Black Belt Excellence

Course Overview

• Lean

  The course aims to provide an overview of process improvement by introducing the concept of lean and its five principles: identifying customer value, analyzing the value stream, ensuring flow, implementing pull systems, and striving for perfection. Participants will gain an understanding of processes, their importance, and potential challenges. They will also learn about Lean philosophy, identifying bottlenecks, applying the Theory of Constraints, determining customer value-add steps, creating value stream maps, assessing flow efficiency, calculating Takt-time, WIP, and PLT using Little’s Law, and applying methods such as 5S, Poka Yoke, Kaizen Events, and visual management techniques.

  November 4–6, 2024

• Six Sigma

  During the Six Sigma days of our Black Belt Excellence program, you can expect a thorough exploration of the methodology’s origins and operational structure. You’ll learn about its inception at Motorola and widespread adoption by industry leaders like General Electric. Through engaging sessions, you’ll understand the roles and responsibilities within a Six Sigma organization, enabling you to drive impactful improvements in process mining projects, ensuring efficiency and quality.

  November 6, 2024

• DMAIC Cycle

  During the Six Sigma days of our Black Belt Excellence program, you will delve into the DMAIC approach, a structured problem-solving method. In the Define phase, you’ll determine critical aspects of product/service quality for customers, create Project Charters, and employ tools like SIPOC for process mapping. The Measure phase involves setting measurable outputs, defining improvement goals, and conducting data analysis. Moving to the Analyze phase, you’ll identify root causes using tools such as Fishbone diagrams and FMEA, while also understanding Confidence Intervals. In the Improve phase, you’ll experiment with solutions, utilize Design of Experiments, and employ techniques like brainstorming and benchmarking. Lastly, in the Control phase, you’ll develop Control Plans, implement Lean tools, and ensure effective project handover with thorough documentation. This comprehensive approach equips you to drive impactful improvements in data analyzing projects, ensuring efficiency and quality.

  November 7–8, 2024
  December 10–11, 2024
  February 12, 2025

• Statistics

  During the statistics part of our Black Belt Excellence program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode, standard deviation, and variation range, among others. Practical implications of variation will be explained, enabling you to assess sample quality and quantity effectively. You’ll learn to recognize different data types, create data collection plans, and utilize statistical software like Minitab for analysis. Tools for evaluating measurement variation and assessing measurement system capability, such as Gage R&R studies, will be covered extensively. Additionally, you’ll delve into baseline process performance analysis and process capability calculations. Understanding hypothesis testing, including alpha and beta risks, will be emphasized, along with formulating and evaluating null and alternative hypotheses. Lean tools like SMED and OEE will also be introduced to analyze and address lost time in processes effectively. This statistical knowledge equips you to make informed decisions and drive improvements in data engineering projects with precision and accuracy.

  November 7–8, 2024
  December 10–12, 2024
  February 11, 2025

• Process Mining

  During the process mining segment of our Black Belt Excellence program, you will grasp the fundamental concept, relevance, and potentials of process mining, which involves analyzing event logs to improve processes. Key process mining terminology will be explained, alongside understanding the structure and purpose of process event logs. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll learn to characterize processes based on event logs, discover process models, and analyze process-related KPIs. Additionally, you’ll apply rule checking to identify compliance violations, pinpoint bottlenecks, and uncover improvement opportunities within processes. Practical aspects include setting up and managing process mining projects, complemented by a guest lecture from industry experts like Celonis, followed by a comprehensive case study in the Celonis system. Finally, technological advancements in process mining, such as robotic process automation and machine learning applications, will be explored, discussing their applicability and limitations. This knowledge equips you to leverage process mining techniques effectively in real-world scenarios, driving efficiency and optimization in data analysing projects.

  January 14–16, 2025

• Exam & Review

  During the exam and review portion of our Black Belt Excellence program, participants will engage in a comprehensive review of the course material, ensuring a thorough understanding of Lean Six Sigma principles and methodologies. The culmination of the program is the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Exam, where participants will demonstrate their ability to execute Lean Six Sigma projects, facilitate improvement teams, apply Lean Six Sigma tools effectively, and implement successful solutions within organizational contexts. Upon completion of this final day, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive impactful improvements and lead data engineering projects with confidence and competence.

  February 14, 2025