University of Detroit Mercy has partnered with the International Quality Federation (IQF) to offer a comprehensive Lean Six Sigma Green and Black Belt Certification Program. This program includes a series of “for credit” courses in the Green Belt and Black Belt skill sets as well as a class that helps students prepare for the rigorous Six Sigma certification exam conducted by IQF. The class also mentors them through an actual industry project.

Lean Six Sigma has emerged as the leading initiative in industry to help managers improve efficiencies by increasing productivity and enhancing products and services while reducing costs. Lean Six Sigma has been widely deployed in product development, manufacturing, health care, banking, insurance, pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace and other industries in their production operations as well as service, business and transactional processes.  

“UDM’s series (two courses and one capstone project course) leverages the best of an academic and continuous professional development effort to prepare the students for a challenging career,” says Hriday Prasad, director of the Master of Science in Product Development and the Master’s in Engineering Management programs.

Course instructors are two leading industry experts, Don Lynch and Bryan Dodson.

• Lynch, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a post-graduate certificate in Lean Six Sigma, has deployed continuous improvement programs for major corporations in Japan, Europe and the U.S. Currently he is a Senior Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Deployment Director with SKF USA.

• Dodson, who holds a doctorate in business administration, is a licensed professional engineer who has held quality management leadership positions with a number of major corporations. He also served as chairman of the committee that created the IQF Six Sigma exam and developed the exam software.

Both have published many papers on the subject; Dodson has also published eight books on the subject.

The courses are open to all educational and professional disciplines.  Those qualified for admission to the University's Master’s in Engineering Management (MEM) Program or the Master of Science in Product Development (MPD) Program earn credit hours towards the programs. They could earn the degree and certification at the same time.

Winter term classes start in January 2008.  For additional information, please contact the MPD & MEM Program Office at 313-993-1928 or 313-993-3378 or e-mail mem@udmercy.edu.