Six Sigma / Productivity Management Program (SSP)

The 6-month Six Sigma and Productivity Management Program (SSP) provides students with the practical training needed to become qualified, proficient quality improvement practitioners. Students initially are prepared to gain their Yellow Belt certification before proceeding through to the training that support their eventual Green Belt certification.

The program is intense as it drives students to develop the practical and critical skills they need to successfully complete process improvement projects in their respective organizations. This program provides students with the practical training needed to drive organizational change and productivity improvement from the very start of the training process.

Incoming students are assumed to have an interest but no formal background in productivity improvement, and are taken from the introductory courses in the Six Sigma methodology to an initial certification as Six Sigma Yellow Belts. Further training will prepare students for certification as Green Belts and eventually as Green Belts. Students are expected to complete their formal testing and receive their certification through any of the recommended Six Sigma certification bodies.

The course structure mirrors the step-wise, systematic approach of the Six Sigma (DMAIC) methodology. It takes students from the highly critical "Define" phase to the "Control" phase, emphasizing practical implementation at each stage.

Introduction to Lean Six Sigma

As indicated earlier, the Six Sigma and Productivity Improvement Program does not assume prior knowledge or familiarity with Six Sigma (or Lean Six Sigma). In this introductory segment, participants will get a general overview of the history, origins and conceptual foundations of Six Sigma, with a particular emphasis on DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve Control) methodology, the framework for the entire course, and Six Sigma core principles.  Students will also get an up-close look at the various process improvement phases from Define to Control.

Define the Improvement Opportunities

Every successful business enterprise continuously finds ways to maximize profits by operating more efficiently. In this segment, students will learn to identify opportunities for improvement and make the business case for getting buy-in from their stakeholders. Furthermore, the students will now learn how to convert the comments and complaints from frustrated customers into tangible requirements that can be measured and addressed. They will become adept at mapping their current business or manufacturing process, the first step in determining how the work really gets done. This is almost always and eye-opening experience as one discovers numerous improvement opportunities that were once hidden.

Measure your Performance

This is the phase where students learn how to measure the performance of their business processes. In this segment, students learn to determine what indicators should be measured to improve the process and address customer concerns. Furthermore, the students learn how to collect data in order to measure the selected indicators. Initially, the data collected will focus on lead time reduction and quality improvement.  Invariably, the students learn to determine the baseline performance in this segment that becomes the standard used to measure improvement.

Analyze your Opportunities

 The rubber meets the road in this segment as students learn analytical and statistical techniques used to analyze the data collected in order to identify root cause of problems or issues in a process. These techniques include but are not limited to Regression Analysis, 5 whys, Pareto Chart, Cause and Effect (fishbone) Diagram and Hypothesis Testing. Ultimately, students learn how to validate and verify the root cause after analysis has been completed.

Improve Your Performance

In this segment, students learn how to implement solutions to the validated root causes that data analysis has confirmed by applying tools that include Affinity Diagrams, Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Cost Benefit Analysis; and techniques such as Benchmarking, Brainstorming and solution piloting. The students learn how to evaluate, select and prioritize solutions that will improve performance using techniques such as Benchmarking, Brainstorming and solution piloting. Furthermore, the students learn how to develop the to-be process Map and the plan to implement it.

Control Your Performance

Participants learn the importance of “mistake proofing” a process to prevent defects for occurring in the future. Furthermore, in this segment, students learn how to develop process control plans to ensure that improvements to the process are maintained. To this end, students learn how to implement risk management and process control systems for the process. Also, they learn the importance of documenting the new standards and procedures. In addition, the students learn how to create dashboards to monitor the process and ensure continued success. 

The course curriculum is outlined below:

Introduction to Six Sigma

• Introduction to Process Improvement
• History of Six Sigma (and Lean)
• Definition of Six Sigma (and Lean)
• Introduction to the DMAIC Process Improvement Methodology

 Define the Improvement Opportunities

• Develop a Project Charter
• Critical To Quality (CTQ) Requirements
• As-Is Processing and Value Stream Mapping

 Measure Your Performance

• Decide what to measure (Indicator)
• Identification of output, input and process variables
• Develop Operational Definitions
• Data Collection Plan /Matrix
• Measurement System Analysis (MSA) and Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility
• Capability Analysis
• Data Display

 Analyze Your Opportunities

• Identification of Potential Root Cause
• Brainstorming, Fish bone Diagram, 5 whys,
• Root Cause Analysis
• Correlation, Regression, Failure Modes & Effect Analysis (FMEA)
• Root Cause Validation and Prioritization
• Hypothesis Testing

 Improve Your Performance

• Potential Solution Identification and Generation
• Brainstorming, Affinity Diagram, Benchmarking
• Evaluation and Selection of Potential Solutions
•  Priority Matrix, Solution Selection Matrix, Cost / Benefit Analysis
• New Process Roadmap Development
• To-Be Process Mapping, FMEA / Risk Identification “To Be” Process
• Pilot Solution
• Implementation Plan
• Stakeholder Management and Communications Plan, Training Plan

 Control Your Performance

• Develop Standards and Procedures Documentation
• Launch Implementation
• Sustain Performance gains
• Mistake Proofing, Risk Management -FMEA
• Creation of Process Control and Response Plan
• Results Monitoring
• Dashboard Creation
• Finalize and Transfer Project to Process Owner
• Key Lessons Learned
• Opportunities for further improvements and replication

Classes are designed to be convenient for working as well as supported students. Classes are usually scheduled for evenings and weekends where convenient for the cohort.

