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Program Overview

Learn how to drive quality and productivity programs by mastering the powerful analytical and management tools of the Six Sigma methodology and the revolutionary concepts of Lean Management.

Six Sigma and Lean enable organizations to measure and analyze production processes, to eliminate waste and to evolve their management structures in order to motivate employees and improve quality and productivity.

The series of courses is provided in collaboration with the TUM School of Management Executive Education Center and the Chair of Production and Supply Chain Management.

In this Professional Certificate program, you will learn the fundamentals of the Six Sigma methodology and Lean Manufacturing. You will learn the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) process improvement cycle and examine how the principles of Lean production improve quality and productivity and enable organizational transformation.

You will be challenged to learn both the quantitative and qualitative methods associated with Six Sigma and Lean, including:

  • problem definition;
  • baseline performance measurement and process capability;
  • measurement system analysis;
  • root cause analysis;
  • regression and correlation;
  • design of experiments;
  • control charts implementation.

 

Both descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied and all concepts are exercised using online problems and interactive exercises and case studies.

A TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certificate will help you advance your career, increase your salary earnings and improve your organization through your mastery of quality skills.

Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma theory to a Green Belt level. The Six Sigma material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Six Sigma Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt level. The Lean Production course material is based on the TUM School of Management’s course in Lean Operations

The Professional Certificate program is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification project. If you are interested in obtaining both the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt certificates.

NOTE: In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certificate it is MANDATORY to complete all 3 courses mentioned below, pursuing all 3 Verified Certificates. Then, automatically, you will earn the Professional Certificate. Courses can be taken in any order, but since Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material learned in Six Sigma: Define and Measure, we recommend you to take Define and Measure first.

Program Class List

1
Six Sigma: Define and Measure

Course Details
An introduction to the Six Sigma methodology and the DMAIC cycle for process improvement with a focus on the Define and Measure phases, including basic statistics for understanding sampling plans and calculating process capability.

Course Duration

8 Weeks

Time Commitment

3 - 4 Hours per week

Price

$99.00

2
Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control

Course Details
Learn how to statistically analyze process data to determine the root cause and propose solutions for process problems, to implement quality management tools, such as 8D and the 5 Whys, and to understand the concept of Design for Six Sigma (DFSS).

Course Duration

8 Weeks

Time Commitment

3 - 4 Hours per week

Price

$149.00

3
Lean Production

Course Details
Learn how to apply key elements of Lean Production, from minimizing inventory and reducing setup times, to using 5S and Kaizen, in order to improve quality and productivity in your workplace.

Course Duration

6 Weeks

Time Commitment

3 - 4 Hours per week

Price

$149.00

Meet your instructors

Martin Grunow

Martin Grunow is a professor of production and supply chain management at Technische Universität München and an adjunct professor at Technical University Denmark, where he previously held a professorship in Operations Management. Earlier, he worked at Technical University Berlin and in the R&D department of Degussa, a multinational company producing special chemicals. His research interests are in production and logistics management with a focus on the process, electronics and automotive industries. He has coauthored more than 100 publications amongst others in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, European Journal of Operational Research, CIRP Annals, Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, and OR Spectrum. For the latter two journals, he also acts as an editor. Martin Grunow has been on the program committee and track organizer of more than 30 international conferences and is an associate member of The International Academy of Production Engineering.

Holly Ott

Holly Ott is a professor of Production Management and IT Systems at the University of Rosenheim Applied Sciences and Management, a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Munich and an adjunct professor at Singapore Management University (Singapore), IE Business School (Madrid) and Syracuse University (New York). She holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and has worked for twelve years in quality and supply chain management in the USA, Europe and Asia for Siemens, Motorola, IBM and Infineon. Her work has been in the areas of device simulation, electrical and reliability testing, and quality and supply chain management. She holds a International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB) and is a member of the American Society for Quality (asq.org). Holly is the program chair for the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association's Supply Chain Forum and academic director of the TUM Case Centre.

