Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Waste Stream • Batch Reactor • Unit Operations

Six Sigma

Term from Chemical Production industry explained for recruiters

Six Sigma is a method for making business processes work better and more consistently. It's like a recipe book for reducing mistakes in manufacturing and other business operations. Companies use Six Sigma to make their products more reliable and to waste less money on errors. People who know Six Sigma are often called "belts" (like in martial arts) - Green Belts, Black Belts, or Master Black Belts, depending on their expertise level. When you see this on a resume, it usually means the person knows how to improve processes and solve complex problems using data and special problem-solving tools.

Examples in Resumes

Led Six Sigma Black Belt project reducing manufacturing waste by 40%

Implemented Six Sigma methodologies to improve production efficiency

Achieved Six Sigma Green Belt certification and managed quality improvement projects

Applied Six Sigma and 6 Sigma principles to streamline chemical production processes

Typical job title: "Six Sigma Professionals"

Also try searching for:

Quality Engineer Process Improvement Specialist Six Sigma Black Belt Six Sigma Green Belt Continuous Improvement Manager Quality Manager Operations Excellence Leader

Where to Find Six Sigma Professionals

Professional Organizations

Online Networks

Job Resources

Example Interview Questions

Master Black Belt Level Questions

Q: Can you describe a major process improvement project you led and its impact on the business?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that show leadership of large-scale projects, ability to measure financial impact, and experience managing teams. They should mention specific improvements in numbers and how they affected the company's bottom line.

Q: How do you decide which processes need improvement in a chemical production environment?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to prioritize projects based on business impact, risk assessment, and resource requirements. Should mention data analysis and stakeholder input in decision-making.

Black Belt Level Questions

Q: What tools do you use to analyze process problems?

Expected Answer: Should mention common improvement tools like process mapping, cause-and-effect diagrams, and data analysis methods. Look for examples of how they've used these tools in real situations.

Q: How do you handle resistance to change when implementing improvements?

Expected Answer: Should discuss communication strategies, involving team members in the process, and showing clear benefits of changes. Look for experience in change management.

Green Belt Level Questions

Q: What is DMAIC and how have you used it?

Expected Answer: Should explain DMAIC as Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control - the basic problem-solving process in Six Sigma. Look for simple examples of using this approach.

Q: How do you collect and use data to solve problems?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of data collection methods, simple statistical analysis, and how to use data to make decisions.