Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

The best Black Belts I know learned the methodology by using it — on a real problem, with close support along the way.

If you are ready to start now, I offer an individual programme tailored to you and your organisation. You work on your own improvement project and learn relevant methods with individual coaching, access to online courses and analytical support along the way. Same content as the classroom course — but at your own pace and on your own processes.

Would you rather wait for a group course? Join the waitlist.

Who is this for?

This is for you if you:

Hold a Green Belt and want to take the next step: lead complex improvement projects and build deeper analytical competence.
Work in an organisation with complex processes where variation is a central challenge and cause-and-effect relationships are not obvious.
Want to understand variation at a level that allows you to respond correctly — and avoid actions that make things worse.
Want to become an improvement resource in your organisation: helping management select the right projects, supporting Green Belts and ensuring improvements are realised.
Want to learn by completing a real project in your own organisation.

Black Belt is particularly well suited for engineers, quality professionals and project managers in manufacturing companies with high demands for precision and process understanding.

Includes certification

What will you get out of this?

Lead complex improvement projects across departments — with structure, facts and analysis that deliver documented results.
Understand variation at a level that allows you to ask the right questions before selecting a tool — and avoid actions that don't last.
Use SPC (Statistical Process Control) — not just for monitoring, but to understand variation and guide improvement work.
Conduct MSA and Components of Variation studies to quantify and prioritise sources of variation in complex processes.
Plan and execute Design of Experiments (DOE) with Factor Relationship Diagrams — and determine optimal process settings.
Coach and support Green Belts and Yellow Belts on their projects.
Support management in project selection and benefits realisation.

How it works

Black Belt as an individual programme — tailored to you, your project and your organisation.

Step 1 — Preparation: You start with the online course «Facilitating Problem Solving in Teams» and select an improvement project. We meet to develop a Thought Map and put together a plan.

Step 2 — Implementation: You work on the project and learn methods where they are relevant — with coaching sessions, analytical support and access to online courses in SPC, MSA and hypothesis testing. We cover DOE, Factor Relationship Diagrams and Components of Variation — integrated into the project or as separate sessions.

Step 3 — Certification: You present the project and results. Upon approved completion you receive a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate.

Would you rather wait for a group course with classroom days? Join the waitlist.

About me, Sissel P. Lundeby

MSc in Chemical Engineering • practising Six Sigma since 2002 • IASSC accredited instructor • completed multiple Black Belt projects and certifications.

I completed my first Black Belt through individual training at Sigma Science, led by Bill Ross — one of the pioneers of Six Sigma with over 40 years of experience applying statistical thinking and scientific method to uncover cause-and-effect relationships in processes and products.

This approach shapes my teaching, as summarised by Doug Sanders at Sigma Science:

«More often than not, it is not the formula, equipment, or roadmap that leads to the solution; it is the questions that are asked.»

Through my time as Operational Excellence Manager and collaboration with GoLeanSixSigma, I have expanded my competence in leadership, coaching and delivering results.

Recommendation

«Sissel is vibrant, engaging, highly competent and has a rare ability to make complex things simple and understandable. I wholeheartedly recommend her support on the journey towards Operational Excellence!»

Merete Mørk Mathisen, Operational Excellence Manager

+ - Course content (click to see) Click to collapse

Programme

Step 1 — Preparation

Online course (~1 hour): Facilitating problem solving in teams. Foundation for working structured with others towards a shared goal.
Online session (2 hours): We go through the project you have selected, develop a Thought Map and put together a plan. You get access to analytical online courses (SPC, MSA, hypothesis testing) as support material along the way.

Step 2 — Implementation with individual support

Project work: You work on your own improvement project and learn the methods where they are relevant. We meet regularly for coaching, analytical support and feedback on progress.
Understanding variation: We cover SPC, MSA, Components of Variation and DOE with Factor Relationship Diagrams — integrated into the project work or as dedicated sessions.