Program Endorsements

Six Sigma and Lean are key to quality and productivity through its powerful combination of best practice tools and data-driven methodologies in a structured way. At Infineon, aspiration towards continuous improvement and problem solving is deeply anchored in our company culture. It enhances the performance of our products, processes and services in terms of quality and stability. Our method to support continuous improvement and problem solving is called Thinking Six Sigma & Lean. This unique improvement methodology is based on the Six Sigma DMAIC flow and enriched with 8D tools and Lean methods to improve the quality and efficiency of our business processes. “Thinking Six Sigma & Lean” is deployed at all production sites and a cornerstone of our global quality excellence program to serve the automotive and security industries. The edX Professional Program offered by the Technical University of Munich Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is one of the best programs available for developing quality professionals that know how to solve problems and can apply the Six Sigma and Lean toolset. The program provides solid Six Sigma and Lean fundamentals up to a Green Belt level, reinforced with practice and test questions and provides real depth on how these tools are applied in industry, using case studies and real examples from participants.

Stephan Tente , Principal Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

Six Sigma and Lean are key to quality and productivity through its powerful combination of best practice tools and data-driven methodologies in a structured way. At Infineon, aspiration towards continuous improvement and problem solving is deeply anchored in our company culture. It enhances the performance of our products, processes and services in terms of quality and stability. Our method to support continuous improvement and problem solving is called Thinking Six Sigma & Lean. This unique improvement methodology is based on the Six Sigma DMAIC flow and enriched with 8D tools and Lean methods to improve the quality and efficiency of our business processes. “Thinking Six Sigma & Lean” is deployed at all production sites and a cornerstone of our global quality excellence program to serve the automotive and security industries. The edX Professional Program offered by the Technical University of Munich Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is one of the best programs available for developing quality professionals that know how to solve problems and can apply the Six Sigma and Lean toolset. The program provides solid Six Sigma and Lean fundamentals up to a Green Belt level, reinforced with practice and test questions and provides real depth on how these tools are applied in industry, using case studies and real examples from participants.

Stephan Tente , Principal Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving

About This Course:

Learn about Lean Management, a customer-centric methodology that improves processes by eliminating waste and focusing on value-added tasks.

This course will introduce the main tenets of the Toyota Production System, which includes Just-in-Time manufacturing, quality management tools, and the critical concept of Kaizen, the Japanese practice of continuous improvement. You will also learn about the key organization and managerial approaches that are used in Lean.

You will learn how to analyze process flows in order to establish process capacity and identify the process bottleneck. You will then calculate resource utilization and cycle time to evaluate the impact of set up times, batching, defects and reworks on key process performance measures, including inventory, flow rate and flow time.

We will also discuss the impact of key concepts of Lean, including Heijunka, Kanban, Jidoka, Andon, Poka Yoke, and 5S, which help achieve increased productivity and quality.

Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

What You’ll Learn:

  • The history and background of Lean production and the complementing elements of quantity and quality control.
  • To measure production performance and how defects and waste degrade performance.
  • To understand the importance and role in Lean Production of the customer “Takt.”
  • To improve process performance through the application of Lean principles, including setup time reduction, batch optimization, and defect elimination.
  • To explain the importance of Total Productive Maintenance and the widely-used metric Overall Equipment Effectiveness.
  • To understand the difference between push- and pull-systems and how the implementation of pull-systems reduces waste.
  • To apply elements of Lean production including Heijunka, Kanban, Jidoka, and Poka Yoke.
  • To apply the 5S methodology for establishing and sustaining a productive work environment.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity

Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate

Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Lean Production
3 Courses 6 Months 3 - 4 Hours per week
Complete Program $264.03
Program Details

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate ProgramSix Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production

Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequentially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure, we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.

Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate forCourse3 QPLS3x – Lean Production.

What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both theedX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.

Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.

How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.

How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.

When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB.

Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Martin Grunow is a professor of production and supply chain management at Technische Universität München and an adjunct professor at Technical University Denmark, where he previously held a professorship in Operations Management. Earlier, he worked at Technical University Berlin and in the R&D department of Degussa, a multinational company producing special chemicals. His research interests are in production and logistics management with a focus on the process, electronics and automotive industries. He has coauthored more than 100 publications amongst others in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, European Journal of Operational Research, CIRP Annals, Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, and OR Spectrum. For the latter two journals, he also acts as an editor. Martin Grunow has been on the program committee and track organizer of more than 30 international conferences and is an associate member of The International Academy of Production Engineering.

Holly Ott

Holly Ott is a professor of Production Management and IT Systems at the University of Rosenheim Applied Sciences and Management, a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Munich and an adjunct professor at Singapore Management University (Singapore), IE Business School (Madrid) and Syracuse University (New York). She holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and has worked for twelve years in quality and supply chain management in the USA, Europe and Asia for Siemens, Motorola, IBM and Infineon. Her work has been in the areas of device simulation, electrical and reliability testing, and quality and supply chain management. She holds a International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB) and is a member of the American Society for Quality (asq.org). Holly is the program chair for the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association's Supply Chain Forum and academic director of the TUM Case Centre.

Learner Testimonials

“One of the best MOOC on Lean production that you can find online. Whether you are a novice or an expert, this course gives you the concise content that is required to understand lean. The course is well structured, perfectly presented with case studies, examples, math problems, discussion forum, guest lectures given by prominent faculty members from reputed universities around the world. The best things about the course are the faculty members & the participants, who bring in rich diverse experience either educationally or professionally or both. I would recommend this course as well as other courses that are part of TUM’s Professional Certificate Program to those who want to learn or brush up their skills in six sigma and lean. Thank You Mr.Martin, Mrs. Holly, Mr. Reiner, Mr.Zubair and the entire support team. Take a bow!”

-- Murali Dhepalli

“At the beginning I took this course just to show current or future employers my experience in this topic and didn’t expect anything so new for me as it’s my filed of work as a manager in continuous improvement. But as the course commenced, I have learnt more and more details that I could already implement in day to day work. I really enjoyed this course and it’s sure that i will enroll in the additional ones in this TUMx professional program. Prof. Holly Ott and her team managed to develop a great MOOC that is fun and horizon expanding. Prof. Ott is a frequent follower (and responder) of forum discussions which encourages everyone to exchange experiences. Not to forget the emails you get during the course with great pointers to real world problems. All in all, I can recommend this MOOC a lot to anyone who is even remote interested in lean and production management.”

-- Christian Kahl

“This course is the last one in Six Sigma – Lean production offered by TUM on EdX. First thing : while it’s been said that this course can be taken as stand alone, I really think it is best to take first the 2 other courses on Six Sigma, at least if you are a novice in quality management. The course itself is really great. It covers a lot of subject and it is a good help for any manager having to deal with productivity issues, not only in manufacturing but also in service industry. The instructors are very good, they know their subject and can easily pass their knowledge to the student through the lectures. One of the best thing for me was to see the theory applied to real life examples (you’ll see that Professor Holly is really into skateboarding!). Bottom line, I recommend this course!”

-- Etienne Pavajot

“Dear TUM, I am grateful to be one of you MOOC’S student. Really, it helps me a lot specially when I took my ASQ CSSYB and CQIA. It’s almost a year now since I started this professional certificate program and I am happy to inform you that I completed all of 3 verified certificates. Although, I am working as Nurse but I know that some of those concept’s are applicable or can be applied in healthcare setting. Thank Professor Holy and Other’s TUM faculty for your great effort that boosted my passion in Quality field. Regards, Manuel”

-- Manuel

“One of the best MOOC on Lean production that you can find online. Whether you are a novice or an expert, this course gives you the concise content that is required to understand lean. The course is well structured, perfectly presented with case studies, examples, math problems, discussion forum, guest lectures given by prominent faculty members from reputed universities around the world. The best things about the course are the faculty members & the participants, who bring in rich diverse experience either educationally or professionally or both. I would recommend this course as well as other courses that are part of TUM’s Professional Certificate Program to those who want to learn or brush up their skills in six sigma and lean. Thank You Mr.Martin, Mrs. Holly, Mr. Reiner, Mr.Zubair and the entire support team. Take a bow!”

