Quality, Lean & Project Management · Exam preparation
LSSBB
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (LSSBB)
Why advanced Lean Six Sigma matters
Some problems resist the standard toolkit: several inputs interact, the data is not normal, or the process cannot be stopped for trial and error. A Black Belt selects the projects worth doing on a sound business case, structures the team, and uses regression and designed experiments to find the input settings that give the best result.
Without that depth, projects are picked by habit rather than value, one-factor-at-a-time trials miss interactions, and processes are handed over without properly calculated control limits. This programme takes improvement professionals to the Create cognitive level, leading to the IASSC Certified Black Belt (ICBB) designation.
What you will be able to do
- Lead project selection with business cases and financial evaluation, and structure project teams
- Prioritise process inputs with value stream mapping and FMEA, and evaluate Gage R&R studies
- Assess process capability for continuous, attribute and non-normal data
- Determine sample sizes and run the full range of hypothesis tests to confirm or reject root causes
- Design full and fractional factorial experiments and set optimal input settings from the results
- Select control charts, calculate control limits and build control and response plans
Course outline: 5 modules
Each module below shows what it covers and what you will be able to do at the end of it.
1. Define Phase
Covers Lean Six Sigma foundations, customer-driven requirements, metrics and selecting projects with a sound business case.
- Lead project selection using business cases and financial evaluation
- Define Six Sigma roles and structure project teams
- Set baseline metrics such as DPMO, RTY and cycle time
- Align Lean waste reduction with Six Sigma variation reduction
2. Measure Phase
Covers process definition, statistics, measurement system analysis and capability analysis in depth.
- Use value stream mapping and FMEA to prioritise process inputs
- Design and evaluate Gage R&R studies for bias, linearity and stability
- Assess capability for continuous, attribute and non-normal data
3. Analyse Phase
Covers multi-vari analysis, sampling, inferential statistics and the full range of hypothesis tests.
- Determine sample sizes and confidence intervals
- Run t-tests, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests
- Evaluate statistical results to confirm or reject root causes
4. Improve Phase
Covers regression modelling and designed experiments, including full and fractional factorial designs, to optimise processes.
- Build multiple and non-linear regression models, transforming data where needed
- Design full and fractional factorial experiments
- Interpret main effects, interactions and confounding
- Set optimal input settings from experimental results
5. Control Phase
Covers Lean controls, statistical process control and control plans to lock in gains and hand over to process owners.
- Select control charts such as I-MR, Xbar-R, P, NP and U
- Calculate control limits and choose rational subgroups
- Build control and response plans with cost-benefit analysis
Programme details
| Prerequisites | None: no prior belt, project or mandatory training is required to sit the IASSC exam, though training is recommended. |
|---|---|
| Question format | Multiple-choice and true/false questions across five knowledge domains, roughly 30 per domain, including advanced statistical analysis. |
| Exam aids | Closed book; the IASSC Reference Document of formulas and tables is shown on screen, and only a non-programmable calculator is allowed. |
| Delivery | On demand, 24/7, online with live PeopleCert proctoring (bookable within an hour), or at 8,000+ test centres in 165 countries. |
| Languages | Available in English, French, Japanese and Latin American Spanish. |
| Retakes | Second attempt at least 2 weeks after the first; third at least 3 months after the first; later attempts 3 months apart. One voucher covers one attempt. |
| Award | IASSC Certified Black Belt (ICBB) designation, with a PDF certificate carrying a unique certification number. |
| Badge & register | A digital badge is issued and the holder is listed in the Official IASSC Certification Register for employer verification. |
| Validity | Recognised permanently, with 'Current' status for 3 years; after that the status becomes 'Elapsed' unless recertified within 90 days. |
| Recertification | Recertification exam: 75 questions, 2 hours, closed book, proctored, 70% pass mark. |
| Next level | Highest IASSC belt; IASSC also offers Lean Practitioner, Lean Leader and Lean Expert certifications. |
Your path to LSSBB certification
- Enquire and choose your format. Classroom in Cairo, live online, or an in-house cohort for your team.
- Learn the five DMAIC phases in depth with practitioners. 78 hours over 13 weeks, with the tools practised in class and every live session recorded on our learning platform.
- Practise with module tests and question banks. Exam-style questions with instant results, backed by a comprehensive manual to prepare for the exam.
- Sit the IASSC exam. A closed-book exam of 150 questions in 4 hours with a 70% pass mark, online with live PeopleCert proctoring or at a test centre. IASSC sells exam vouchers separately from training; one voucher covers one attempt, and a second attempt can be taken at least 2 weeks after the first.
- Earn your ICBB designation. IASSC issues a PDF certificate with a unique certification number and a digital badge, and lists you in the Official IASSC Certification Register for employer verification.
- Keep building. Black Belt is the highest IASSC belt; IASSC also offers Lean Practitioner, Lean Leader and Lean Expert certifications.
What you walk away with
- A rigorous approach to complex process problems that you can apply the next working day, from project selection to designed experiments
- The IASSC Certified Black Belt (ICBB) designation, with a digital badge and a listing in the official register
- Recordings of every live session, official study material, question banks and module tests on our learning platform
- Support until exam day, then a next step into the IASSC Lean Practitioner, Lean Leader and Lean Expert certifications
Want the full picture?
The LSSBB brochure has the complete module outline, exam facts and delivery options in one PDF.
Download the LSSBB brochure (PDF) Enquire about the next cohort
How you will learn
- Classroom: Interactive sessions at our training and exam centre in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.
- Live online: Instructor-led virtual classes for participants anywhere in the region.
- In-house: A private cohort for your team, at your premises and tailored to your context.
- Every live session recorded: Watch any session again, or catch up on one you missed, on our learning platform.
- Official study material: Books, handbooks and course files for the programme, in one place.
- Question banks and module tests: Exam-style practice with instant results.
- Support until exam day: Keep studying on the platform after the live sessions end, right up to the exam.
Exam and certification
Exam preparation for IASSC
| Exams | 1 exam, closed book |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 questions, plus up to 15 non-graded |
| Exam time | 4 hours |
| Pass mark | 70% |
| Where you sit it | Test centre or online with PeopleCert proctoring |
| Good to know | IASSC sells exam vouchers separately from training |
Who should attend
- Continuous improvement specialists
- Quality and process engineers
- Quality managers and consultants
- Anyone interested in continuous improvement
Frequently asked questions
What is the LSSBB course?
An in-depth treatment of Lean Six Sigma covering the core competencies expected of a Black Belt, to the Create cognitive level. Tools are practised in class, and a comprehensive manual is provided to prepare for the exam.
Who should take LSSBB?
It suits: Continuous improvement specialists; Quality and process engineers; Quality managers and consultants; Anyone interested in continuous improvement.
How long is the LSSBB course at Transights?
78 hours, 13 weeks. It runs live online, in class in Cairo, or in-house for company teams in Egypt and the GCC.
What is the LSSBB exam like?
The exam is set by IASSC; you book and sit it with IASSC directly. 1 exam, closed book. 150 questions, plus up to 15 non-graded. Exam time: 4 hours. Pass mark: 70%. Where you sit it: Test centre or online with PeopleCert proctoring. IASSC sells exam vouchers separately from training.
Who awards the LSSBB certification?
IASSC awards LSSBB to candidates who pass its exam. Transights provides the exam preparation course.