FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2005

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, November 2, 2005 - Now in its second year, the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification program through San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies is designed to help secure the long-term competitive advantage of your company.

The focus is on bottom line results, where the outcomes are measurable and the benefits obvious. The training is applied directly to projects which save companies money. Emphasis is placed on learning to produce better, faster, and lower cost products and services than the competition.

Industry surveys show that companies with Six Sigma programs hire and reward those employees who have a Six Sigma certification. The average Green Belt salary is around $65,000. The median expected salary for a typical Six Sigma Black Belt in the United States is $81,452.

Just what are Lean and Six Sigma?

The Lean approach to continuous improvement reduces the time from your customer request to the delivery of your product or service by eliminating non-value added steps in any work process. Six Sigma uses statistical analysis to identify areas of potential weakness in your processes.

"Six Sigma" got its name from the fact that a sigma of 6 translates into only 3.4 defects per million opportunities. A "sigma rating" identifies the number of defects-per-million in any transactional, service, or manufacturing procedure. Most transactional businesses operate at 2 or 3 sigma, creating serious negative consequences for the business. For example, an organization operating at:

• 2.5 Sigma would generate 158,655 miscalculated pay stubs for every million processed
• 4 Sigma would drop 6,210 calls for every million calls to a call center
• 6 Sigma would allow only 3.4 errors for every million insurance claims processed

Although both Lean and Six Sigma can be taught in independent programs, Lean Six Sigma combines the best practices of each approach, combining the practical tools of Lean with the science of Six Sigma. Lean Six Sigma's goal is to eliminate defects and costs associated with poor quality. Lean makes sure we are working on the right activities, and Six Sigma makes sure we are doing the right things right the very first time.

Who will benefit from this program?

This program is highly recommended for any team or individual responsible for business process improvement, manufacturing, service provision or product design. All levels of the organization, from top managers to line staff, can benefit from the skills and knowledge developed in this program. Professionals in operations, engineering, IT, administration, and those in management positions who are responsible for high-impact projects will find the program especially helpful. Small, medium, and large organizations in industries such as telecommunications, medical device manufacturing, biotech, health care, pharmaceuticals, service, hospitality, public sector, and the military are all prime candidates for this program.

"I do this training day in and day out and have trained hundreds in the industry," said lead instructor Sally Ulman, who consults with numerous organizations on Lean and Six Sigma. "The program we offer through the College of Extended Studies is one of the best out there. The software we use is so easy to learn, we can spend more time in class showing you how to use the tools themselves. Every Black Belt who completes the program comes out with a completed project demonstrating real cost savings for their organization."

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 30 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. For more information on the cutting-edge opportunities offered in manufacturing and other industries, or other programs, visit the College's Web site at www.NeverStopLearning.net.