Course syllabus for Six sigma black belt

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-05 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameSix sigma black belt
  • CodeTEK171
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerMPQOM
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyIndustrial Engineering and Management
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 36112
  • Maximum participants50
  • Minimum participants10
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0321 Examination 4 c
Grading: UG		 4 c
0421 Project 3.5 c
Grading: UG		 3.5 c
0521 Examination 3.5 c
Grading: UG		 3.5 c
0621 Project 4 c
Grading: UG		 4 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Prospective students need to be registered on the Master s Programme in Quality and Operations Management thus having basic courses in Quality and Operations Management and basic knowledge of statistics.

Aim

Six Sigma is a methodology for continual improvements with the purpose to manage sources of variation in relation to the strategic performance requirements of corporations. Six Sigma was first launched by Motorola in 1987. Today, Six Sigma is a leading improvement strategy and concept in many corporations across US, Europe and Asia for both large and middle-sized organizations in private and public sector. Within the Six Sigma framework, the improvement activity is driven by a specialist called "Black Belt". The overall purpose of this course is that the students should acquire knowledge corresponding to an industrial Black Belt. The course is project based with supporting lectures, in which the student should acquire theoretical and practical knowledge of Six Sigma, and participate and drive in a Six Sigma project over one semester in and with a private or public organization.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

After completion of the course the student should
  • have theoretical and practical knowledge of Six Sigma, its related methodology and tools;
  • be able to actively participate and lead Six Sigma project work;
  • be able to chooce and apply relevant tools within the Six Sigma framework to practical problems;
  • be able to critically reflect upon the Six Sigma framework.

Content

The seven sessions in the black belt course will be planned according to the DMAIC (Define - Measure - Analyse - Improve - Control) cycle. In each of the parts of the course the DMAIC cycle will be followed. Most of the illustrations will be taken from manufacturing environments. Examples of topics for the sessions are: the Six Sigma framework, basic statistics, design of experiments, and Six Sigma in non-manufacturing companies. In the final session there will be a panel discussion with representatives from corporations employing Six Sigma. The industrial Black Belt project will be performed in groups containing 2-3 students and one industrial participant. These participants from industry will also take active part in both sessions and project work. The project-s aim will be to improve an industrial process in the company represented.

Organisation

The course is structured in two-day sessions. The first session may include a third day aimed at giving more insights into basic statistics and use of statistical software. The final session is for project presentations and final examination.
Course Body of Knowledge:

Define
  • Introduction to Six Sigma, Lean and their relations
  • Cost of poor quality and CTQs, Quality indicators
  • Six Basic statistics (7 QC-tools, Confidence interval, Hypothesis testing, Goodness of fit test, NPP)
  • Sigma project selection
  • Understanding variation (e.g. Deming funnel experiment)
  • Selection of response variables (Y and y)
  • Process orientation, SIPOC,
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Voice of the customer, AHP, QFD
  • Team building
  • People involvement
  • Management tools (especially affinity diagram)

Measure
  • Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
  • MSA with the paper helicopter
  • Main Issues in Experimental Statistics
  • Variation Mode and Effects Analysis (VMEA)
  • Statistical Process Control (basic concepts) and Capability Analysis

Analyze
  • SPC to find assignable/special causes of variation (charts for variables and attributes )
  • Regression analysis, ANOVA
  • Reliability analysis
  • Fault tree analysis and FMEA

Improve
  • DOE principles (selection of factors, blocking/ randomization/ replication)
  • Design and analysis of replicated 2k experimental plans using the catapult
  • Design and analysis of 2k-p experimental plans
  • Robust Design
  • People Involvement

Control
  • Diffusion of solutions
  • SPC: More advanced techniques and charts
  • Process monitoring with EWMA, CUSUM, Moving Average

Learn
  • Learning and reflection

Course sessions detailed schedule: Detailed schedules of the course sessions will be made available to the attendees in the course website early before each session.

Literature

  1. Magnusson, K., Kroslid, D. Bergman, B. (2003). Six Sigma-The Pragmatic Approach. Studentlitteratur
  2. Bergman, B., Bengt, K., (2010). Quality. From customer needs to customer satisfaction. 3rd Ed. Studentlitteratur
  3. Thomas Pyzdek (2003). The Six Sigma Handbook. Revised and expanded.
  4. Mc Graw-Hill(2002). The Black Belt Memory Jogger. A pocket guide for Six Sigma Success. GOAL/QPC.
  5. Lecture handouts
  6. Articles distributed at the sessions.
Recommended journals:
  • Six Sigma Forum Magazine
  • Quality Progress
  • Quality and Reliability Engineering International
  • Quality Engineering
  • Quality Technology and Quantitative Management
  • International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage
  • International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management.

Examination including compulsory elements

Attendance of the course sessions and successful completion of the Black Belt project (with its final report and presentation) are the necessary prerequisites for taking the final exam. The final exam is an individual written test.

 

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.