Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

June 4, 2025- August 28, 2026

Exam: Due Sept. 26, 2025

Project: Due Aug. 28, 2026

Registration is open. 

register here: 6/4/25 - 8/28/26

About the Black Belt Training

  • Designed for Lean Six Sigma team leaders.
  • Expands upon the skill-set taught in the Green Belt certification.
  • Only offered through distance learning (see requirements section below)
  • Uses the University's Blackboard Learn course management system and Panopto recordings to deliver lectures, notes and other information.
  • Gives valuable business tools to organize, coordinate and lead your organization in achieving process and operational excellence.
  • Emphasizes the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) methodology through analytical and quantitative tools as well as project management, leadership and organizational methods.
  • Instruction on modules in practical DMAIC applications, Failure Mode Effects Analysis, Advanced Lean, Advanced DOE, SPC for non-normal distributions, Optimization, Scheduling & Sequencing, Effective and Efficient teamwork strategies as well as a variety of other tools and analysis methodologies.
  • Completion of lecture material and a grade of 70% or higher on the open book examination is required to earn the Lean Six Sigma Brown Belt and to proceed with the Black Belt project
  • One year to complete a successful Black Belt Project.
  • Certification is not necessary to use the tools and generate improvements (some organizations require certifications for internal and new hire employees in roles that require lean six sigma expertise).

Open to

  • Current Binghamton, non-Binghamton students.
  • Binghamton alumni.
  • Members of industry and non-profit and government agencies.

Requirements

  • Knowledge/education in probability & statistics and/or quality control.
  • A Six Sigma Green Belt (or higher) certification from a recognized program (e.g. the LSS Green Belt program conducted in January 2012 by Dartmouth/Binghamton or 2013-2017 training from Binghamton); a technical society such as the American Society of Quality or the Surface Mount Technical Association; or another University's offering. Your prior certification can be from a "non-Lean" Six Sigma program.
  • Computer/Laptop with Microsoft Excel.
  • A trial version (free for 30 days) of the Minitab software (for statistical analysis) a day before the start of the training program.  Minitab is available for free for all Binghamton students.
  • Updated version of JAVA.

Materials Provided

  • All Instructional Materials.
  • Soft copies of slides.  Students will be responsible for printing documents if desired.
  • All students will be provided with access of slides and lectures via Blackboard course management system. Sessions will be available to view online via Panopto for up to one year.
  • Support via email, phone and virtual office hours with instructors.
  • Grading of take-home exam.
  • Instructor support towards the Black Belt project.
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of exam and project.

Course Outline

Exam

  • Exam is due September 26, 2025.
  • Overall score of 70% or greater is required to pass the test. Notification of exam completion will be by early December at the latest.
  • 40+ hours needed to complete the exam.
  • Late submissions and extensions will NOT BE ACCEPTED.
  • Brown Belt certification conferred upon successful completion of the exam.
  • If failed, can retake the exam by paying a retake/regrade fee of $200.  Only one retake is permitted.

Project

  • Project Charter due no later than  February 1st, 2026.
  • Supporting updates (Project Checkpoint Measures) are due on May 1 and July 1, 2026.
  • Final project due August 28, 2026  NOTE:  Approval of Project Charter and subsequent Project Checkpoint Measures required prior to submission of the final project.
  • Black Belt certification conferred upon successful satisfactory review by the Lean Six Sigma teaching staff.
  • The Black Belt project should solve a real problem in any industry or non-profit agency.
  • The project must not require disclosure of confidential or proprietary information.
  • Binghamton Black Belt team will provide guidance to the candidate during the project completion period; however, it is up to the candidate to find a project. It is often that a University student candidate may use a senior project or MS or Ph.D. thesis material as a Black Belt project.
  • If the student chooses to use the Senior project or MS or Ph.D. thesis material as a Black Belt project, the Binghamton team does not need access to proprietary information used, nor do they need to be on the student's thesis committee.
  • Black Belt project usually takes three to twelve months of work to complete and is conducted by individuals or teams at their place of business within a year of completing the coursework.

Instructors

This course will be lead by a team of faculty from the School of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering as well as graduate students and industry professionals.

Fees & Deadlines

 We will stay open for registrations until June 30, 2024.

Organization Type Fee
Industry $1,950
Government, Non-Profit, Full-Time Non-Binghamton Students, Binghamton Alumni (graduated before May 2024 ) $1,850
Full-Time Current Binghamton Students & recent Binghamton Alumni (graduated May 2024 or after) $925

Group pricing may be available upon request. Contact wtsnindy@binghamton.edu

We reserve the right to cancel our sessions.  If canceled, fees will be refunded in full.

Making Payments

Arrangements for payment must be made before the start of the program. 

Payment Type Notes for Payment
Credit Card/Paypal

Payment is required at the time of registration.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AMEX or PayPal.
Check

Please contact Kodylynn Perkins at wtsnindy@binghamton.edu if you would like to pay by check.

Checks must be received by our office before you can register for the course.
   

Contact us:

Cancellation and Refund Policy

  • All cancellations must be received in writing (email, fax, or letter) by 9 am on June 11, 2025.
  • Allow up to three weeks to receive your refund.
  • No refunds for cancellations or non-completion after the deadline.
  • Refunds are not issued after the course has begun; however, substitutions may be made anytime before the beginning of the course by informing the Office of Industrial Outreach.
  • If the course is canceled, enrollees will be advised and receive a full refund.
  • Cancellations on confirmed registrations are subject to a $50 administrative fee.