How Afribiotech structures every Lean Six Sigma belt — the coaching hours, the exam, the real-world project requirement, and what it takes to be recognised as a certified belt holder.
The requirement to train, sit an exam, and — at the higher belts — deliver a project is fixed across the whole body of knowledge. What changes is whether a project sits between the exam and the certificate. Every project, from Green Belt to Master Black Belt, must be real-world work that saves the host company money and leaves a process measurably improved.
No project is required at these levels. A candidate who passes the exam is issued one certificate — there is no second certificate and no further requirement.
Passing the exam earns a certificate of training and exam completion. The candidate is only recognised as a certified belt holder once the required project work is submitted and passed.
A Green Belt, Black Belt, or Master Black Belt project must be a real-world project inside a real company — not a simulation or a desk exercise. To be accepted for certification, it must be able to show, with data:
As soon as a candidate begins their project, Afribiotech assigns a named project supervisor to that candidate. The supervisor reviews every submission the candidate makes during the project window, before a pass is confirmed and the certificate of certification is issued.
Master Black Belt
Experienced process improvement leader
20+ years in the field
Each level builds on the last in contact hours, coaching format, and the weight of the project attached to it. Select a belt to see its hours, project load, and competency focus.
The same five-level structure can be referred to under two other names, level for level: Lean Six Sigma Competency Level 1–5, or Lean Project Management Level 1–5.
The same decision point appears at Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt: passing the exam is not the same as being certified. Certification is only confirmed once the project work is delivered inside the window.
MBB-led coaching plus self-directed learning, sized to the belt.
Candidate sits the exam for that belt.
Exam passed → Certificate of training & exam completion is issued.
Candidate opens their project window — 3 months for Green Belt, 4 months for Black Belt and Master Black Belt — and works with an assigned Master Black Belt project supervisor, who reviews each submission for the required number of real-world projects (1, 2, or 2).
No project stage exists. The training completion certificate is the only, and final, credential for these two levels.
Project shows real business impact, quantified savings, and a sustained process improvement. Certificate of certification is issued and the candidate is recognised as a certified belt holder.
No second certificate is issued. The candidate keeps the training & exam certificate only, and is not a certified belt holder.
This structure applies identically at Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt — only the number of required projects and the length of the completion window change.
The belt structure above operates inside a set of independently audited standards, rather than as an in-house scheme alone.
Afribiotech is entered on the national register for institutions meeting the Dutch Quality Code for Training Institutions for Short Vocational Education, following an audit against standards set and monitored by CPION.
Training and project delivery follow the DMAIC methodology and the tools and techniques set out in ISO 13053, parts 1 and 2.
Belt competencies are mapped against the internationally defined skill requirements for Six Sigma, Lean, and Lean & Six Sigma personnel and organizations.
Course competencies are cross-referenced to the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations framework.
Course design, delivery, and certification are managed under a certified quality management system.
Afribiotech Lean Six Sigma Rotterdam is a member of the CPD Certification Service, supporting continuing professional development recognition for graduates.
Belt holders take this curriculum into operational excellence work across a wide span of regulated and industrial sectors.