Lean Six Sigma

Green Belt or Black Belt? Understand the main differences

Learn the main differences that the Green Belt or Black Belt professional brings to the market

Thiago Coutinho
Published on Jul 5, 2017  ·  Updated on Oct 5, 2021
Green or Black Belt

Nowadays, in the manufacturing and business environments, much is heard about the professionals at Lean Six Sigma, isn't it? But among all of them, the required training with greater demand is related to these two specialties of the program: Green Belt or Black Belt.

Extra tip: If you still do not know or want to know more about what Lean Six Sigma certification and methodology is and how it works, I have two great content tips for you: Six Sigma Certification: What it is and how it works and Lean x Six Sigma: What's the Difference? Through these articles, you will be able to understand the main characteristics of both the certification and the methodology.

We have separated in this article some important information about the differences between a professional Green Belt and Black Belt! Check it out:

  • Green Belt or Black Belt: What are their goals?
  • Main differences between Lean levels
  • The Importance of Six Sigma Lean Certification, whether Green Belt or Black Belt

Green Belt or Black Belt: these courses are the most sought after by the program, precisely because it encompasses extremely refined skills and capabilities in the business and industrial environments for the efficient management of continuous improvement projects.

The White Belt and Yellow Belt specialties are also of paramount importance to many company's employees. However, when it comes to enabling a professional to manage a project and a multidisciplinary team of employees, it is necessary to seek competencies in the upper ranks of the program.


Green Belt or Black Belt: What are their goals?


1. While the Green Belt is often represented by technical and specialist professionals, such as engineers, analysts and even supervisors the Black Belt usually represents managers and coordinators


2. The Green Belt maintains about 20% to 30% of his time spent on a continuous improvement project the Black Belt usually takes up 100% of his time to the Lean Six Sigma improvement program


3. The Green Belt is usually restricted to developing a continuous improvement project at a time in its industry. They are not allowed to develop two projects in parallel the Black Belt is responsible for managing, monitoring, and running multiple Lean Six Sigma projects throughout the organization, including some which Green Belts are developing in their areas


4. The Green Belt seeks to develop better solutions in his area the Black Belt has an even broader look at the company's critical processes that need better management and control, which is precisely the areas in which it seeks greater involvement and participation


5. While the Green Belt usually takes 4-6 months to complete a Lean Six Sigma project the Black Belt professional takes about six to eight months to complete it, largely because of the complexity of the project, the extent it has, and the predicted monetary return it has estimated


6. The Green Belt follows the hierarchy by responding to its immediate supervisor in the industry and even to the Black Belt when it comes to the improvement project the Black Belt responds directly - most of the time - to the company's own directors and, in some cases, to the organization's Master Black Belt if it has this other program specialty.



Continue to specialize in the Lean Six Sigma methodology and take the next step for your professional recognition now! With the advancement of tools and techniques from Green Belt to Black Belt you will be able to delve even deeper into this methodology, offer greater results to organizations, consequently being a prominent professional in the market!

Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma

Main differences between Lean levels


It is also important to understand a little more about the hierarchy of the Lean Six Sigma methodology and how their differences work for each professional.


Lean Certifications


  1. White Belt

The White Belt professional will be responsible for understanding the basic processes of the methodology and applying it during the performance of his activities, as well as significantly understanding the importance of the changes made.


  1. Yellow Belt

Unlike the White Belt professional, the Yellow Belt certification allows the principles of the methodology to be more understood, Assisting in the process of implementing this culture.


  1. Green Belt

Green Belt training offers professionals access and training for Lean tools, optimizing processes within organizations and generating more results


  1. Black Belt

The Black Belt professional must master Lean tools and methodologies, applying the concepts learned throughout their professional development and leading teams and projects to increase the results of organizations.


  1. Master Black Belt

The highest level in the Lean methodology is the Master Black Belt and acts as a mentor for the other professionals who are still at lower levels. Certifications for this professional may vary slightly, and present individual characteristics for each region.


The Importance of Six Sigma Lean Certification, whether Green Belt or Black Belt


Whatever specialty suits your profile within the program, pursuing this training in the present times can be very advantageous for you to achieve your replacement in the job market, your professional promotion or even increasing performance in achieving better results in the function you already occupy.


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Thiago Coutinho
Written by
Thiago has a degree in Production Engineering, a graduate course in statistics and a degree in administration from the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF). Black Belt in Lean…

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