Many organisations (but not all) use a coloured “belt” system to
identify different skill levels. Originated in Motorola as one of
the Six Sigma team was a martial arts enthusiast.
This BOK identifies five skill levels:
- White Belt (WB): A basic awareness of aims and
principles. - Yellow Belt (YB): A SME, someone who works in the
process and understands it well and who has a basic
knowledge of simple L6Sigma tools, techniques &
philosophy’s. - Green Belt (GB): Part time practitioner – Someone who
has a team reporting to them and who is responsible
for improving an area of the business. GBs will direct
and manage YBs & WBs. - Black Belt (BB): Often a full time, sometimes part time
expert and coach in L6S. Has better statistical
knowledge than GBs and will also be responsible for
bigger projects and cross business improvement
initiatives. BBs often split into L6S BB (more technically
focussed) and Lean BB (more culture change focussed). - Master Black Belt (MBB): A BB with more experience
and breadth of knowledge (L6S MBB encompasses both
L6S BB and Lean BB areas).
To a certain extent WB, YB, GB, BB and MBB are cumulative