Information Session Will Be Held at DePaul’s O’Hare Campus in Des Plaines Feb. 21

In a quest to boost efficiency and customer satisfaction, many companies are adopting Six Sigma, a quality improvement methodology developed to promote reliable business practices and defect-free products.

This trend has led to greater demand for education programs that teach business professionals who are implementing Six Sigma programs how to launch this powerful tool within their companies. Responding to this need, DePaul University’s Office of Continuing and Professional Education (OCPE) and the university’s Management Development Center will offer a certificate program in Six Sigma taught by industry experts. The 24-week, evening program will be offered at DePaul’s O’Hare Campus, 3166 S. River Road, Des Plaines, beginning April 6.

“The certificate program will give professionals an opportunity to learn how Six Sigma can help them meet customer needs for consistent, reliable business practices that deliver world-class products and services,” said Lewis W. Parks, OCPE executive director.

Six Sigma is today’s most successful and rigorous methodology to improve business processes or products and reduce variability, Parks said. The focus is on the Six Sigma roadmap, which includes a five-phase model called DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control).

Practitioners who are experts in this methodology will teach the four modules of DePaul’s certificate course. They include: Chris Allen, manager, Manufacturer Support, Ace Hardware Paint Division, and Mike Maritech, of the Global Employee Effectiveness department, Stepan Company.

The Six Sigma certificate program is one of 35 certificate programs and 75 classes offered at seven locations in the Chicago area by OCPE, which is part of DePaul’s Lifelong Learning division. The division educates more than 3,000 students from approximately 1,100 area employers annually. Among other certificate programs offered are those in financial planning, human resources, marketing, quality management, mediation and dispute resolution, organizational development, management development, leadership development and intercultural communications.

For more information about certificate programs, contact Eilish McDonagh at 312/362-5295 or emcdonag@depaul.edu, or visit the Web site: http://www.learning.depaul.edu/.