-- Murali Dhepalli

“At the beginning I took this course just to show current or future employers my experience in this topic and didn’t expect anything so new for me as it’s my filed of work as a manager in continuous improvement. But as the course commenced, I have learnt more and more details that I could already implement in day to day work. I really enjoyed this course and it’s sure that i will enroll in the additional ones in this TUMx professional program. Prof. Holly Ott and her team managed to develop a great MOOC that is fun and horizon expanding. Prof. Ott is a frequent follower (and responder) of forum discussions which encourages everyone to exchange experiences. Not to forget the emails you get during the course with great pointers to real world problems. All in all, I can recommend this MOOC a lot to anyone who is even remote interested in lean and production management.”

-- Christian Kahl

“This course is the last one in Six Sigma – Lean production offered by TUM on EdX. First thing : while it’s been said that this course can be taken as stand alone, I really think it is best to take first the 2 other courses on Six Sigma, at least if you are a novice in quality management. The course itself is really great. It covers a lot of subject and it is a good help for any manager having to deal with productivity issues, not only in manufacturing but also in service industry. The instructors are very good, they know their subject and can easily pass their knowledge to the student through the lectures. One of the best thing for me was to see the theory applied to real life examples (you’ll see that Professor Holly is really into skateboarding!). Bottom line, I recommend this course!”

-- Etienne Pavajot

“Dear TUM, I am grateful to be one of you MOOC’S student. Really, it helps me a lot specially when I took my ASQ CSSYB and CQIA. It’s almost a year now since I started this professional certificate program and I am happy to inform you that I completed all of 3 verified certificates. Although, I am working as Nurse but I know that some of those concept’s are applicable or can be applied in healthcare setting. Thank Professor Holy and Other’s TUM faculty for your great effort that boosted my passion in Quality field. Regards, Manuel”

-- Manuel

About This Course:

Learn how to statistically analyze data with the Six Sigma methodology using inferential statistical techniques to determine confidence intervals and to test hypotheses based on sample data. You will also review cause and effect techniques for root cause analysis.

You will learn how to perform correlation and regression analyses in order to confirm the root cause and understand how to improve your process and plan designed experiments.

You will learn how to implement statistical process control using control charts and quality management tools, including the 8 Disciplines and the 5 Whys to reduce risk and manage process deviations.

To complement the lectures, learners are provided with interactive exercises, which allow learners to see the statistics “in action.” Learners then master statistical concepts by completing practice problems. These are then reinforced using interactive case studies, which illustrate the application of the statistics in quality improvement situations.

Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
 

What You’ll Learn:

  • To identify process problems and perform a root cause analysis using cause and effect diagrams and regression analysis.
  • To analyze data using inferential statistical techniques, including confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.
  • To test and quantitatively assess the impact of different improvement options using the design of an experiment.
  • To test for the significance of effects using an Analysis of Variance.
  • To implement control mechanisms for long-term monitoring using control charts for both quantitative and qualitative measurements.
  • To apply the Six Sigma methodology for the Analyze, Improve and Control phases in your work or research.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity

Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate

Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Lean Production
3 Courses 6 Months 3 - 4 Hours per week
Complete Program $264.03
Program Details

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate Program Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production

Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequen tially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure, we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.

Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate forCourse2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control.

What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both the edX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.

Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.

How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.

How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.

When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB .

Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Martin Grunow is a professor of production and supply chain management at Technische Universität München and an adjunct professor at Technical University Denmark, where he previously held a professorship in Operations Management. Earlier, he worked at Technical University Berlin and in the R&D department of Degussa, a multinational company producing special chemicals. His research interests are in production and logistics management with a focus on the process, electronics and automotive industries. He has coauthored more than 100 publications amongst others in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, European Journal of Operational Research, CIRP Annals, Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, and OR Spectrum. For the latter two journals, he also acts as an editor. Martin Grunow has been on the program committee and track organizer of more than 30 international conferences and is an associate member of The International Academy of Production Engineering.

