Roles in Six Sigma
The individual responsibilities in Lean & Sigma organizations are defined in specific roles:
Champion: The Champion controls and coordinates the roll-out of the Lean & Six Sigma philosophy, selects DMAIC projects, and plans the resources in project management (generally full time).
Sponsor: Sponsors are skilled in Lean & Six Sigma and usually have operational responsibility. They make use of the potential of the Green Belts and Black Belts to continue developing their own area economically and methodically. (Full time as line manager)
Yellow Belt: A Yellow Belts masters the basics of Lean & Six Sigma, makes improvements in his/her own work environment, and assists in Green Belt and Black Belt projects (part time).
Green Belt: A Green Belt possesses extended base knowledge about Lean & Six Sigma und leads DMAIC-projects independently, most often in the own work environment (20% of work time).
Black Belt: A Black Belt masters the most important tools from the area of Lean & Six Sigma, and implements DMAIC projects across departments and organizations. Black Belts are mostly excellent leaders who are exempted from operational responsibilities (Full time).
Master Black Belt: A Master Black Belt is skilled with an excellent knowledge of Lean & Six Sigma, trains all roles within Lean & Six Sigma, leads major, even interdisciplinary projects, and is often located in top management (Full time).
White Belt: White Belts master basic knowledge to understand the idea of the lean philosophy and spread it in the organization.