We are proud to offer this opportunity for professional development. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) provides tangible outcomes that benefit our campus community. We firmly believe in this as an investment in our staff and community and we greatly appreciate your time and commitment to continuous improvement at UCSB.

UCSB launched a LSS Green Belt training pilot in late 2018, organized by Garry Mac Pherson, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services and former CIO Matt Hall. Since that first cohort, over 50 UCSB staff have graduated from the program and earned their Green Belts.

The LSS Green Belt course includes hands-on, instructor-led training via UC San Diego Extension. This training entails eight half-day sessions of virtual instruction over a two month period. These training sessions will be taking place on Friday mornings. In addition to their training, Green Belt candidates will also complete a process improvement project that results in a minimum of $40K hard or soft savings for campus and present their final project work for evaluation approximately 6 weeks after the last day of instruction.

Application Information

The application window for FY 22/23 is coming soon!  We anticipate that applications will be submitted during late May through mid-June.  Specific dates and information will be posted on the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training webpage as they become available.

Please consider joining us for an informational session on May 19th from 4:00 - 5:00 PM.  Register for this session, hosted by OCIO, using this registration link.  We will be going over the process for applying, tips for project selection, details around the class experience, and sharing the experiences from past Green Belt graduates.

Green Belt applicants must obtain their supervisor’s endorsement and submit a project proposal. Selected applicants will be announced in early July at which point they may confirm their participation in the upcoming Green Belt training (beginning on 08/05/22).

Please note that completing the Yellow Belt program is not a requirement, but it can provide a solid start to your LSS journey, as well as assist you in preparing for your project.

Green Belt Training Topics and Schedule Topics Covered

After completing the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program, participants will be able to:

  • Define what Lean Six sigma is, where it came from, and why organizations benefit from it
  • List and describe the Lean Six Sigma roles
  • List and define each of the 8 Wastes
  • Describe how to find and select a worthwhile Lean Six Sigma project
  • Summarize the Lean Six Sigma improvement method known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control)
  • Describe how to create a project charter, gather the voice of the customer, and build a high-level map of the process
  • Describe how to select measures, plan for data collection, and collect baseline data about a process
  • Describe how to conduct process analysis, conduct data analysis, and then brainstorm and validate root causes of process problems
  • Describe how to craft, filter and determine potential solutions to process problems, and then mitigate the risks of process change
  • Describe how to create monitoring plans, develop response plans, and document the project

Schedule Additional Information

There will be a 1-hour orientation session 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the training (date/time to be determined).

Live online (synchronous) training sessions will take place on the following dates, running from approximately 8:30 am - 11:30 am:

  • Friday, 08/05/22 - Session 1: Intro (8 Wastes)         
  • Friday, 08/12/22 - Session 2: Define
  • Friday, 08/19/22 - Project Discussion/Coaching
  • Friday, 08/26/22 - Session 3: Measure
  • Friday, 09/09/22 - Session 4: Analyze
  • Friday, 09/16/22 - Session 5: Improve
  • Friday, 09/23/22 - Session 6: Control
  • Friday, 09/30/22 - Session 7: Project Updates

Final project presentations will take place on Friday, 12/02/22 from 8:30 - 11:30 am.

Additional Information

We are here to support you. Please email Katie Mankins at kmankins@ucsb.edu for questions regarding application submission, project selection or the program curriculum and schedule.