Black Belt Certification takes place this fall
Registration is now open for Indiana University Northwest’s Lean Six Sigma (LSS) expert–level certification, known as the black belt designation. A coveted business education hallmark, LSS certification is open to the entire community; enrollees need not be IU Northwest students.
The Black Belt program will take place over 10 class sessions for a total of 80 hours of instruction. Classes will meet September 16-20 and again from November 11-15. The break between class sessions is designed to give students time to complete a project for their employer under the guidance of the instructor.
“By building a project directly into the course, students’ employers may realize significant cost savings before the course is even completed,” said Jana Szostek, director of the Center for Professional Development at IU Northwest. “Our instructor has over 14 years of experience in applying Lean Six Sigma concepts and provides individualized consulting to each student.”
Classes will meet from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided. The registration deadline is September 13, but those who register before August 15 will receive a $200 discount.
Enrollees must have obtained a Green Belt certification in order to attend the expert-level Black Belt program.
Helping NW Indiana thrive
Lean Six Sigma is a methodology that provides the strategy, tools, and techniques to improve the performance of an organization relative to processes, services, employees, customer satisfaction, and the business bottom line. It combines the concept of Lean, which focuses on the elimination of waste and non-value added activities, with the structured, data-driven analytical tools of Six Sigma.
Green belt business professionals demonstrate knowledge and application of LSS principles through successful completion of coursework and an LSS project, equipping them with the skill and training to solve most process-related problems.
Szostek said the program is ideal for those seeking to enhance their credentials, especially business owners and managers interested in taking their business to the next level.
“The Lean Six Sigma methodology will help any business be competitive in our region, as well as our increasingly global marketplace,” Szostek said. “It has become the gold standard of quality and continuous improvement and is a highly sought-after certification. Its methods are applicable to any organization.”
For more information about IU Northwest’s Lean Six Sigma certification program, as well as other professional certification opportunities, and to register, visit iun.edu/cpd and click on “professional certifications.” Direct inquiries to Jana Szostek at 219-980-6910.
About the School of Business and Economics
The region’s longest-running AASCB-accredited public business school, the School of Business and Economics initially earned this certification in 2004. AACSB Accreditation is widely regarded as the highest level of accreditation for business schools. Only 15 percent of business schools domestically and less than 5 percent of business schools internationally earn this prestigious certification of quality. Because of its AACSB International accreditation, the School offers its high achieving students membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business Honor Society.