Students are assigned to cohorts based on a balance between availability in a given cohort and indicated preference of students during the application process. (Individualized classes are scheduled at the convenience of the student and the instructor but must meet the minimum participation requirements for the program.)

The exact schedule of classes and the electronic credentials needed for online access are provided to students in their Admissions Package.

• SSP courses each run for 6 months (24 weeks).
• SSP cohorts typically start the first (working) Monday of every month.
• Registration for new SSP cohorts closes 1 month in advance of the start date. (For instance, students who want to participate in a  program starting in January need to be registered by the end of November.) This is to ensure proper planning and management of cohort sizes.
• SSP classes typically meet online twice a week; registered students have access to study and test material on the online platform every day of the week.
• Special classes for organizations, groups or associations may be arranged outside of this standing schedule. (For group schedules, send email to )

IDMANN Institute is committed to providing affordable, quality education for as many students as possible. The institution provides a standing bursary for students in most of our programs based on available financial resources. The goal of the bursary is to assist students in a particular demographic or grouping that may legitimately benefit from the program but may face financial challenges in covering the full cost of tuition.

IDMANN Challenge Bursary:

This program is supported by the IDMANN Challenge Bursary. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is financial aid provided by IDMANN Institute and partner organizations that fund the Enterprise Development Fund. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary supports students according to the following criteria:

1. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary only covers tuition, not the application fee. Awards are made AFTER students have applied and have been successfully admitted into the program.
2. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary will only support the first ten (10) students to apply in the qualifying cohort. This means that students who apply early are more likely to be successfully considered for the bursary award. The Challenge Bursary is made on a "first-come first-awarded" basis. Students in eligible countries are STRONGLY encouraged to apply early and to indicate their intent to apply for the bursary award. (No special form is required, simply indicate in the application form.)  
3. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary covers 50% of the tuition for students. It does NOT cover the application fee. 
4. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary operates on a contributory basis. This means that students must pay their share of the tuition IN A TIMELY MANNER for the bursary to be applied. In the event that students fail to make their payments in a timely manner, the bursary award will automatically lapse and students will be responsible for the full tuition.
5. Bursary awards are for a specific cohort in a specific course and cannot be transferred to another course. However, in the event that the award recipient needs to transfer to a different cohort within the same course, upon approval of their instructor, the bursary award may be transferred to the new cohort at the same level of support as in the previous cohort.
6. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is available subject to continued availability of funds to support the bursary. The Institute and supporting partners may terminate the program without prior notice. In any circumstance, students awarded a bursary will receive the committed support through the completion of their studies at IDMANN Institute.
7. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is available only to students applying to the program and are RESIDENT in the following countries at the time of application: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Jamaica, Kenya, Tanzania, Guyana, Suriname, Haiti and Indonesia.

 National Service Bursary (Nigeria, Ghana and US):

1. Graduates from post-secondary tertiary institutions in Ghana are required to participate in the National Service Scheme. Similarly, graduates from post-secondary tertiary institutions in Nigeria are required to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the US, young graduates may elect to join the Peace Corps for international experience or join the domestic AmeriCorps program.
2. These programs are intended to support community and national development and to provide a transitional experience for young graduates by assigning them to varied places of employment during the service period. IDMANN Institute supports the motivation behind these national services programs and is proud to extend a unique bursary to active members.
3. In support of this, ACTIVE members of these national service programs may apply for a National Service Bursary. The National Service Bursary covers 60% of the tuition for eligible applicants. It does NOT cover the application fee for SSP applicants.
4. To qualify for the National Service Bursary, applicants must be registered in the national service program (or received their call-up documents) at the time of application to the program. (Applicants cannot combine the EPP Challenge Bursary and the National Service Bursary.)
5. The National Service Bursary will only support the first one hundred (100) applicants in the qualifying SSP cohort. This means that applicants who apply early are more likely to be successfully considered for the bursary award. The National Service Bursary is made on a "first-come first-awarded" basis. Students in eligible countries are STRONGLY encouraged to apply early and to indicate their intent to apply for the bursary award. (No special form is required, simply indicate in the application form.)  
6. The National Service Bursary operates on a contributory basis. This means that students must pay their share of the tuition IN A TIMELY MANNER for the bursary to be applied. In the event that students fail to make their payments in a timely manner, the bursary award will automatically lapse and students will be responsible for the full tuition.
7. Bursary awards are for a specific cohort in a specific course and cannot be transferred to another course. However, in the event that the award recipient needs to transfer to a different cohort within the same course, upon approval of their instructor, the bursary award may be transferred to the new cohort at the same level of support as in the previous cohort.
8. The National Service Bursary is available subject to continued availability of funds to support the bursary. The Institute and supporting partners may terminate the program without prior notice. In any circumstance, students awarded a bursary will receive the committed support through the completion of their studies at IDMANN Institute.

Application & Registration Fees: