March 27, 2008

Six Sigma Green Belt certificate offered at College of Technology at Anderson

The certificate will be part of a four-course module covering two semesters. During the process, students will be required to identify, produce and complete a business project in a realistic setting.

Students who successfully complete the courses and a project will become certified by Purdue as Six Sigma Green Belts. They also will be eligible for the Green Belt exam offered by the American Society for Quality.

The four courses that are part of the program are industrial organization, industrial quality control, introduction to problem solving and lean manufacturing. These courses count for credit and can be applied toward a bachelor's degree in industrial technology.

"This program is beneficial to anyone working in industry who wants to improve his or her managerial skills and who is interested in pursuing a four-year degree at Purdue," said Chad Laux, a visiting professor of industrial technology and the certificate program's manager. "Our program offers students an opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with those experienced in industry and prepares them not only to enter our industrial technology program, but also gives them excellent skills they will use in the work force."

Six Sigma is a set of practices to systematically improve processes by eliminating defects. A Green Belt is an employee who implements Six Sigma processes along with other job responsibilities. Green Belts work under Black Belts, who are dedicated solely to Six Sigma functions.

Laux said the Green Belt training teaches skills such as problem solving in a technical environment, change management and entrepreneurship.

Students interested in the certificate program can contact Laux at (765) 648-2905 or claux@purdue.edu. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt from General Electric, Caterpillar, the American Society for Quality, and is an instructor in the Purdue program.

Purdue's College of Technology at Anderson is located at the Anderson University Flagship Center at 2705 Enterprise Drive at Interstate 69 and Pendleton Avenue. The location offers bachelor's degrees in both industrial technology and organizational leadership and supervision, and associate's degrees in computer and information technology, electrical engineering technology, and organizational leadership and supervision.

Writer: Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Source: Chad Laux, (765) 648-2905, claux@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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