Welcome

Six Sigma Yellow Belt — free module

This is the first module of a 20-module course, offered free so you can assess the approach and the quality of instruction before enrolling.

How this works
  • Top bar — indicates your position within the course
  • Left panel — a concept map that builds as you progress, showing how the ideas connect
  • Right panel — your progress and notes. Select any line of text and choose “Add note” to save it
  • A short assessment appears at the start and again at the end, so you can see how your understanding has developed

The module is interactive throughout and takes approximately 10 minutes. Enrollment information for the full course is available via “Get the full course” in the header and at the end of the module.

Six Sigma Yellow Belt

Module 1 of 5What Six Sigma is

Course roadmap
Module 1· you are here
What Six Sigma is
Module 2
Variation & cost of poor quality
Module 3
DMAIC — the method
Module 4
The basic toolkit
Module 5
Being a Yellow Belt on a team
Module 1 · sub-modules
1.1
·
1.2
·
1.3
·
1.4
·
1.5
Fundamental FrontiersBack to main website →

Your mental map

Six SigmaSub-module 1.1VariationCommon causeSpecial causeCost of variationReducing variation1.2 · lockedSigma (σ)3.4 / millionSigma scale1.3 · lockedWhere it beganMeasure–reduce1.4 · lockedBelt levelsYellow Belt1.5 · lockedSpot wasteGather dataRun improvements

Progress

0%

0 of 7 concepts complete

Sub-modules

1.1
Why quality varies and why it matters
1.2
What "Six Sigma" actually means
1.3
Where it came from and why it works
1.4
The belt system
1.5
What you'll be able to do

7 concepts remaining

Beat 1 / 7

Opening Exercise

Test your initial understanding

Beat 1 of 7
0 of 7 concepts

Initial Assessment

Before we begin, let's test your instinct. Answer honestly — we'll come back to this at the end and see how your thinking has sharpened.

A small coffee shop sells 300 cups a day. The owner prides herself on consistency — but no two lattes are ever truly identical. Some cups are a little fuller, some a little hotter, some take longer to make. Most customers never notice. Yet across a whole year, those small differences add up to wasted milk, wasted time, and the occasional complaint.

Not at all consistent50%Highly consistent
Doesn't matter50%Critical
Fundamental FrontiersBack to main website →