Six Sigma describes a series of process improvement techniques designed to reduce errors and improve quality in an organization’s products and services.

Lean is a management discipline that seeks to reduce waste and minimize associated costs.

Lean Six Sigma represents the blending of these two philosophies into an operating system that maximizes quality while minimizing costs.

In the quality assurance field, Six Sigma certification tracks one’s career path from a junior-level specialist to a senior-level manager. You would start as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt early in your career, then move up to Green Belt and eventually become a Black Belt.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts play a key role in executing the tactical aspects of a process improvement project such as gathering data and measuring metrics.

An ideal Yellow Belt candidate is serious about making quality improvements within their company. Earning this certification is an initial step to making an impact in your organization without managing teams or projects. While this role is less strategic than Green or Black Belts, it’s a great place to start understanding process improvement.