a student, I found the process very straightforward compared to other certification exams. I dedicated a few days to studying; during which I read the ASQ Yellow Belt handbook (the textbook for this exam). I made a few annotations on the pages (no post-it notes allowed) and then brought my book into the exam. Ultimately, I only used my book to reference the statistical equations and then solve them on the scrap paper provided; however, it was comforting to know that I could reference it. The 2 plus hour time allowance was plenty as I finished in just over an hour. You can look back at previous questions and even skip questions to return to later. Overall, I recommend anyone interested in operations management or who has enjoyed their OIM courses to take this certification; it never expires, there are no yearly renewals, and it will set you apart from many other candidates when applying for jobs.
Lean Six Sigma Overview
Lean - Focused on reducing waste and inefficiencies, and improving workflow. continuous improvement within a process that is observation driven.
Six Sigma - Statistical measure focused on how far a process deviates from perfection to 99.99966% accuracy. Used to control variance in a process and ensure consistency and quality.
DMAIC - Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control. The data-driven strategy at the core of Six Sigma.
Muda - Fundamental philosophy of Lean, Japanese for "waste" or "wasteful". A step in a process or activity that does not add value.
Kaizen - Core concept of Lean, Kai is Japanese for "change" and Zen is Japanese for "good". Together Kaizen means "continuous improvement" and implies that small incremental changes over time will have significant results.
5 S's - Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain a concept of Lean to help maintain order and organization within your work station.
Personal Experience
Career Development - Employers will see the certification on my resume and differentiate myself from other candidates. The certification shows my ability to collaborate in teams on projects and a logically sound line of thinking when approaching said projects or tasks. It is a game changer in a highly competitive job market, especially as a Business Analytics major looking for analyst and project oriented roles.
Personal Development - Some of the concepts and philosophies are very applicable to my own life. I look to make an improvement in myself everyday, no matter how small, and I am able to have the discipline to sustain my improvements in everyday life. Whether it be academically, personally, socially, physically, mentally, with an understanding of concepts like Kaizen and Muda, it becomes much easier to reflect and pinpoint areas of improvement in my life.
Future Development - As I get older and look towards my future of living on my own and transitioning into an adult with a full time career, I will have goals and projects I need to complete within and outside of my career. The certification does not go away and has upper levels of belts like the Green Belt, Black Belt and Master Belt that I will hopefully strive to achieve along my career timeline.
Internships that Provide Yellow Belt Certification
I was fortunate enough to find an internship in Operations at the TJX Companies that provided free Yellow Belt training and Certification. I worked on a desk standardization project with my cohort of interns, focusing on the concepts of the 5 S's. There are internships that offer the Yellow Belt Certification as a part of their program, and highly recommend taking it into consideration when accepting an offer.
Why Six Sigma?
- To develop yourself, especially in Operations & Analytics, it is vital to understand how to use problem-solving skills effectively. Earning this certification gives you a well-rounded tool kit that you can use to tackle any problem that arises in your career head-on.
- I would recommend either taking the certification exam or working with a company to receive this certification. It is an extremely rewarding experience and it allows you to set yourself apart in your search for your next internship, job, or career opportunity!
My Experience
In the summer of 2024, I completed a 12-week distribution operations internship with TJX Companies in their TJ Maxx Pittston Distribution Center. During my time there, I completed a course in lean six-sigma and earned the yellow belt through the company. I then used what I learned to complete a final project using the tools learned during the course and internship. I was able to create my project on machine safety to the company and pass it on to a member of the distribution center that will be rolled out company wide.
Exam Prep
You get a two-hour window to complete the 90-question exam. The ASQ Six Sigma Yellow Belt exam is held every other month so make sure to register a month or two in advance! The exam is open book; I highly recommend studying from the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt book by Govind Ramu. It is also important to arrive early and bring all necessary materials (ID, calculator, and book).
Exam Material
The exam is filled with fundamental and application type questions of the following topics:
History of Six Sigma; Basics of Lean; DMAIC
My Experience
I began preparing for the Six Sigma exam in June and successfully completed it in early September. Throughout the summer, I studied consistently, focusing the final two weeks on practicing sample multiple-choice questions provided by Dr. Mahalak. The coursework I completed at the 大众彩票 greatly contributed to my readiness for this exam.
I strongly encourage students to pursue this certification, as much of the material will already feel familiar. Earning this certification not only sharpens your skills but also provides a competitive edge in the job market.
Resources Used for the Exam
CSSYB Handbook (PDF version available); CSSYB Study Guide (PDF version available); STAT and OIM classes prepare you well for many of the topics on the exam.
Exam content
DMAIC & FMEA, Project management, Basic statistics, Quality tools, Control charts, Lean techniques, Data collection and analysis, Responsibilities of six sigma team members.
My Experience
As a university student, the test was pretty standard. It felt like many other term exam. I studied the handbook and study guide for about 15 hours and felt very prepared. I didn't want to buy a hardcopy of the handbook, so I bought 15 pages of printed notes from the handbook pdf of the exam to use as my reference. If you are familiar with your reference material, you don't need to memorize everything. I recommend getting comfortable with the wording of the practice questions because the real test is formatted similarly. The exam is very term-heavy, so have notes handy with a list of terms and definitions
CSSYB Overview
The ASQ offers multiple certifications in Six Sigma, the first level of which being the Yellow Belt. This certification demonstrates basic understanding and skills of Six Sigma principles and tools.
My Experience
My experience taking the CSSYB exam went very well. I decided to take the exam over intersession, and I scheduled it at my testing center for the end of winter break. I began studying about a week after my fall semester finals, and I felt like this was more than enough time to prepare. I used the ASQ CSSYB Handbook to study, which I highly recommend reading through. If you have taken STAT 251 and/or STAT 252, I would recommend focusing more on the first few parts of the handbook, which revolve more around Six Sigma fundamentals and project management.
I showed up for the exam about 15 minutes early, and I had no issues with the exam process. I was allowed to bring the handbook with me, as well as a calculator, though I didn't think it was incredibly necessary. Upon completion, I was told that I passed. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the handbook, as well as where certain topics are within it. I would also recommend focusing on the terminology, as there were a good number of new terms that I was not familiar with before. Overall, I would definitely recommend getting certified, especially if you enjoy statistical and data analysis.
What is ASQ CSSYB?
It is a globally recognized certification, that showcases one's understanding of improving a process using Six Sigma Methodology.
My Experience
Like any exam, practice is key for Six Sigma. I registered for the exam in late November and took it at the end of January. It took me a week to complete the handbook, and after each unit, I reinforced my learning by taking a practice test from the study guide that Dr. Mahalak lent me. Many Six Sigma concepts were already covered in my Statistics, OIM, and Management classes, which made the preparation process smoother. The more I practiced, the better I understood the concepts.