Six Sigma eLearning Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What really makes the SSEL Six Sigma Live eLearning Courses with VoIP revolutionary and innovative?

A1: The technology of the delivery methodology and the immediate and direct application to the learner’s real-world challenges make the SSEL eLearning course revolutionary and innovative. Before the Internet Age phone connections were a must-have in a live eLearning or distance learning program. The services were intermittent and expensive in all countries but the United States. That is no longer an issue because most of the countries who participate in the global supply chain are broadband capable. Therefore using the Internet for voice communication (VoIP) is the best way to connect with them. This allows the program to be offered globally. Any company can have all of its global team members participate in the same program. 

Six Sigma eLearning, LLC , a New Jersey based Six Sigma Quality consulting and training organization, is the only firm in our industry to offer corporations, government agencies, global clients and individual learners the revolutionary Internet Age Knowledge Delivery System: Interactive eCourse Technology (IET). SSEL’s IET originated as a Six Sigma DMADV project, and carefully developed over 30 months. IET provides users with VoIP and synchronous, live eLearning. Our learners report that the IET is a unique contribution to Six Sigma training that greatly improves the user experience, especially when compared to the traditional asynchronous (pre-recorded) eLearning.

IET is a Virtual Classroom that provides worldwide learners live, instructor-lead, highly interactive, online Six Sigma eCourses, Testing, and Certification anywhere and at anytime. Our learners report that IET offers the best product/price/performance ratios with savings up to 70% -- when compared to all of the costs associated with the traditional classroom. Finally, our affiliation with the Institute of Industrial Engineers that forms the SSEL global training alliance brings a new dimension to the SSEL platform. IIE adds depth, experience, credibility, and knowledge that will benefit the entire quality community of consultants, engineers, employees, managers, executives and other interested parties.

IIE requires the direct application and exam as requirements of this program. Learners will immediately begin to apply the tools to an existing company project. The online discussions with other participants and the mentoring and guidance of the facilitator and IIE resources help the project application be more on-target. Companies have documented substantial savings using this method before the program is even completed.

SSEL Six Sigma eCourse benefits:

• Reduce training costs up to 70% compared to all costs of the traditional classroom.
• Accelerate learning time, improve employee satisfaction and retention rates.
• Create deeper, broader Six Sigma organization knowledge and move up the Sigma Level to Organization Excellence.
• Reduce employee resistance by simultaneous global company-wide training.
• Increase employee competence, readiness, and ability to implement process improvement projects.
• Provide flexible, consistent, training anywhere and at anytime.
• Deliver employee competency improvement at greatly reduced cost, in half the time, and double employee retention rate.
• Learn the proven Six Sigma methodology that has generated savings of $427 billion.

Q2: What does the unique SSEL Virtual Classroom offer that traditional classroom training or prerecorded (asynchronous) training doesn’t offer?

A2: SSEL’s IET offers much greater convenience, greater interactivity through special internet-based learner participation tools, and substantially reduced costs when compared to all the costs associated with the traditional classroom.  IET offers many unique user-friendly benefits when compared to traditional pre-recorded eLearning. IET’s unique VoIP feature offers learners and instructors live voice communication in real-time to freely ask/answer questions, exchange ideas, take/view instant learner polls/quizzes. IET also offers remarkable internet-based shared learning activities like: (a) the ability to share computer desktops, (b) web browsers, (c) web sites, (d) video clips, (e) software applications/programs like, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and more. Moreover, all of these interactive learning activities are shared simultaneously by all learners at the speed of live, in real-time, and at any global location.   

All of this means that if a learner wants to share a spreadsheet directly associated with the project at hand, he or she can pull up that spreadsheet and everyone in the session can see it and discuss it. Learners can take the entire class to a virtual monitoring system to see the before and after effects of classroom theory put into action. In a pre-recorded, eLearning program with no access to a subject matter expert, the learner may complete the program and not be able to apply the learning.

Q3: How does the SSEL virtual classroom offer savings up to 70% when compared to the costs associated with traditional classroom training?

A3: There are three considerations to take into account when evaluating cost comparisons between the two training methods: Most traditional off-site classroom training versus eLearning: (1) Actual Tuition Cost, (2) Travel and Lodging Cost, (3) Diverted Labor Cost.

The table below describes the dramatic cost saving benefits available from an SSEL/IIE eCourse in Six Sigma Black Belt training and certification.  This is the estimation for one participant/learner spending three hours online per session compared to losing a full day of work (Diverted Labor, column 2, row 3).

[*NOTE: During SSEL’s research and development phase of the DMADV project to develop its new eLearning program: Interactive eCourse Technology (IET), the team discovered the works of Dr. Marc J. Rosenberg, an acknowledged expert in the filed of eLearning. The *cost category items above are based upon his vast experience, and are outlined in the book: eLearning, Strategies for Delivering Knowledge in the Internet Age - by Dr. Rosenberg. Refer to pages 218-219 of the book for greater details of the cost comparison between eLearning versus the traditional classroom].

Q4: What is the Six Sigma content covered in the SSEL Virtual Classroom? 

