Looking for a Six Sigma course to upskill your team? BOTI’s Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training is a 10-day, instructor-led programme that equips your staff to lead data-driven improvement projects across all five DMAIC phases — delivered in-house at your venue or at major South African city centres.

This page covers the full Black Belt curriculum, who it suits, how it is delivered, and how to book in-house or classroom training for your organisation. If you need a foundational entry point first, BOTI also runs Yellow Belt and Green Belt Six Sigma courses, so you can build a complete capability pathway for your people.

Why a Six Sigma Course Matters for Your Business

Lean Six Sigma is not an add-on to normal business activities. When implemented correctly, it is an integral part of the management and production process — driven by data and philosophy. The approach combines Lean methodology (eliminating process baggage and waste) with Six Sigma (data-driven defect elimination) to deliver measurable gains in quality, speed and cost.

Importantly, Lean Six Sigma is not about getting rid of people — it is about empowering employees to be more efficient. A well-trained Black Belt becomes a multiplier inside your business, leading projects that reduce variation, cut rework and free up capacity that your team can redirect to higher-value work.

What a Black Belt Does

Black Belts apply Six Sigma methodology to specific projects. They devote 100% of their time to managing multiple Lean Six Sigma projects and focus on project execution. Where a Green Belt supports improvement work alongside their day job, a Black Belt leads improvement initiatives full-time, with a thorough understanding of the Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control (DMAIC) framework and the statistical tools that underpin it.

This is the level you train when you want an internal expert who can own a portfolio of process-improvement projects, coach Green Belts, and report measurable savings to leadership.

Course Structure and Duration

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course is built around a blend of intensive classroom learning and structured self-study so delegates can apply tools to real projects as they learn.

Learning components include:

• Module-end assessments (True/False and Essay formats)
• Practical case study application demonstrating problem-solving
• Between-session self-study, exercises and video materials
• Real project identification, so delegates apply the methodology to a live business problem

Full Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Quality and Lean Six Sigma
– Historical overview and quality evolution
– Quality guru contributions
– Enterprise-wide perspective adoption
– Leadership roles in quality initiatives
– Lean Six Sigma role definitions
– Team formation and dynamics management
– DMAIC overview

Module 2: Define Phase
– Stakeholder identification and impact analysis
– Critical-to-Quality (CTQ) requirements definition
– Benchmarking for performance comparison
– Voice of the Customer (VOC) capture
– Kano’s Customer Satisfaction Levels
– Quality Function Deployment (QFD)
– Project Charter development

Module 3: Measure Phase
– Process characteristics and metrics
– Process mapping and SIPOC analysis
– Data types and measurement scales
– Sampling techniques
– Fishbone Diagram for root cause analysis
– Basic and analytical statistics
– Gauge R&R assessment
– Process capability analysis

Module 4: Analyse Phase
– Correlation and regression analysis
– Hypothesis testing
– Identifying significant sources of process variation
– Confirming root causes with data

The programme then extends through the Improve and Control phases so delegates work through the complete DMAIC cycle end to end:

Module 5: Improve Phase
– Generating and prioritising solutions
– Design of Experiments (DOE) fundamentals
– Piloting and validating improvements
– Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)

Module 6: Control Phase
– Statistical Process Control (SPC) and control charts
– Control plans and standard operating procedures
– Sustaining gains and handover to process owners
– Project close-out and benefit verification

Lean Six Sigma Training (South Africa)

If you are sourcing Lean Six Sigma training in South Africa for a team rather than an individual, BOTI delivers nationally — in-house at your premises in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban or Pretoria, at off-site classroom venues in all major city centres, or remotely for distributed teams. This makes it practical to train a cohort together so they can work a shared improvement project during the programme.

For most South African organisations, the strongest approach is a belt pathway rather than a single course:

• Yellow Belt — awareness and basic tools for frontline staff and project team members.
• Green Belt — part-time project leaders who run smaller improvements alongside their role.
• Black Belt — full-time improvement leaders who run a portfolio of projects and coach Green Belts.

Running this as in-house training keeps costs predictable per cohort, lets the facilitator use your own processes and data as live case studies, and means the improvement projects deliver real savings back to your business during the course itself. For HR and L&D buyers, in-house Lean Six Sigma also slots neatly into a structured skills plan and can support your broader staff-development objectives for the year.

To compare formats and lock in the right level for each group, request a quote and we will recommend a cohort structure based on your headcount, sites and improvement goals.

Who Should Attend

This Six Sigma course suits:

• Operations, production and quality managers who own process performance
• Continuous-improvement, process and project leads
• Engineers and analysts moving into full-time improvement roles
• Team leaders earmarked to lead DMAIC projects across departments

A grounding in basic process and quality concepts (for example, prior Green Belt or Yellow Belt exposure) is helpful, but the programme builds the statistical foundations needed for Black Belt work.

Key Benefits for Your Organisation

• Comprehensive Lean Six Sigma methodology across all DMAIC phases
• A data-driven, evidence-based approach to problem-solving
• Practical tools applied to a real project during the programme
• Basic and advanced statistical training built in
• Flexible scheduling and configurable delivery
• In-house option that turns training spend into measurable process savings

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the Six Sigma Black Belt course?
The Black Belt course is 10 days of in-class, instructor-led training delivered within a 14-week programme that also includes self-study, assignments, exams and case studies. Schedule options are configurable to suit your team.

Is this Six Sigma course accredited?
No. This is a practical, facilitator-led skills programme and delegates receive a BOTI certificate of completion (this is not an accredited qualification). It focuses on practical, job-ready Lean Six Sigma capability. Need accredited training? Ask about BOTI’s QCTO/SETA-accredited programmes in related areas such as Project Management and Generic Management, and a consultant will advise on suitable options for your skills plan.

Can the course be run in-house for our team?
Yes. The course can be delivered in-house at your venue, at off-site classrooms in all major South African city centres, or remotely for distributed teams. In-house delivery is ideal when you want a cohort to work on a shared, real improvement project.

Do delegates need a Green Belt before doing the Black Belt?
Prior Green Belt or Yellow Belt exposure is helpful, but the Black Belt programme builds the statistical and DMAIC foundations required. If your team is new to Lean Six Sigma, we usually recommend starting with a belt pathway and can quote for the full sequence.

How many people can attend one session?
Instructor-led sessions run with a minimum of 2 delegates and a maximum of 10 per session, which keeps the training practical and hands-on.

Request a Quote or a 15-Minute Callback

Ready to build internal improvement capability? Request a quote or a free 15-minute callback and a BOTI consultant will recommend the right Six Sigma course or belt pathway for your team.

• Phone: 011-882-8853
• Email or use the Get Free & Personalised Training Advice form to start

Free resource: ask for our Training Needs Analysis (TNA) template to map exactly which roles need Yellow, Green or Black Belt training before you commit spend — a useful first step for any structured skills plan.

Related BOTI courses: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training · Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training · Lean Management Training · Process Improvement & Business Process Management. Explore the full range on our Courses page or head straight to Booking to reserve in-house dates.