Appendix E

ASQ Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt

(CSSYB) Body of Knowledge (2014)

The topics in this Body of Knowledge include additional detail in the form of sub-
text explanations and the cognitive level at which test questions will be written.
This information will provide guidance for the candidate preparing to take the
exam. The subtext is not intended to limit the subject matter or be all-inclusive
of what might be covered in an exam. It is meant to clarify the type of content to
be included in the exam. The descriptor in parentheses at the end of each entry
refers to the maximum cognitive level at which the topic will be tested. A complete
description of cognitive levels is provided at the end of this document.
I. Six Sigma Fundamentals (21 Questions)
A. Six sigma foundations and principles. Describe the purpose of six sigma
(reducing variation), its methodology (DMAIC) and its evolution from
quality. Describe the value of six sigma to the organization as a whole.
(Understand)
B. Lean foundations and principles. Describe the purpose of lean (waste
elimination) and its methodologies (just-in-time, poka-yoke, kanban,
value-stream mapping). Describe the value of lean to the organization
as a whole. (Understand)
C. Six sigma roles and responsibilities. Define and describe the roles and
responsibilities of six sigma team members (i.e., individual team
members, yellow belt, green belt, black belt, master black belt, process
owner, champion, sponsor). (Understand)
D. Team basics
1. Types of teams. Identify the various types of teams that operate within
an organization (i.e., continuous improvement, self-managed and
cross-functional) and their value. (Understand)
2. Stages of development. Describe the various stages of team evolution:
forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
(Understand)
3. Decision-making tools. Define brainstorming, multivoting, and
nominal group technique (NGT), and describe how these tools are
used by teams. (Understand)

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4. Communication methods. Explain how teams use agendas, meeting

minutes, and project status reports, and how they support project
success. (Understand)
E. Quality tools and six sigma metrics
1. Quality tools. Select and use these tools throughout the DMAIC
process: Pareto charts, cause and effect diagrams, flowcharts, run
charts, check sheets, scatter diagram, and histograms. (Apply)
2. Six sigma metrics. Select and use these metrics throughout the
DMAIC process: defects per unit (DPU), defects per million
opportunities (DPMO), rolled throughput yield (RTY), cycle time,
and cost of poor quality (COPQ). (Apply)
II. Define Phase (12 Questions)
A. Project identification
1. Voice of the customer. Define the voice of the customer and describe
how customer needs are translated into quantifiable, critical-to-
quality (CTQ) characteristics. (Understand)
2. Project selection. Describe how projects are identified and selected
as suitable for a six sigma project using the DMAIC methodology.
(Understand)
3. Stakeholder analysis. Identify end users, subject matter experts,
process owners and other people or factors that will be affected by
a project, and describe how each of them can influence the project.
(Understand)
4. Process inputs and outputs. Use SIPOC (suppliers, inputs, process,
outputs, customers) to identify and define important elements of a
process. (Apply)
B. Project management (PM) basics
1. Project charter. Describe the purpose of a charter and its components:
problem statement, project scope, baseline data, and project goal.
(Understand)
2. Communication plan. Explain the purpose and benefits of a
communication plan and how it can impact the success of the
project. (Understand)
3. Project planning. Define work breakdown structure (WBS) and Gantt
charts and describe how they are used to plan and monitor projects.
(Understand)
4. Project management tools. Select and use various PM tools: activity
network diagrams, affinity diagrams, matrix charts, relations charts,
and tree diagrams. (Understand)
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5. Phase reviews. Explain how tollgate or phase reviews are used

throughout the DMAIC lifecycle. (Understand)
III. Measure Phase (15 Questions)
A. Basic statistics. Define, calculate, and interpret measures of central
tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of dispersion (standard
deviation, range, variance). (Apply)
B. Data collection
1. Data collection plans. Describe the critical elements of a data
collection plan, including an operational definition, data sources,
the method to be used for gathering data, and how frequently it
will be gathered. Describe why data collection plans are important.
(Understand)
2. Qualitative and quantitative data. Define and distinguish between
these types of data. (Understand)
3. Data collection techniques. Use various data collection techniques,
including surveys, interviews, check sheets, and checklists to
gather data that contributes to the process being improved.
(Apply)
C. Measurement system analysis (MSA)
1. MSA terms. Define precision, accuracy, bias, linearity, and stability,
and describe how these terms are applied in the measurement
phase. (Understand)
2. Gauge repeatability & reproducibility (GR&R). Describe how and why
GR&R is used in the measurement phase. (Understand)
IV. Analyze Phase (15 Questions)
A. Process analysis tools
1. Lean tools. Define how 5S and value analysis can be used to identify
and eliminate waste. (Understand)
2. Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). Define the elements of
severity, opportunity, and detection, how they are used to calculate
the risk priority number. Describe how FMEA can be used to
identify potential failures in a process. (Understand)
B. Root cause analysis. Describe how the 5-whys, process mapping,
force-field analysis and matrix charts can be used to identify the root
causes of a problem. (Understand)
C. Data analysis
1. Basic distribution types. Define and distinguish between normal and
binomial distributions and describe how their shapes (skewed and
bimodal) can affect data interpretation. (Understand)
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2. Common and special cause variation. Describe and distinguish between

these types of variation. (Understand)
D. Correlation and regression
1. Correlation. Describe how correlation is used to identify relationships
between variables. (Understand)
2. Regression. Describe how regression analysis is used to predict
outcomes. (Understand)
E. Hypothesis testing. Define and distinguish between hypothesis terms
(i.e., null and alternative, type I and type II error, p-value and power ).
(Understand)
V. Improve and Control Phases (12 Questions)
A. Improvement techniques
1. Kaizen and kaizen blitz. Define and distinguish between these two
methods and describe how they can be used to make improvements
to any process in an organization. (Understand)
2. Plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle. Define and distinguish between the
steps in this process improvement tool. (Understand)
3. Cost–benefit analysis. Explain the importance of this analysis and how
it is used in the improve phase. (Understand)
B. Control tools and documentation
1. Control plan. Describe the importance of a control plan for
maintaining improvements. (Understand)
–
2. Control charts. Describe how X–R charts are used for monitoring and
sustaining improved processes. (Understand)
3. Document control. Describe the importance of documenting changes
to a process and communicating those changes to stakeholders.
(Understand)

Levels of Cognition Based on Bloom’s Taxonomy

(Revised 2001)
In addition to content specifics, the subtext for each topic in this BoK also indicates
the intended complexity level of the test questions for that topic. These levels are
based on “Levels of Cognition” (from Bloom’s Taxonomy—Revised, 2001) and are
presented below in rank order, from least complex to most complex.

Remember
Recall or recognize terms, definitions, facts, ideas, materials, patterns, sequences,
methods, principles, etc.
470 Part VII: Appendices

Understand
Read and understand descriptions, communications, reports, tables, diagrams,
directions, regulations, etc.

Apply
Know when and how to use ideas, procedures, methods, formulas, principles, the-
ories, etc.

Analyze
Break down information into its constituent parts and recognize their relationship
to one another and how they are organized; identify sublevel factors or salient
data from a complex scenario.

Evaluate
Make judgments about the value of proposed ideas, solutions, etc., by comparing
the proposal to specific criteria or standards.

Create
Put parts or elements together in such a way as to reveal a pattern or structure
not clearly there before; identify which data or information from a complex set
is appropriate to examine further or from which supported conclusions can be
drawn.