Holly Ott

Holly Ott is a professor of Production Management and IT Systems at the University of Rosenheim Applied Sciences and Management, a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Munich and an adjunct professor at Singapore Management University (Singapore), IE Business School (Madrid) and Syracuse University (New York). She holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and has worked for twelve years in quality and supply chain management in the USA, Europe and Asia for Siemens, Motorola, IBM and Infineon. Her work has been in the areas of device simulation, electrical and reliability testing, and quality and supply chain management. She holds a International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB) and is a member of the American Society for Quality (asq.org). Holly is the program chair for the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association's Supply Chain Forum and academic director of the TUM Case Centre.

Learner Testimonials

“I did not have any prior knowledge of Quality Management but have always known the value, importance, and job demand related to this topic. I am very glad that i enrolled for this course, although i have to put little extra efforts and time to understand the material but i am very thankful to Dr. Holly Ott for her special teaching skills to explain every topic in a simple way and with practical examples. I also appreciate the guest speakers and their expertise in the subject. I plan to complete all the three courses of this certificate program as soon as i can. I am into my very first course and within couple of weeks i was motivated to look into CSSGB (Certified Six Sigma Green Belt), as I know CSSGB is going to be very useful for professional advancement. I believe if i understand these three Quality Management courses my foundation to study for CSSGB with be solid. My Humble Gratitude to the entire MOOC team and EdX team and many more who are behind the scene to provide us best education from the top most educational institutes.”

--Asha Grover

“This is my second time around using statistics. In Define and Measure I was able to learn how to apply statistics to define problems in in factories and industries. And the ability to measure the results to start an improvement process. I love the instructors who lectured the course. They all have such a breadth of knowledge. My goal after completing this series is to get certified through ASQ to get my Green Belt. I feel confident that this series will lead to that goal.”

--Previous student

“If you are new to Six Sigma like me, this course will greatly expand your skills and knowledge. The course includes many examples, practical exercises, real life case studies, and guest lecturers. These help to reinforce concepts, apply the math, and master the topics.”

--David Rozene

“One of the best online course for 6 sigma. This course has helped me professionally as well as personally, whether taking a decision or solving a problem raised. Very well-articulated, elaborately explained with proper usage of tools and most importantly usage of formulae & examples for numerical problem solving. Discussion forum to share and learn from your peers and getting your doubts clearly by the staff, who promptly reply to every query posted. Thank you everyone who structured this course as is and my best wishes for your future endeavors.”

--Murali Dhepalli

“I did not have any prior knowledge of Quality Management but have always known the value, importance, and job demand related to this topic. I am very glad that i enrolled for this course, although i have to put little extra efforts and time to understand the material but i am very thankful to Dr. Holly Ott for her special teaching skills to explain every topic in a simple way and with practical examples. I also appreciate the guest speakers and their expertise in the subject. I plan to complete all the three courses of this certificate program as soon as i can. I am into my very first course and within couple of weeks i was motivated to look into CSSGB (Certified Six Sigma Green Belt), as I know CSSGB is going to be very useful for professional advancement. I believe if i understand these three Quality Management courses my foundation to study for CSSGB with be solid. My Humble Gratitude to the entire MOOC team and EdX team and many more who are behind the scene to provide us best education from the top most educational institutes.”

--Asha Grover

“This is my second time around using statistics. In Define and Measure I was able to learn how to apply statistics to define problems in in factories and industries. And the ability to measure the results to start an improvement process. I love the instructors who lectured the course. They all have such a breadth of knowledge. My goal after completing this series is to get certified through ASQ to get my Green Belt. I feel confident that this series will lead to that goal.”

--Previous student

“If you are new to Six Sigma like me, this course will greatly expand your skills and knowledge. The course includes many examples, practical exercises, real life case studies, and guest lecturers. These help to reinforce concepts, apply the math, and master the topics.”

