Six Sigma is a type of strategy devised for business management that employs a variety of methods and theories that all center around excellent techniques of solving problems. This methodology has taken on an acronym that is frequently used to described Six Sigma for shorthand, called DMAIC. The DMAIC methodology scheme has demonstrated an expansive reach into many industries, and its purpose is, in theory, to remove any and all possibility of error or defect into the processes of production for various industries. It breaks down as follows:

Define a problem (also known in Six Sigma as an opportunity for improvement).
Measure the current process or processes.
Analyze the process or processes to discover the root causes of inferior performance and come up with solutions that can be effectively implemented.
Improve the process or processes by confronting the root causes of the problem head on.
Control the bettered process or processes in order to perpetuate the flow of gains and profit.

Those who practice Six Sigma heed each of these six guiding steps as key protocol in the process of handling and solving problems. Adhering to the exact ordering of this sequence is absolutely essential, always starting by defining and locating the problem. Six Sigma protocol always concludes with the utilization of a solution designed to endure. 

Career Specializations

• Industrial Production Managers: These professionals organize the affairs of those employees and staff handling equipment during manufacturing operations, ensuring that the process comes in under budget.
• Operation Research Analysts: Those in this career aid managers by helping them strategize, predict, and form plans for dealing with problems such as lack of efficiency and wasted resources.
• Quality Control Specialists: These workers meticulously observe production and manufacturing processes to make sure that the finished products of a high standard; they monitor every stage of the process and use their expertise to pinpoint the root causes of hindrances to quality.

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Degree Levels

• Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
• Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
• Master's Degree: 1-3 years to complete
• Master of Business Administration: 2-3 years to complete
• Doctorate of Philosophy: 4-5 years to complete

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Education & Certification Requirements

The educational process needed to be educated in Six Sigma will require certification. But firstly, aspiring Six Sigma adherents typically develop a career for themselves that would make adopting the principles of Six Sigma rational and worthwhile. Some of the possible professions that lend themselves well to the study and following of Six Sigma methodology include careers in business, engineering, technology, and management.

For certain positions involving quality control, a high school diploma may be sufficient; these employees traditionally receive copious training on the job. As always, earning a college degree dramatically increases hirability. An associate degree, coupled with CAD (computer aided design) and industrial training, makes for a competitive graduate. Better still is earning a bachelor's degree, and matching that with experience in quality control. Business, industrial engineering, industrial technology, or management are all suitable majors. To qualify for more complex and higher-level work (with better salaries), master's and PhD degrees are a must; some graduates with these degrees receive work before leaving campus. Those interested in operation research can use education in fields like computer science or information systems, in addition to the previously mentioned fields of study. 

Once individuals have been professionally employed for at least three years, they can qualify for Six Sigma certification, offered by the American Society for Quality. The primary certification is the Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and those who attain the Six Sigma Green Belt are also distinguished, but they work under those who hold the CSSBB. While the CSSBB requires its holders to recertify every three years, the SSGB is bestowed for a lifetime. (American Society for Quality) 

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Salary Information

The pay potential for Six Sigma careers varies tremendously from position to position. Quality control specialists earn around $35,000 when equipped with associate or bachelor's. Master's or doctorate graduates in this job earn substantially more per year, at approximately $56,000. Undergraduate diploma recipients collect $83,000 annually for work as industrial production managers; with a graduate degree, this pay escalates to nearly $130,000 per annum. Operation research analysts reap nearly $70,000 every 12 months. When these professionals lend their services to the consulting industry, salary climbs to $80,000. And those enlisted by the government can take home around $110,000 in a year. (BLS)

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Job Outlook

Industrial production managers look to withstand a decline in demand for their employment through the year 2018. This is primarily due to the takeover of automated technology in manufacturing. A similar reduction in the number of jobs available for quality control specialists has also been predicted, also due to the rise of automation in the industry. However, a huge boom is expected for those working as operations research analysts; estimates gauge that demand will skyrocket by 22 percent, and these figures are aided by a rather small pool for qualified candidates. Those equipped with not only Six Sigma certification, but also PhDs, or at least master's degrees, should be able to enjoy steady employment in any of these positions. (BLS)

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Related Careers

Project management is closely linked to the careers involved with Six Sigma. Sometimes known as project engineers or construction managers, these professionals are charged with coordinating the execution of projects with the use of a tight schedule and budget. Project managers rarely actually do the work needed for the task, but rather, they oversee the proceedings of the operation. 

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