Enhance your résumé and become an essential asset to your organization with online Lean Six Sigma certifications from JMU.
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Classes meet online with certified Master Black Belt instructors
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Schedule and courseload designed for working professionals
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Taught using a case-study model for practice applying learned principles in the workplace
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Prepares you to efficiently lead smaller-scale projects and assist with larger initiatives
Sharpen your business process improvement skills.
Program Overview
Lean Six Sigma certification at James Madison University honors a tradition of academic excellence. The well-trained professionals who complete our program learn how to drive strategic process improvements that help organizations operate efficiently and realize tremendous cost savings.
JMU’s online Lean Six Sigma certification program is an in-depth, interactive learning experience, using a case-study model which supports your learning by helping you apply new skills to the real world:
- The program coursework is completed through our unique online platform designed for working adults.
- Live online Lean Six Sigma certification classes are taught by Master Black Belt instructors.
- Online learning includes simulations, regular assessments, and weekly lectures that gauge your progress throughout the program.
- Completion of either certification includes access to the online supplemental materials for one calendar year.
- Program based on a case-study model, ensuring a learning outcome you can apply within your own professional role.
Green Belt Certification
February 4th-27th
Tuesdays & Thursdays
6:30-9:00 p.m., ET
ENROLL HERE NOW
Investment: $2200
This 4-week class combines self-paced learning with live, instructor-led online training. Instructor-led classes meet each Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 - 9:00 pm, ET.
Black Belt Certification
Fall 2025 dates upcoming
Investment: $4995*
This 8-week class combines self-paced learning with live, instructor-led online training. Instructor-led classes meet each Tuesday and Wednesday from 6:30 pm-9:00 pm, ET. Classes will not be held the 26th and 27th of November in observance of the holiday.
*10% discount available to JMU Lean Six Sigma Green Belt graduates.
What is Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma is a powerful, deployment strategy for business process improvement in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness. The key principles used include:
- Focus on the customer
- Identify and understand how the work gets done
- Manage, improve, and smooth the process flow
- Remove unnecessary, redundant steps and wastes
- Manage by fact and data
- Systematically improve process activity
- Continuous quality improvement
The DMAIC Process
The DMAIC Process is the heart of Six Sigma. It is a rational decision-making approach to business process improvement. DMAIC (“deh-MAY-ick”) stands for Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control.
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The Lean Six Sigma Organizational Structure
Any Lean Six Sigma program has its own organizational structure. Each level of the organizational hierarchy has roles and responsibilities. The foundation of JMU's Lean Six Sigma Program is the Green Belt.
Green Belts
Lean Six Sigma Green Belts are participants in Lean Six Sigma projects and the foundation of the process. They understand problem-solving, data collection, data interpretation, variation, process capability, and cost analysis. Green Belts often assist Black Belts on larger initiatives and lead smaller-scale projects.
Black Belts
Lean Six Sigma Black Belts are thoroughly trained individuals with expertise in using statistical tools and interpreting analytical results. Black Belts are expected to identify opportunities, lead initiatives, and coach Green Belts.
Master Black Belt
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts are quality improvement experts responsible for large-scale strategic implementations within an organization. Master Black Belt responsibilities include training and mentoring Black Belts and Green Belts, helping prioritize initiatives, and selecting or chartering high-impact projects. You will learn from Master Black Belt instructors in our JMU Lean Six Sigma programs.
Champion
Lean Six Sigma Champions provide support and resources, as well as remove roadblocks during projects. Champions have an understanding of six sigma methods, measurements, and business processes. Improvements can only happen with a champion. Typically your employer will serve as your project champion.
Testimonials
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“The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate Program through JMU had excellent online learning content and reference tools paired with an instructor that led great discussions using the curriculum while relating it to his first-hand experiences. The format of this course is well-suited for those who want to further their development while continuing to work full-time. The knowledge I have gained in this course has given me a greater ability to make differences that can be seen on a company’s bottom line and is something I will take with me throughout my career.” Matthew Pomerleau, Engineering and Maintenance Manager |
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
With Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, you will be prepared to support organizational change through project management, communication, and technical process improvement. After earning your Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification from JMU, you will be able to quantify deliverables to an organization in terms of cost, quality, cycle time, or safety improvements.
JMU’s non-credit online Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification program employs the DMAIC (deh-MAY-ick) framework to help you undertake systematic improvement activity in your business processes:
- Define: A project begins with a problem requiring a solution. Ensure everyone involved with the project knows their role, the nature of the problem, and the project’s mission.
- Measure: The work completed in the Define stage is based on identification of the problem. During the Measure stage, you must quantify/qualify the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the current work process(es).
- Analyze: With a clearer picture provided by the Define and Measure steps, it’s time to examine and interpret the facts uncovered, and thus identify the root of your problem.
- Improve: Brainstorm, and then ultimately select the most appropriate solution to your problem. Apply your solution to test its effectiveness.
- Control: Maintain the project's improvements by drafting the new solution's control plan.
A Green Belt can impact an organization's bottom line. Green Belt certification from JMU communicates to an employer that you have been trained in basic problem-solving skills and the statistical tools needed to work effectively on process improvement under supervision of a Black Belt.
To ensure our graduates are qualified for employment after earning a Lean Six Sigma certificate and are prepared for the challenging education in this program, we require:
Either at least four years of professional work experience OR a four-year degree in any field, and:
- An understanding of basic mathematical functions.
- Experience/general ease with computer software usage.
