The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training is a professional certification program that involves 15 days of classroom training distributed over three months, with individual coaching between classes. Participants work on a real-world process improvement project as part of certification.
To provide participants with a detailed understanding of Six Sigma principles and project-applicable best practices, the workshop includes intensive training and hands-on exercises that will train each participant how to deploy and lead process improvement strategies effectively within the enterprise. The workshop will conclude with a coached project wherein each trained Black Belt must demonstrate the ability to lead and implement process improvement using Six Sigma tools and integrated strategies.
Credit for this course is CEU based on the Clock Hour system. Participants will receive 10.8 CEUs. Additionally, participants completing this course will be eligible to receive 3 hours of graduate-level credit from the University of Oklahoma College of Professional and Continuing Studies.
Individuals with diverse technical, operations, and/or transactional backgrounds will find this course valuable. Participants are selected because of their project roles in leading and facilitating process improvement at the enterprise. Participants must have Green Belt Certification or satisfy the instructor with a working knowledge of Six Sigma concepts prior to registration. Participants, please bring a laptop with Excel to class.
Course length: 15 days (12 CEUs)
Prerequisites: Green Belt certificate or equivalent experience, pending the approval of the instructor.
Instructor: Teresa Tonias, LSS Master Black Belt
Next offered:
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $5,900. Register by May 4, 2025, and save $100.00.
Registration closes August 10, 2025.
*Please use the Register Now link if paying by credit card. If paying by Purchase Order or Cost Transfer please call Registration and Records, (405) 325-6034, to register.
Materials: Sigma XL, an Excel software extension, is used for the data analysis exercises. Perpetual license provided.
Location: Tinker Business and Industrial Park
To arrange remote Lean White Belt, Lean Tools, or onsite Lean Six Sigma White or Green Belt certification, Lean Leadership, and other specialized training for your company, please contact Lisa Angelotti, langelotti@ou.edu or (405) 325-3136.
At the end of the course, participants will understand the Six Sigma strategies and tools, the relationship of the transformation components of Lean and Six Sigma, how to lead process improvement projects, and how to lead and deploy Six Sigma process improvement tools effectively. Black Belts typically apply their Six Sigma skills beyond their functional area and are expected to train, lead, and coach Green Belts through their projects. Certified Black Belts are also expected to lead a team in broadly scoped projects of significant value to the organizational mission under the coaching and mentoring of a Master Black Belt.
All classroom dates meet from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. on Fridays, unless otherwise noted. Registration for this class closes one week prior to their start date. Online registration is available for most courses. Otherwise, you may contact Registration and Records at (405) 325-6034 to sign up.
Participants receive Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits, which are required to maintain many professional licensures. OULI training also qualifies as PDU credits for Project Management Professionals.
Public classes are held at the Tinker Business Industrial Park at I-40 and Sooner Road. All public classes are open enrollment and typically feature an interesting mix of teams from a variety of industries.
The Lean Institute also offers private or contracted training programs onsite at locations across the state, including workshops implemented at suitable client facilities.
OULI's team of instructors & consultants are practicing experts in the field with extensive history in implementing process improvement efforts & coaching students.
deFonteny is the creator of Leading with Lean and other short courses offered by the OU Lean Institute. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt once active in the oil and gas industry, deFonteny has more than a decade of experience as a Lean practitioner, coach and instructor. He holds a master’s degree in human relations and a bachelor’s in psychology. deFonteny is committed to optimizing organizational success by helping others Lead with Lean. He is the author of Leadership Reimagined and an adjunct professor with the University of Oklahoma.
Hinton is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and has served as an OULI Lean Six Sigma coach, instructor and consultant for many of the Institute’s major clients. She is the primary instructor for the Institute’s LSS White and Green Belt training workshops. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and has completed extensive training in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, as well as having extensive experience in both management and procurement..
Tobias is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt trained by some of the original consultants in the industry (Sigma Sciences, Inc., p.k.a. Six Sigma Associates). She has worked with Six Sigma Academy, the first consulting organization created by the founder of Six Sigma, Dr. Mikel Harry. Tobias has extensive experience at the strategic level working with leadership. At the tactical level, she has coached and mentored clients' internal resources for hundreds of transformational projects.
Fisher is the Center Process Manager for Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI2), Air Force Sustainment Center, Tinker AFB. He coordinates continuous improvement mentoring and training for 35,000+ Airmen. As a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Black Belt, he is an instructor and facilitates multi-organizational improvement events, mentors, and coaches those utilizing CI2 techniques and seeking LSS Green Belt/Black Belt certifications. Since 1985, Fisher has held positions in engineering, quality, contracting and process improvement organizations.
