The SGS Group recently published a standard for Six Sigma that requires third-party auditing.

The Six Sigma Standard consists of 65 program indicators and incorporates formal program audits done by SGS. Programs that score high enough on the audit qualify for Six Sigma Program Certification, says Jake Allen, head of business process improvement services in SGS’ systems and services certification division. Only SGS auditors are currently authorized to perform Six Sigma Standard audits, though Allen reports that the company hopes that other certification bodies will qualify, too.

“When deployed correctly, Six Sigma delivers unparalleled financial benefit,” says Allen. “The hard part is getting clients to realize that there is more to Six Sigma than simply training Green and Black Belts. Adopting and conforming to this standard ensures that organizations of any size, in any industry, can achieve big returns on their investment in Six Sigma.”

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