American Society for Quality (ASQ)

Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)

Credential: Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)
Credentialing Agency: American Society for Quality (ASQ)

Renewal Period: 3 years

The Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) is a professional who can explain Six Sigma philosophies and principles, including supporting systems and tools. A Black Belt should demonstrate team leadership, understand team dynamics and assign team member roles and responsibilities. Black Belts have a thorough understanding of all aspects of the DMAIC model in accordance with Six Sigma principles. They have basic knowledge of Lean enterprise concepts, are able to identify non-value-added elements and activities and are able to use specific tools. Six Sigma Black Belt requires two completed projects with signed affidavits or one completed project with signed affidavit and three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge. Candidates do not need to be a Certified Six Sigma Green Belt to qualify for the CSSBB. Each candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB)

The following DOD Civilian Occupations provide training and/or experience that contributes to attaining this credential:

The following Federal Occupations provide training and/or experience that contribute to attaining this credential:

	Federal Occupation	Related As
	0301 Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series	Other
	0340 Program Management Series	Some
	0342 Support Services Administration	Some
	0343 Management and Program Analysis Series	Some
	0855 Electronics Engineering	Other
	0871 Naval Architecture	Some
	0896 Industrial Engineering Series	Most
	1670 Equipment Services	Other

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

Credential Prerequisite
Experience: 3 years
Education
Training
Membership
Other
Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

Exam
Written Exam
Oral Exam
Practical Exam
Performance Assessment

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 3 years

Continuing Education
Exam
Continuing Education OR Exam
Fee
Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

American Society for Quality (ASQ)

600 N Plankinton Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203

Phone: (800) 248-1946

Fax: (414) 272-1734
Email: help@asq.org

Experience REQUIREMENTS

Two completed projects with signed affidavits or one completed project with signed affidavit, and three years of work experience in one or more areas of the Six Sigma Body of Knowledge.

Written Exam

Organization-wide Planning and Deployment (8%)
- Organization-wide considerations
  - Fundamentals of six sigma and lean methodologies
  - Six sigma, lean, and continuous improvement methodologies
  - Relationships among business systems and processes
  - Strategic planning and deployment for initiatives
- Leadership
  - Roles and responsibilities
  - Organizational roadblocks and change management
Organizational Process Management and Measures (7%)
- Impact on stakeholders
- Benchmarking
- Business measures
  - Performance measures
  - Financial measures
Team Management (12%)
- Team formation
  - Team types and constraints
  - Team roles and responsibilities
  - Team member selection criteria
  - Team success factors
- Team facilitation
  - Motivational techniques
  - Team stages of development
  - Team communication
  - Team leadership models
- Team dynamics
  - Group behaviors
  - Meeting management
  - Team decision-making methods
- Team training
  - Needs assessment
  - Delivery
  - Evaluation
Define (13%)
- Voice of the customer
  - Customer identification
  - Customer data collection
  - Customer requirements
- Business case and project charter
  - Business case
  - Problem statement
  - Project scope
  - Goals and objectives
  - Project performance measurements
  - Project charter review
- Project management (PM) tools
- Analytical tools
Measure (16%)
- Process characteristics
  - Process flow metrics
  - Process analysis tools
- Data collection
  - Types of data
  - Measurement scales
  - Sampling
  - Data collection plans and methods
- Measurement systems
  - Measurement system analysis (MSA)
  - Measurement systems across the organization
  - Metrology
- Basic statistics
  - Basic statistical terms
  - Central limit theorem
  - Descriptive statistics
  - Graphical methods
  - Valid statistical conclusions
- Probability
  - Basic concepts
  - Distributions
- Process capability
  - Process capability indices
  - Process performance indices
  - General process capability studies
  - Process capability for attributes data
  - Process capability for non-normal data
  - Process performance vs. specification
  - Short-term and long-term capability
Analyze (15%)
- Measuring and modeling relationships between variables
  - Correlation coefficient
  - Linear regression
  - Multivariate tools
- Hypothesis testing
  - Terminology
  - Statistical vs. practical significance
  - Sample size
  - Point and interval estimates
  - Tests for means, variances, and proportions
  - Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
  - Goodness-of-fit (chi square) tests
  - Contingency tables
  - Non-parametric tests
- Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
- Additional analysis methods
  - Gap analysis
  - Root cause analysis
  - Waste analysis
Improve (14%)
- Design of experiments (DOE)
  - Terminology
  - Design principles
  - Planning experiments
  - One-factor experiments
  - Two-level fractional factorial experiments
  - Full factorial experiments
- Lean methods
  - Waste elimination
  - Cycle-time reduction
  - Kaizen
  - Other improvement tools and techniques
- Implementation
Control (10%)
- Statistical process control (SPC)
  - Objectives
  - Selection of variables
  - Rational subgrouping
  - Control chart selection
  - Control chart analysis
- Other controls
  - Total productive maintenance (TPM)
  - Visual controls
- Maintain controls
  - Measurement system reanalysis
  - Control plan
- Sustain improvements
  - Lessons learned
  - Documentation
  - Training for process owners and staff
  - Ongoing evaluation
Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Frameworks and Methodologies (5%)
- Common DFSS methodologies
- Design for X (DFX)
- Robust designs

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) examination:

Best Sources

General References

Testing Information

Testing for this credential is handled by Prometric. The test centers are located in the U.S.

To find out more, use the following links on the Prometric website:

For more information on the American Society for Quality (ASQ) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION