Can Lean Six Sigma Training Be Done Online?
Posted: 08/17/2009 12:00:00 AM EDT | 17
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Online Lean Six Sigma Training
I was recently awarded my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from an online Lean training program. The Lean Six Sigma training addressed understanding the physics of flow, waste components, statistical process control, Theory of Constraints and the principles of both Lean and Six Sigma DMAIC. The use of statistical software, Minitab and Sigma XL, were covered in the course, and 8.75 Continuing Education Credits were awarded upon completion. But was the online experience something I would recommend?
Like so many things today, it depends. I do not think online Lean training at the Black Belt level is for someone who lacks experience in the subject. I had participated in local instruction for Yellow Belt training, which was offered by the TQM Network and the Lasater Institute. The training, named “The Science of Systematic Innovation,” covered the basic components of Lean Six Sigma. The process is several intensive days of training in developing actual Lean Six Sigma principles. The workshop is highly interactive as you apply each principle through real-life type examples. Scott Lasater of the Lasater Institute conducted the Lean training; he is known as “the guy who taught Six Sigma to Jack Welch.”
I have been a do-it-yourselfer for many years. In the '90s, I was heavily involved with applying the Theory of Constraints and the GE Workout principles to my own organizations. But for the past 10 years I became immersed in Lean and Six Sigma. However, I needed statistical training to give me a solid foundation in Lean and Six Sigma and help in learning Minitab and SigmaXL. I mean, really, how many of us would learn algebra or geometry on our own? I needed a structured approach to be able to do this. I was very impressed with Scott’s presentation, but I wanted to do the Lean Six Sigma training at my pace and in my own environment, which led me to consider online training. I also felt that with the base of understanding Scott provided me, coupled with my own knowledge, I would be willing to tackle the Lean Six Sigma training program online.
Starting the Process of Selecting a Lean Training Program Onlne
Starting the selection of an online Lean training program was a very easy process: I just Googled it. It was quite interesting the choices, price range and the number of people involved in Lean Six Sigma training online. Like any good systems person, I sat down and really concentrated and formulated the outcomes I needed from this training. After doing this, I started my selection process:
- Completed over a dozen online forms requesting information and background on program.
- E-mailed a variety of companies that responded, from the lowest to the highest priced, expressing my interest. I also followed up with a few programs that did not respond to keep a variety in my bucket.
- Responded to many in their preferred method: e-mail or telephone.
- Evaluated the curriculums: Since Lean training was part of what I had requested, along with Six Sigma, I looked for how strong the Lean component was.
- Evaluated time and quality of my responses to my questions. I felt that the response would be better before they received my money than after.
- Re-considered off-line training as an alternative and compared the pros and cons of both. Once again, I decided that online training would best suit my needs.
- Based on my outcomes, I narrowed my selection to three companies and picked the best program for me.
What I Learned from the Online Lean Six Sigma Training Selection Process
I created an evaluation spreadsheet as I was discussing the process with the Lean Six Sigma online training companies. In my final decision process, I used an additional spreadsheet that weighted the criteria that were important to me in making a final decision. For example, live instructor training was not important, but having a Lean component in the actual curriculum was. The figure below is an example of how I compared the online training programs based on my personal needs. I summarized my findings using a scale of 0-5, 0 being the worst and 5 being the best; only for pricing did I use a scale of 1-5, in which the highest priced program received the lowest score of 1. (Click on diagram to enlarge.)
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Summing Up Lean Training Online
The advantages of online training are obvious: instant accessibility, the ability to work at your own pace and instant feedback. However, depending on your level of experience, prior statistical knowledge and the outcomes you desire, Lean Six Sigma online training may or may not be suited for you. If you have little previous Lean Six Sigma training, I would recommend using companies that have assigned instructors and/or blended training with live workshops, online or offline. Several companies just send you a book and offer little in the way of support except for testing and grading. Be extremely cautious of choosing that type of approach. Check out the book they recommend at the library and review it first. See if you can self-teach yourself and determine if that is the outcome that you desire.
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Contributor: Joseph T. Dager |
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Online training has a place for introducing Lean Six Sigma, but I think project based training is superior. At my last company they used Villanova as Green Belt training before I started there, and it is strictly an overview good for resume development. At the same company, one person had started the Moresteam online training, and she struggled as she had no background in statistics; if one is thinking about an online program as more than resume development, one should first complete a course in statistics. I am a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and all of my training was team based classroom with lots of hands on exercises using the LSS tool set. Then as a facility OpEx Manager, I found that about 30% of candidates needed additional training and mentoring to be successful.
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I am Master Black Belt instructor training. In my opinion, the LSS training should be online and physical. The phase "define" has some concepts, sources, structures, development of teams and select the project that could be on line. But after the phase "define" there are some tools that require a detailed analysis of the search for root cause. In my training I use a catapult to demonstrate in practice to stabilize a process. I can not see an on line training in these other phases. Thanks!
Marcelo Rivas |
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I would also like to consider online Lean SixSigma programmes, could you perhaps forward me your analysis on the different options to weenab@nedbank.co.za |
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So, which did you actually select; and, were you satisfied with the results? |
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@cpkonline In hindsight, I have to agree with you about the title. However, I do differentiate between quality and cost. MY choice is in no way a recommendation, except that it fit my circumstances at the time. Given another period in my life, I may have chosen differently.