--David Rozene

“One of the best online course for 6 sigma. This course has helped me professionally as well as personally, whether taking a decision or solving a problem raised. Very well-articulated, elaborately explained with proper usage of tools and most importantly usage of formulae & examples for numerical problem solving. Discussion forum to share and learn from your peers and getting your doubts clearly by the staff, who promptly reply to every query posted. Thank you everyone who structured this course as is and my best wishes for your future endeavors.”

--Murali Dhepalli

About This Course:

Understand the background and meaning of Six Sigma and the five steps of the DMAIC process improvement flow: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. Discuss what “Quality” means and how to identify the Voice of the Customer.
You will learn how to set an improvement project goal, calculate process yield, and identify Critical-to-Quality parameters.

You will learn how to map a process and to use the necessary statistical techniques to establish the baseline performance of a process and to calculate the process capability.

To complement the lectures, we provide interactive exercises, which allow learners to see the statistics “in action.” Learners then master the statistical concepts by completing practice problems. These are then reinforced using interactive case studies, which illustrate the application of the statistics in quality improvement situations.

Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

What You’ll Learn:

  • To understand the background and meaning of the Six Sigma methodology and the role of the DMAIC process improvement cycle.
  • To identify the Voice of the Customer and translate into Critical-to-Quality parameters.
  • To understand the concept of random variables, probability mass functions, and probability density functions.
  • To calculate probabilities using the Normal distribution.
  • To understand how the Central Limit Theorem applies to sampling and how to set up sampling plans.
  • To understand the importance of a Measurement System Analysis in a Six Sigma project.
  • To calculate Process Yield and Process Capability.
  • To perform a risk assessment using a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.
  • How to apply the Define and Measure phases of the DMAIC cycle in your work or research, in order to identify problems and quantitatively assess the impact of process changes using statistical analysis.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity

Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate

Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Lean Production
3 Courses 6 Months 3 - 4 Hours per week
Complete Program $264.03
Program Details

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate Program Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).

How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production

Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequentially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure , we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.

Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate for Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure.

What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both the edX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.

What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.

Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.

How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.

How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.

When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB.

Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Martin Grunow is a professor of production and supply chain management at Technische Universität München and an adjunct professor at Technical University Denmark, where he previously held a professorship in Operations Management. Earlier, he worked at Technical University Berlin and in the R&D department of Degussa, a multinational company producing special chemicals. His research interests are in production and logistics management with a focus on the process, electronics and automotive industries. He has coauthored more than 100 publications amongst others in International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, European Journal of Operational Research, CIRP Annals, Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, and OR Spectrum. For the latter two journals, he also acts as an editor. Martin Grunow has been on the program committee and track organizer of more than 30 international conferences and is an associate member of The International Academy of Production Engineering.

Holly Ott

Holly Ott is a professor of Production Management and IT Systems at the University of Rosenheim Applied Sciences and Management, a senior lecturer at the Technical University of Munich and an adjunct professor at Singapore Management University (Singapore), IE Business School (Madrid) and Syracuse University (New York). She holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and has worked for twelve years in quality and supply chain management in the USA, Europe and Asia for Siemens, Motorola, IBM and Infineon. Her work has been in the areas of device simulation, electrical and reliability testing, and quality and supply chain management. She holds a International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC) Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (ICGB) and is a member of the American Society for Quality (asq.org). Holly is the program chair for the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association's Supply Chain Forum and academic director of the TUM Case Centre.

Learner Testimonials

“It is very fulfilling experience to complete the requirements of this course. The new knowledge I gained from the three courses are awesome. This course really like a brick and mortar learning from the start and exceeded my expectations and I am sure other learners also will agree with me. I am a Civil Engineer in construction industry taking up my MBA and this course gave me interest even more on quality that I can apply in our industry. Congratulation team!!! Job well done 😉 Can’t wait to finish the last week (I just passed the whole course few minutes ago 😉 ) …waiting for professional certificate. Thank you.”

- Mark Anthony Santiago

“This is my second time around using statistics. In Define and Measure I was able to learn how to apply statistics to define problems in factories and industries. And the ability to measure the results to start an improvement process. I love the instructors who lectured the course. They all have such a breadth of knowledge. My goal after completing this series is to get certified through ASQ to get my Green Belt. I feel confident that this series will lead to that goal.”

