Six Sigma Master Black Belt Development Programme
Course Tutors: Prof. Tony Bendell, Stan Bennett, Dr. Nick Corke
Master Black Belt Qualification
Master Black Belts are the technical summit of the Six Sigma practitioner hierarchy, being experts in the theory and practice of application through DMAIC, and sometimes DFSS, projects. They are also typically leaders and managers within company Six Sigma programmes. They work with senior management and Project Champions to identify, prioritise and manage improvement projects and to ensure delivery of planned and measured payback. They act as coaches to Green and Black Belts, as well as Management and Project Champions. So they need to be knowledgeable, focussed and evaluative technically, and diplomatic, enthusiastic and skilled interpersonally. Good coaches, good experts, good leaders.
The Services Ltd.’s Master Black Belt Development Programme exists to take competent Black Belts and help them to develop the skills, knowledge and competencies they need to become competent and valuable Master Black Belts. Because of the nature of the Master Black Belt role, it has been designed as a development programme rather than just a training course. In our opinion, such courses are inappropriate for work at this level.
Becoming a Certified Master Black Belt
To be eligible to join this programme, you must already be qualified as a Black Belt, with a recognised qualification and successful Six Sigma project experience. Candidates who do not meet this requirement but who have a sufficient depth of technical knowledge and experience may be exceptionally admitted onto this programme at the discretion of Prof. Tony Bendell and his colleagues.
The Master Black Belt Development Programme consists of three stages. The Initial Seminar/Workshop and Assessment Centre lasting two days, introduces the programme, methods of learning and assessment, as well as defining the knowledge base and introducing some of the more advanced technical content, software use and role requirements. During this, the candidate’s precise current knowledge and competencies are assessed and a personal development plan is constructed and agreed. The second stage involves the Master Black Belt candidate working through the development plan and constructing a portfolio of evidence to support the agreed knowledge, skill and competence development requirements. During this stage, a Services Ltd. tutor normally will make two assessment and coaching visits to the delegate at his or her place of work to observe, assess and coach the Master Black Belt candidate and, if necessary, to provide advise to local management. Typically this stage lasts two months, but exceptionally can be extended for up to a year. The final stage of the programme consists of a two-day End of Programme Workshop, Written Test and Development Seminar. This includes delegate presentations, an evaluation and sharing of delegate’s individual and collective learning, the final written test to verify candidate’s knowledge and competence, and an additional input on practice, role and further learning.
Programme Structure and Content
Initial Seminar/Workshop and Assessment Centre (two days)
• Programme Introduction
• Assess Current Knowledge and Competencies
• Agree Personal Development Plans
Personal Knowledge, Skill and Competence Development (typically two months)
• In-house Application in Candidate’s Organisation
• Portfolio of Evidence
• Tutor Assessment and Coaching Visits (normally two)
End of Programme Workshop, Written Test and Development Seminar (two days)
• Delegate Presentations
• Evaluate and Share Individual and Collective Learning
• Practice, Role and Further Learning
• Final Written Test
Fees
Cost (for UK-based organisations)
£3650 plus VAT first delegate
£2450 plus VAT second and subsequent delegates on same programme
Overseas-based delegates will be charged in addition the travel and subsistence costs for the tutor’s assessment visits.
Dates for 2009/10
Initial Seminar/Workshop and Assessment Centre
01-02 June 2009
End of Programme Workshop, Written Test and Development Seminar
09-10 September 2009
Alternatively, the two courses can be exceptionally run on agreed dates on an ad hoc basis for individual delegates, or groups of delegates, for a one-off surcharge of £600.