Overview
ISO 18404:2015 - Quantitative methods in process improvement - Six Sigma - Competencies for key personnel and their organizations in relation to Six Sigma and Lean implementation - defines the competency requirements for individuals and organizations implementing Six Sigma, Lean, and combined Lean & Six Sigma programs. It clarifies roles such as Green Belt, Black Belt, Master Black Belt, Lean practitioners and leaders, and sets out organizational expectations for strategy, architecture and deployment.
Note: Yellow Belt and Design for Six Sigma are excluded from this standard.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Competency framework: Defines required education, training, skills and experience for Six Sigma, Lean and Lean & Six Sigma personnel (see normative Annexes A, B and C).
- Roles and evidence: Individuals must maintain verifiable records of training, skills and relevant project experience (e.g., portfolios for Green Belts), and demonstrate competency against defined objectives.
- Organizational adequacy: Organizations must document and control an appropriate Six Sigma / Lean strategy and architecture, including steering committees, reporting structures, responsibilities and decision-making processes.
- Deployment and continual improvement: Requires documented deployment metrics, target setting, periodic review of achievement and adjustment of metrics to ensure ongoing relevance.
- Resource management: Specifies provision, monitoring and adjustment of resources (sponsors/champions, personnel, tools) and the ongoing maintenance of key-person competence.
- Confidentiality and auditability: Audits and certifications should respect organizational confidentiality, including intellectual property and commercial information.
- Normative references: ISO 13053-1 and ISO 13053-2 (DMAIC methodology; tools and techniques).
Practical applications - who uses ISO 18404:2015
- Quality and process improvement leaders who need a standard competency baseline for hiring, promotion and certification.
- HR and training organizations designing Six Sigma and Lean curricula, assessment criteria and evidence portfolios.
- Consultants and trainers establishing consistent role definitions (Green/Black/Master Black Belt; Lean practitioners/leaders).
- Procurement and supply chain professionals evaluating supplier claims of Six Sigma or Lean capability.
- Certification bodies and auditors assessing individual or organizational conformity to Six Sigma/Lean competency expectations.
Benefits and SEO keywords
Using ISO 18404:2015 helps organizations standardize Six Sigma competencies, improve hiring and training consistency, and strengthen governance of Lean & Six Sigma deployment. Keywords: ISO 18404:2015, Six Sigma competencies, Lean competencies, Lean & Six Sigma, Black Belt, Green Belt, organizational deployment, process improvement, competency framework.
Related standards
- ISO 13053-1 - Quantitative methods in process improvement - Six Sigma - Part 1: DMAIC methodology
- ISO 13053-2 - Quantitative methods in process improvement - Six Sigma - Part 2: Tools and techniques
For implementation, align training records, deployment metrics and governance structures with the competency and organizational requirements set out in ISO 18404:2015.