--Previous student

“Before I started, I was worrying the concepts and calculations it might have, for being away from school for so many years. But it turns out very easy to gasp, Prof. Holly explains in very detailed and I have no problem in understanding it. The course is very useful for a start to a systematical quality management tool. The crews are wonderful and very helpful. I love this course and have signed up for the 2nd phrase.”

--Kee Tsui

“I found extremely useful each part of this course from the begining to the end. I am Industrial Engineer working as Process Engineer for a Medical Devices manufactuirng company and we are looking forward to start with process improvement and scrap reduction projects since the delivery (PvsA) is somehow undercontrol. I’m working in three projects to reduce the scrap on my production lines and definetly I’m going to use most of the tools presented here. Great work Holly and all the team. I’m very excited to start the second course.”

— student

“Hello! My name is Luiz Fernandes and I´m from Brazil. I´m just here to say some words about this course. It was the best course I have had first of all, because is really difficult to get a course like this (not just define and measure, but all six sigma series). The price is Brazil is expensive and the quality, I think is not as good like at Technische Universität München. I had amazing teacher like Prof. Dr. Holly Ott and I can say that this course will help me a lot. I lived in a countryside, here is hard to get a good education and I belive an opportunity like this, to take an incredible course, taught by amazing professionals is something worthwhile. The content is relevant and open your eyes to how importante is quality in our world. I´m a Mechatronics technician, trying to improve myself in a poor place and I know I can do it through a good education and get a new job. I know this course was essential in this way, in my way. Thank you.”

—Luiz Fernandez

“It is very fulfilling experience to complete the requirements of this course. The new knowledge I gained from the three courses are awesome. This course really like a brick and mortar learning from the start and exceeded my expectations and I am sure other learners also will agree with me. I am a Civil Engineer in construction industry taking up my MBA and this course gave me interest even more on quality that I can apply in our industry. Congratulation team!!! Job well done 😉 Can’t wait to finish the last week (I just passed the whole course few minutes ago 😉 ) …waiting for professional certificate. Thank you.”

- Mark Anthony Santiago

“This is my second time around using statistics. In Define and Measure I was able to learn how to apply statistics to define problems in factories and industries. And the ability to measure the results to start an improvement process. I love the instructors who lectured the course. They all have such a breadth of knowledge. My goal after completing this series is to get certified through ASQ to get my Green Belt. I feel confident that this series will lead to that goal.”

--Previous student

“Before I started, I was worrying the concepts and calculations it might have, for being away from school for so many years. But it turns out very easy to gasp, Prof. Holly explains in very detailed and I have no problem in understanding it. The course is very useful for a start to a systematical quality management tool. The crews are wonderful and very helpful. I love this course and have signed up for the 2nd phrase.”

--Kee Tsui

“I found extremely useful each part of this course from the begining to the end. I am Industrial Engineer working as Process Engineer for a Medical Devices manufactuirng company and we are looking forward to start with process improvement and scrap reduction projects since the delivery (PvsA) is somehow undercontrol. I’m working in three projects to reduce the scrap on my production lines and definetly I’m going to use most of the tools presented here. Great work Holly and all the team. I’m very excited to start the second course.”

— student

“Hello! My name is Luiz Fernandes and I´m from Brazil. I´m just here to say some words about this course. It was the best course I have had first of all, because is really difficult to get a course like this (not just define and measure, but all six sigma series). The price is Brazil is expensive and the quality, I think is not as good like at Technische Universität München. I had amazing teacher like Prof. Dr. Holly Ott and I can say that this course will help me a lot. I lived in a countryside, here is hard to get a good education and I belive an opportunity like this, to take an incredible course, taught by amazing professionals is something worthwhile. The content is relevant and open your eyes to how importante is quality in our world. I´m a Mechatronics technician, trying to improve myself in a poor place and I know I can do it through a good education and get a new job. I know this course was essential in this way, in my way. Thank you.”

—Luiz Fernandez