Step 3 — Leadership, coaching and continuous improvement

How to support Green Belts and Yellow Belts on their projects.
Support management in project selection and prioritisation aligned with strategic goals.
Benefits realisation and follow-up of improvement work.
Establish good habits for daily operations and continuous improvement.

Step 4 — Approval and certification

Online session (2 hours): You present the project, results and learnings. We review the gains and ensure the methodology has been followed.
Certificate: Upon approved project you receive a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate.

Duration: Normally 6–12 months, depending on the scope and complexity of the project.

Course content

DMAIC — Leading complex improvement projects

Define: project selection, Project Charter, SIPOC, customer needs and KPIs.
Measure: process mapping, data collection, capability analysis.
Analyze: graphical and statistical analysis, root causes, hypothesis testing.
Improve: prioritise actions, DOE for optimal solution, implementation.
Control: control plans, SPC for follow-up, ensure lasting results.

Understanding variation — SPC and sampling

Statistical thinking as the foundation for decisions.
SPC as a discovery tool — uncovering dominant sources of variation.
Separating normal and special cause variation — responding correctly to measurement results.
Sampling Trees for planning data collection.
Capability analysis and process control.

Measurement System Analysis and variation source analysis

MSA: reproducibility, repeatability, stability, sensitivity and capability.
Components of Variation (COV): quantify and prioritise sources of variation.
Sampling Trees and nested/crossed design for COV studies.

Design of Experiments (DOE) and Factor Relationship Diagram

Full factorial and fractional factorial design.
Factor Relationship Diagram (FRD): understand the relationship between factors and noise variables.
Ross' Rules of Analysis: practical, graphical and quantitative approach.
Optimise process and product settings based on experimental data.

Leadership, coaching and delivering results.

Coach Green Belts and Yellow Belts through their projects.
Facilitate problem solving in teams.
Project selection and portfolio management aligned with strategic goals.
Change management and psychological safety.
Ensure benefits realisation and lasting results.

Included:

Individual coaching sessions with Sissel Pedersen Lundeby.
Access to online courses in SPC, MSA and hypothesis testing.
Course documentation and templates.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate upon approved project.

+ - Frequently asked questions (click to see content) Click to collapse

What are the requirements to start Black Belt?

You must have completed Green Belt with a course certificate. A completed Green Belt project is not required, but you should have a basic understanding of DMAIC.

What is the difference between Black Belt and Green Belt?

Green Belt teaches you to lead improvement projects. Black Belt goes deeper — you learn to handle complex problems involving multiple departments, understand variation and apply advanced analytical methods. You also learn to coach and support Green and Yellow Belts, and to assist management in project selection and benefits realisation.

What is the difference between Lean Tech Black Belt and GLSS Black Belt?

GLSS Black Belt is an English online course covering the full DMAIC methodology and project portfolio management. Lean Tech Black Belt has a stronger focus on practical statistics and understanding variation — particularly SPC as a discovery tool, MSA, Components of Variation and DOE with Factor Relationship Diagrams. Lean Tech Black Belt is particularly well suited for organisations with complex production processes where variation is a central challenge. The two courses are complementary.

How long does it take to complete Black Belt?

Normally 6–12 months, depending on the scope and complexity of the project. You set your own pace, but we establish milestones along the way to ensure progress.

What kind of project should I choose?

Choose a problem that is real and important to your organisation — ideally related to quality, variation, lead time or cost. The project should be complex enough to require statistical analysis, but realistic to complete within 12 months. We go through the project selection together in the first online session.

What is included in the price?

Individual coaching sessions, analytical support on your own project, access to online courses (Facilitating Problem Solving, SPC, MSA and hypothesis testing), course documentation and templates, and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certificate upon approved project.

Can I take Black Belt even if I don't work in manufacturing?

The course is primarily developed for organisations with complex processes where variation is a central challenge — typically manufacturing and process industry. Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation conversation about whether the course suits your situation.