Whitman School helps companies save money with Black Belt Training

Tuesday, March 20, 2007, By News Staff

Whitman School helps companies save money with Black Belt TrainingMarch 20, 2007Amy Schmitzaemehrin@syr.edu

Sometimes, online courses can do more than just impart information — they can help businesses save money. The supply chain management program in the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University is offering its third “Black Belt Learning” with the Online Six Sigma Methodology program, a unique program that helps businesses improve their overall procedures — and saves them money in the process.

In fact, in the past two years, the Six Sigma program at Whitman has saved 14 companies more than $3.5 million. The companies include DHL, Carrier, Elizabeth Arden, Thruway Fasteners, Utica National, Anheuser-Busch and Advanced DC. The Whitman Six Sigma program has also certified 16 students in “Black Belt Learning.”

“Six Sigma is a crucial skill-set in today’s business world,” says Pat Penfield, director of the supply chain management executive program in the Whitman School. “Six Sigma allows organizations to eliminate variation within their processes. The Bank of America reported $2 billion in savings by using the Six Sigma methodology. The question all organizations have to ask is how can they afford not to do Six Sigma?”

Six Sigma is a quality management program that measures and improves the operational performance of a company by identifying and correcting defects in the company’s processes and products. The next Whitman Online Six Sigma Methodology program begins May 29. The 12-week program costs $6,000. Through a series of online lectures and demonstrations, participants will use Six Sigma skills to find solutions for various projects. The program also includes four optional classroom days at the Whitman School.

Whitman’s supply chain program was recently ranked as the 10th-best program in the nation in a recent survey of academics and practitioners in Supply Chain Management Review. For more information, contact Penfield at (315) 443-3428 or pcpenfie@syr.edu.