The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance

CHAPTER 9Preparing Black Belts and Other Key Roles

ONE OF THE best-publicized aspects of the Six Sigma movement is the creation of a corps of process measurement and improvement experts known variously as “Black Belts,” “Master Black Belts,” and “Green Belts.” (We heard of one organization that considered the creation of yet another level—“Yellow Belts”—and felt some relief when they scrubbed the idea!) While the “Belts” are important, they are just the most well-known component in a larger organizational structure and set of roles that support the Six Sigma process.

One of your key tasks, as you start on the Six Sigma Way, will be to define the appropriate roles for your organization, and to clarify their responsibilities. Those decisions should ...