I was trying to give insight in my selection process, not in the actual training itself. I cannot evaluate that unless I took every course. |
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business901/Mr.Dager.. In response to your reply to zoltan, don't you think the title of this article is deceiving? It should be "How to select an online provider if you're first concerned about cost than quality". Other than 'josefpfister', most of these comments are painting with a broad brush using experience from the lowest common denominator. PowerPoint slides with audio should not be qualified as online training. Your contributions through this article are appreciated; however the marketing of this article as an evaluation of the effectiveness of e-learning is disingenuous. |
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I like your analogy jawa. You are so correct, let us not mistake training for experience! |
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I agree with the comments of quantumsix. I have completed the LSSBB training online through Best Practices Reseach Associates and believe that I have gained a fairly good understanding of the theroy of LSS. The training resulted in a SSBB certification. There was a project to complete however, being out of employment at the time I was left with re-creating a scenario from a previous work situation and adapting it to the project requirements. Having over two decades of work expereince already I felt that the online learning was benificial in that I could control the pace of learning entirely which is often important to me as I have many other competing projects for my time. I think most of the discussion aobut whether or not trianing qualifies one to be certified boils down to the definition of certification. It seems that there are variances in the definition and meaning and this leaves it open to whose interpretation we choose to use to define the term. When one obtains a BS MS or PHd are there requriements of on the job performance in order to hold those titles? So far as I know there isn't. But LSSBB seems to be different. I thinks some are looking for knolwedge and others are looking for expereince. Both would be best I believe but one must start somewhere. |
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@Drummond thansk fro your comments. I agree that the offline and the interactivity is imperative for anyone to truly master LSS. I think online learning though is great for people to digest material and reinforce and strengthen offline interaction. The balance of each is the key. |
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@zoltanminsky, I agree with your statements if I was evaluating training. I only meant to explain my approach and the criteria I used to choosing the best option for myself. And I hardly recommended my path, to anyone else. In fact, I discouraged it.
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@shiva, any type of training when utilized and creates improvement. We are all wired a little different and will have different takeaways from each type of study. I went to the library and reviewed the Thomas Pzydek book and though I have it now as an online book, I use it for reference. It was not one that I wanted to use for my training. If you have created improvement, you have benefited from your training. The answer is yes! |
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Hi Joseph, its good you brought this kind of topic i appreciate your topic, as a student i have also participated in six sigma green belt online training from one of the online training consultant by giving a book and preparing for the tests and getting grades, i have a question here for you, preparing by ourself with a book (six sigma hand book by thomas pzydock) is that worth? as you mentioned i am in doubt reading your comment. after finishing green belt certification i have done 2 projects involving production effeciency which i have reduced setup time, reduced material delays by finding the root cause failures.
My question is although i have done some projects was is it worth of doing six sigma training online with a book and attending tests?
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It used to be that to be Six Sigma BB, you needed to complete running a project where you utilized Six Sigma. Taking classes only does not prepare to be BB. |
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I completed the lean six sigma black belt course this past January 2009 through Moresteam and it is definitely one of the best on-line training courses I have ever taken. I am a certified project manager through PMI and took the Villanova course on line training which was also excellent. I appreciate your article and your evaluation chart which I believe adequately rates this training. Thank you for your excellent work. My personal opinion is that on-line training is especially from these major contributor is worth the price and allows the student to move throught the material at their pace. Villanova had interactive student session plus a very effect student topic blog that really heighten the educational process and actually presented contact to other highly trained professionals that I might not have contact with otherwise. Josef Pfister |
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Joseph,
As a Lean Six Sigma expert, surely you recognize the risk of estimating population parameters with a sample size of one. You actually reviewed only one e-Learning course, which was one of the more poorly-rated, and from that experience, you generalize to the entire medium. That's sort of like ready one economics textbook and concluding that all books are boring. It's a pretty sloppy analysis. Also, CEUs are given 1 for every 10 hours of training, so 8.75 indicates a course length of 87.5 hours – hardly Black Belt. Someone evaluating training ought to know this. My 2 cents. |
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Hi Joseph,
While certain technical components of any knowledge base can be learned online ... in situations where the end result is simply "comprehension/understanding". However, the people skills required for LSS performance can only be taught by live experience with groups. Without live leadership and facilitation training it is like expecting a person to be able to ride a unicycle after "learning" about it at a website. Well nigh impossible. My two cents. Dike Drummond www.superteams.com |
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Joseph,
Nice article. As one of those companies that provide online LSS training, I would generally agree with most of your observations and opinions. For example, you are spot on in agreement with me that online training at a GB or BB level is not something that I would recommend. The live training experience at these levels that includes vital elements such as project and change management, cannot be replicated in an online environment. As a former LSS deployment executive with global companies who has developed LSS functions delivering over $300M in savings, live training has always served me well if one is to truly use LSS to transform their business.
Having taking this position, I do believe that online training has a place in the Introductory to LSS space. There is an audience who needs initial exposure to LSS who are unemployed or working for a company that does not have the capital to invest in training. My company only offers online training in that Fundamentals space, and we encourage a blended approach to mirror your astute observations.
Thanks again. |
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