UB TCIE receives accreditation from national Six Sigma council

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Council for Six Sigma Certification has approved the University at Buffalo Center for Industrial Effectiveness (TCIE) as an accredited Six Sigma training and certification provider.

Six Sigma is an industry-tested system that improves business performance by reducing variation using data and root cause problem solving. Implementation of the methodology’s data-based tools boosts product quality and makes processes more efficient.

The nationally recognized professional accrediting body of Six Sigma has a rigorous review process. To receive accreditation, providers must educate their training participants in all aspects of the council’s Six Sigma Body of Knowledge and meet its proficiency standards when granting certification to participants.

“This gives UB the same distinction as reputable Six Sigma providers across the country,” said Timothy Leyh, TCIE executive director, citing the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and Breakthrough Management Group (BMGI). “And when we learned that fellow AAU members are accredited, we felt it was a good path to take.”

The AAU – the Association of American Universities - is an organization of 62 leading public and private research universities in the United States and Canada. A few AAU members with the Council for Six Sigma Certification distinction include: Boston University, Cornell University, Rutgers University and the University of Michigan.

The council recognizes four Six Sigma UB programs, all of which require completing a company-based improvement project using the Six Sigma methodology. Three are for working professionals and one is exclusive to UB students. They are:

• Six Sigma Green Belt Training and Certification: Participants’ problem-solving abilities are enhanced as they develop the knowledge and skills to collect data and complete small-scale projects.
• Six Sigma Black Belt Training and Certification: Participants are prepared to become the leader within a Six Sigma team by learning the methodology and its process improvement tools at a high level.
• Six Sigma Master Black Belt Training and Certification: Black Belts are propelled to expert status, qualifying them to be leaders of Six Sigma initiatives and educators of the methodology.
• Six Sigma Black Belt Student Certification Program: UB students receive Black Belt instruction while being matched with a company in need of business improvement assistance.

TCIE is Western New York's bridge to excellence; it provides a dynamic link between UB’s expert resources and the region’s business community. Its core focus on engineering solutions and operational excellence drives continual improvements, and ignites innovation and technological advantages. For more information on how TCIE can assist Western New York businesses, visit www.tcie.buffalo.edu or call 716-645-8800.