TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Version 1.0
1 September 2009
INTERNAL

TCS Internal

TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Statement of Confidentiality
This document contains information that is proprietary and confidential to Tata Consultancy
Services Limited, which shall not be disclosed outside TCS, transmitted, or duplicated, used in
whole or in part for any purpose other than its intended purpose. Any use or disclosure in whole or
in part of this information without explicit written permission of Tata Consultancy Services Limited is
prohibited.
Copyright, Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS).

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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Table of Contents
1Introduction....................................................................................................................................5
Background....................................................................................................................................5
Need...............................................................................................................................................5
Examining Body..............................................................................................................................5
Grading Process.............................................................................................................................5
Examination......................................................................................................................................6
Application......................................................................................................................................6
Pre-requisites..............................................................................................................................6
Submitting an Application............................................................................................................6
Examination Schedule................................................................................................................6
Study Guide....................................................................................................................................6
Knowmax....................................................................................................................................6
References.................................................................................................................................7
Examination....................................................................................................................................7
Conduct......................................................................................................................................7
Dos & Donts..............................................................................................................................7
Results........................................................................................................................................7
Structure ........................................................................................................................................7
Format........................................................................................................................................7
Coverage....................................................................................................................................7
Contact Information........................................................................................................................7
Template for nominations...............................................................................................................8
Appendix...........................................................................................................................................9
Template for four blocker................................................................................................................9
Frequently Asked Questions...........................................................................................................9
Links to Knowmax .........................................................................................................................9

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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Abbreviations
Abbreviation
TCS
CBT
iCALMS
GB
BB
MBB
DMAIC
DMADV
OU

Description
Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.
Computer Based Training
integrated Competency And Learning Management System
Green Belt
Black Belt
Master Black Belt
Define Measure Analyze Improve Control
Define Measure Analyze Design Verify
Organizational Unit

Version History
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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

1 Introduction
Background
On completion of the Green Belt certification, an associate can move up the Lean Six Sigma
maturity ladder by aspiring towards Black Belt certification. A Black Belt aspirant must successfully
lead a high impact Black Belt project and mentor two Green Belt projects to apply for the Black belt
Certification Examination.

Need
The examination tests the Knowledge Level, Comprehension Level, Application Level, Analysis,
Synthesis and Evaluation skills of the examinee. This is to prove that the candidate has understood
Lean Six Sigma topics and advanced statistics and can now execute high impact process
improvement projects as well as mentor other Green Belts. It recognizes the individuals contribution
to the organization towards Process Improvement by awarding a Black Belt certificate.

Examining Body
The examinations are conducted by the TCS Six Sigma Exam Body.

Grading Process
The TCS Six Sigma Exam Body will ensure that the grading process provides an accurate
assessment of the candidates proficiency. The passing score for the examination would be 60%.
The Examination will have questions of varying difficulty with a proportionate mix of all levels of
difficulty across modules.

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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Examination
Application
Pre-requisites
The pre-requisites for appearing for the BB exam are:
1. Completion of Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
2. Identification and execution of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt project in ImpAct
3. Closure of the BB project with sign off from the MBB and Sponsor
4. Mentoring of at least two Green Belt projects in ImpAct
5. Ensuring that the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) competency level in iCALMS is updated to E2
6. Uploading Project Storyboard or four blocker (template attached below) on Knowmax Six Sigma
Community Folder and updating the Four Blocker Index on Knowmax Six Sigma Community
(refer Section 3.3).

Apart from the above mentioned pre-requisites for the Black Belt Examination, candidates
should contribute to the organization in any of the following ways:
Should be recognized as an expert in Six Sigma competency (e.g. Knowmax,
JustAsk etc.)
Should have contributed to a white paper on Six Sigma in external forums such as
iSixSigma
Should have conducted Lean Six Sigma Awareness sessions

Submitting an Application
1. Each BB desirous of appearing for the exam should submit their names to the Process
Improvement Champion/Process Excellence Lead of their respective OUs and upload the
project storyboard or four blocker on Knowmax Six Sigma community and update the Four
Blocker Index on Knowmax Six Sigma community (refer Section 3.3 for the links)
2. Process Improvement Champion/Process Excellence Lead to check the four blocker folder
and the four blocker index for updates for each candidate on Knowmax Six Sigma Community
3. Process Improvement Champion/Process Excellence Lead to collate and send the
nomination list to TCS Six Sigma Exam Body (Template attached below)

Examination Schedule
The TCS Six Sigma Exam Body will decide the schedule. The same will be communicated to the PI
Champions 3 weeks in advance.

Study Guide
Knowmax
The study material for Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is available on Six Sigma Community on
Knowmax. The study material shall provide a good understanding of DMAIC, DMADV, Lean, CAP
and advanced statistics topics. Candidates are also advised to go through any other material on
Lean Six Sigma and statistics to gain an in-depth knowledge. Project execution and mentoring
experience will also contribute to the preparation for the Exam.
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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

References
Books:
1. What is Six Sigma? by Peter S Pande, Larry Holpp
2. The Six Sigma Way by Peter S Pande, Robert P Neuman, Roland R Cavanagh
Websites:
1. http://www.isixsigma.com/
2. http://www.asq.org
3. http://www.freequality.org

Examination
Conduct
The exam would be conducted online and the login ID and the password would be communicated to
the participants via email. The examination would be an Open Book exam and candidates will be
allowed to refer to any reference material.

Dos & Donts

The candidates are expected to follow the Tata Code of Conduct and appear for the exam with
integrity and follow a fair, disciplined and ethical approach for the examination.

Results
The results of the examination would be visible to the candidates immediately after completing the
examination.

Structure
Format
1) The Exam would contain multiple choice objective type questions.
2) The questions do not carry negative marking.
3) The exam consists of 3 modules BB_Exam1, BB_Exam2 and BB_Exam3. Each module
contains 15 objective questions.
4) The time to complete each module is 20 minutes. The total time window for the exam is 1.5
hours, allowing a total 30 minute break in between modules.

Coverage
The examination would cover the following topics from of Six Sigma and Lean:
1. Six Sigma DMAIC Methodology
2. Six Sigma DMADV Methodology
3. Lean Techniques
4. Advanced Statistics
5. Change Acceleration Process

Contact Information
The following people can be contacted for any information on the examination.
Souvagya Choudhury
TCS Internal

022 6779 5032 Cell: 9820125175

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pegpi.core@tcs.com

TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Ashley Fernandes
Rajesh Agarwal
Smita Sapre
Rashi Sharma
Manikandan Balasubramanian

022 6779 5107 Cell: 98200 45982

022 6779 6756 Cell: 98202 17726
022 6778 5030 Cell: 90043 47722
022 6778 9590 Cell: 93229 98385
044 6616 6199 Cell: 9791800444

Template for nominations

To be used by Process Improvement Champions/Process Excellence Leads while sending
nominations to TCS Six Sigma Exam Body

BB ExamNomination
Template.xls

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TCS Six Sigma Black Belt Examination

Appendix
Template for four blocker

Sample 4 blocker

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ's for BB Exam

Links to Knowmax
Four Blocker Index Path:
Knowmax -> Communities -> Process - > Six Sigma -> Quick Links -> Four
Blocker Index List
Four Blocker Folder Path:
Knowmax -> Communities -> Process - > Six Sigma -> Quick Links -> Four
Blocker Respository

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