A4: In the above captioned SSEL Six Sigma Black Belt eCourse we cover the entire generally recognized American Society for Quality Body of Knowledge (ASQ/BOK) associated with Six Sigma Black Belt advanced course, that includes: (i) Certification Overview, (ii) Enterprise-wide Deployment, (iii) Business Process Management, (iv) Project Management, (v) Define phase of DMAIC, (vi) Measure phase of DMAIC, (vii) Analyze phase of DMAIC, (viii) Improve phase of DMAIC, (ix) Control phase of DMAIC, (x) Lean Enterprise, and (xi) DFSS – Design For Six Sigma.

Q5: Are any of the SSEL eCourses approved for college credits?

A5: Yes. The IIE-SSEL Six Sigma Black Belt eCourse has been evaluated by the American Council on Education which has recommended that the course is equivalent to three (3) graduate semester hour credits in statistics for quality assurance and three (3) graduate semester hours in statistical process control or design of experiments (Total of 6 graduate semester hour credits). Contact your college or university to see if the course will be accepted towards a degree. For additional information check the American Council on Education at http://www.acenet.edu.

Q6: What are the available SSEL eCourses and prices, and do the SSEL eCourses require application to an on-the-job project? If so, what does this mean and what does it entail for the learner?

A6: SSEL currently offers clients eight Six Sigma, and Lean Six Sigma eCourses. The Six Sigma eCourses include: (i) SSEL Certified Green Belt (basic course) List Price: $1,897/per learner, (ii) SSEL Certified Green Belt (intermediate course) List Price: $2,197/per learner, (iii) SSEL Certified Black Belt (advanced) List Price: $2,997/per learner, (iv) ASQ Certified Green Belt List Price: $2,197/per learner, (v) ASQ Certified Black Belt List Price: $2,997/per learner, and (vi) IIE Certified Black Belt, List Price: $6,095/per learner. The Lean Six Sigma eCourses include: (i) SSEL Certified Green Belt (basic course) List Price: $2,197/per learner, and (ii) SSEL Certified Black Belt (advanced) List Price: $2,997/per learner,

[Notes: (1) Corporate multiple-learner price discounts apply and are based upon the number of eLearners attending a specific eCourse on the same dates and times), (2) The IIE Certified Black Belt course requires application to an on-the-job project. The IIE eCourse training methodology follows: (a) The eLearner works with their manager to identify and select a Six Sigma process improvement project, that when completed will improve the effectiveness, efficiency, improve process quality, increase customer satisfaction, develop employee team members, and create cost savings for the company, (b) After selecting the project, the learner is required to prepare a Six Sigma Project Charter, and to act as the Project Manager to lead the Six Sigma team members to complete a DMAIC process improvement project to successful conclusion.   The SSEL facilitator will conduct online, live discussion on the selected project to help clarify concepts and help the learner apply them as well as to give feedback on what the learner’s project is accomplishing].

Q7: Is there any information regarding the Six Sigma performance for corporations that have adopted the methodology?  

A7: The iSixSigma magazine issue dated January/February 2007 reports the performance of Fortune 500 companies that have deployed Six Sigma methodology. iSixSigma discovered validated savings of $427 billion! The actual savings would be greater if the researchers had included government agencies, Fortune 1,000 companies, smaller companies and foreign based entities.  

A8: What have the SSEL eLearners said about their experience with the Virtual Classroom? 

A8: The learners tell us that: (a) they really like SSEL’s ability to deliver eCourses right to their computer 24/7, or any time or day of the week that offers users great convenience, (b) they feel the high degree of interaction between the Instructor and the Learner creates the most fertile learning environment available, delivered in a style that is a conversation, not a lecture, (c) they shopped prices on the internet an believe that SSEL’s offer is the most cost-effective, time-efficient, top quality live training offering available. Finally, the Voice of the Customer (VOC) is an important aspect of what we do. This is demonstrated in our Learner Satisfaction Poll (LSP) that is taken after every eClass is completed.

SSEL’s LSP measures three metrics of learner satisfaction: (1) Clarity of eCourse Materials, (2) Is SSEL Meeting your Expectations, and (3) Instructor Effectiveness. SSEL is pleased to report that the average of all Learner Satisfaction Polls to date is an A = Excellent, (Scale ranges from A = Excellent through F= Failing).

Other important facts are that SSEL is fortunate to have the good will of two recognized Six Sigma leaders who are SSEL Advisory Board Members: Eric Maass and George Eckes. Eric is with Motorola and is one of the original creators of Six Sigma methodology. George is the President of Eckes and Associates, Inc., and is one of the most widely read Six Sigma authors.

A9: What equipment is required for eLearners to participate in the SSEL Virtual Classroom with its VoIP sound system?

A9: To fully participate in the highly-interactive, user-friendly, SSEL Virtual Classroom each learner’s computer should be equipped with either: (i) a head set and microphone (preferred), or (ii) sound speakers and a microphone. That enables multiple learners from multiple locations in the world to hear and speak freely to all of the other learners, and the instructor. 

A10: What is the SSEL company contact information?

A10: Name: Marc St.James,

      Title: CEO and President

       Company: Six Sigma eLearning, LLC.

       Address: 5103 West Avenue, Beach Haven, NJ 08008

       Telephone: 609.207.0183

 eMail: Marc@SixSigmaLive.net

 Internet: www.SixSigmaLive.net