- Access to a laptop/desktop with an up-to-date browser, screen resolution of at least 1280 x 1024 pixels, Flash version 9 or above, session cookies enabled, and JavaScript enabled. Taking this class on a mobile phone is not recommended.
- We advise non-native English speakers have a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of at least 250 on the computer-based exam, or 100 on the internet-based exam.
You must:
- Pass the final exam with a 70% or higher.
- Not miss more than one of the live lectures.
JMU’s Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Program is unique in that it covers the technical aspects of Lean Six Sigma, along with sound management practices. More specifically, we use the Case-Study approach for assignments based on real-world organizational issues.
Green Belts are capable of leading projects that are smaller in scope (i.e., 90-120 days) and well-defined to focus on a specific issue.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification from JMU demonstrates to an employer that you are trained in advanced problem-solving skills and the statistical tools necessary to effectively lead process improvement. Certified Black Belts directly impact an organization’s bottom line. As one of the elite few who pursue this certification, a Master Black Belt-certified instructor will provide you with an advanced understanding of team dynamics, as well as how to improve a team’s leadership skills and competently assign roles and responsibilities to team members.
JMU Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification will enable you to:
- Implement Six Sigma philosophies, principles, and related systems and tools; describe their impact on various business processes.
- Recognize organizational roadblocks and use change management techniques.
- Define benchmarking and utilize various financial and other business performance measures.
- Identify customer requirements and describe the impact that Six Sigma projects may have on various types of customers.
- Demonstrate understanding of project charter elements and use various tools to track progress.
- Demonstrate basic understanding of data collection techniques, process elements, and process analysis tools.
- Perform hypothesis testing and analyze results.
- Design experiments and analyze results.
- Develop control plans and use various tools to maintain and sustain improvements.
- Assign team members roles and responsibilities.
Value
The value of enrolling in our online Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification extends beyond the all-inclusive program format. Along with passing the final exam, you must complete a project in order to demonstrate your ability to apply Black Belt principles. These two components will prepare you to effectively apply Lean Six Sigma Black Belt concepts at your organization. Not sure if you will have a project idea for class? That’s okay, our instructor will assist you with project ideas.
A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt impacts an organization’s bottom line by applying the tools that are taught in JMU's Black Belt training. Our Black Belt certification communicates to an employer that you are trained in advanced problem-solving skills and the statistical tools needed to effectively lead process improvement projects.
To register for JMU’s Black Belt program, you will need to have completed either JMU’s Green Belt program or an offering of similar intensity.
You must:
- Pass the final exam with a 70% or higher.
- Complete and pass the Black Belt project.
- Not miss more than one of the live lectures.
Meet Your Instructors
We hire experienced Master Black Belt instructors for the Lean Six Sigma programs. Each instructor below is a practitioner of both Six Sigma and Lean principles.
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Dr. Ben Samimy teaches Process Improvement/Business Process Re-engineering courses at James Madison University. His experience includes 15+ years of applying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) principles, implementing LSS across organizations, developing curricula, coaching, mentoring, and teaching LSS courses at all levels. He has taught over 5,000 students and employees in academia and companies. His students come from a broad cross-section of professional backgrounds, including engineering, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, HR, and other business/service industries. Ben holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with an M.S. and B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Ben currently teaches our Green Belt course. |
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Scott Fowler is a certified Master Black Belt and Lean Master. He has been a Lean Six Sigma consultant within a diverse cross-section of industries over the past 20 years including government, manufacturing, energy production, healthcare & pharmaceutical, finance, and service industries. As a consultant, he has assisted multiple government agencies with the rollout and deployment of Continuous Process Improvement programs including: strategic planning, project identification, staff training, performance reporting, and hands-on project work. He has led Process Improvement initiatives as a Director of Quality at a major manufacturing corporation. He was responsible for management and financial performance of a Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing program for 13 facilities in five countries. These programs achieved cost savings in excess of $25,000,000 on $1.1 billion in sales. Scott has an extensive background in transactional services, materials management and logistics, and experience with maximizing process flow. As a Deployment Director and Master Black Belt, Scott has trained over 500 Black Belts, Green Belts, and Master Black Belts in North America, Europe, and Asia. In addition to training, Scott has supplied direction in the launch of Lean Six Sigma programs including education of management and staff, structure of implementation, identification of projects, determination of cost accounting methods, and selection of candidates. Activities in these multiple corporate deployments include creating infrastructure design, communication plans, business process assessments, and generating projects. Scott has also supported Six Sigma deployments as a coach, deployment strategy analyst, and curriculum customizer. Scott currently teaches our Black Belt course. |
Registration Information
Program Fee: Fee includes one year of access to self-paced course materials.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt $2,200.00
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt $4,995.00
*A 10% discount is available to JMU Lean Six Sigma Green Belt graduates.
Additional Payment Options: Additional payment options may be available for this program. Visit the payment options page for more details.
Admission Requirements: To ensure our graduates are prepared for the challenging education in this program, we require:
- At least four years of professional work experience OR a four-year degree in any field.
- Access to the internet with high-speed connection (courses are taught exclusively in an online environment).
- To enroll in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, you also must have a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification either through JMU or another institution.
Program Requirements:
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - In order to earn your Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, you must score at least a 70% on the final exam and not miss more than one of the live lectures. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt through James Madison University.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt - In order to earn your Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, you must score at least a 70% on the final exam, complete your Black Belt project, and not miss more than one of the live lectures. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be certified as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt through James Madison University.
Registration Deadline: Registration closes a week prior to class start date.
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