What Six Sigma Development Solutions does

Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. (SSDSI) is a private professional training company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, founded in 2008 by Master Black Belt Kevin Clay. It delivers IASSC-accredited Lean Six Sigma belt-level certifications (White, Yellow, Green, Black, and Master Black Belt) plus a standalone LEAN certification, structured around the DMAIC methodology (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). The curriculum is supplemented by proprietary Lean Zone simulations (Production Methodologies, Office Simulation, Agile Manufacturing, Sub-Assembly), DMAIC phase-deliverable workbooks, and structured project roadmaps intended to address the company's stated observation that roughly 90% of Six Sigma deployments fail within 18 months.

The company's core product is instructor-led training delivered through three channels: public in-person classes in 52 cities worldwide, live virtual classrooms capped under 10 students, and onsite corporate cohorts of up to 20 employees. Supporting monetization includes IASSC exam vouchers ($280-$500), mock exams ($75-$99.99), project management kits ($58.99-$298.99), and simulation games priced from $4.99 to $995. A Master Black Belt mentorship program is included free until certification project completion, and the founder's "Why They Fail" book and multi-platform podcast act as content-marketing assets.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time course fees ranging from $498 (Yellow Belt) to $998 (Green/Black Belt) and $1,996 for the Fast-Track Black Belt program, plus exam vouchers, mock exams, ancillaries, and professional services for enterprise deployments. Customer segments span manufacturing, healthcare, IT, finance, and supply chain, with named logos including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, AT&T, FedEx, Motorola, the U.S. Army (via Army IgnitED and Army COOL), Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Nutanix, Vistra Corp, Ernst & Young, and Canada Post. The company reports training 5,322+ professionals across 600+ organizations globally.

Name

Six Sigma Development Solutions

Legal name

Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://sixsigmadsi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Six Sigma Development Solutions is a Dallas-based IASSC-accredited training firm that delivers instructor-led Lean Six Sigma belt certifications (Yellow through Master Black Belt) via 52-city in-person, live virtual, and onsite corporate channels to enterprise, government, and individual learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Training and Certification

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Six Sigma (Yellow/Green/Black Belt) (EDABAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lean Six Sigma for Services & Transactional Processes (EDABAKAC), Quality, Process Improvement & Lean/Six Sigma Certifications (EDAAANAC), Quality Tools & Problem Solving (7 QC Tools, 8D, A3, Root Cause) (EDABAKAE)

Keywords

• Lean six sigma training
• Professional certification courses
• Corporate process improvement
• DMAIC methodology training
• IASSC accredited training

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Training Courses: Instructor-led and self-paced online courses for Lean Six Sigma certifications (White, Yellow, Green, Black Belt levels). Offered via public training in 52 cities, onsite corporate training, and live virtual classrooms. Course fees vary by format and certification level.
2. IASSC Certification Exam Vouchers: The company sells IASSC exam vouchers for Yellow Belt ($280), Green Belt ($390), and Black Belt ($450-$500) certifications. IASSC exam fees are separate from course enrollment fees.
3. Mock Exams: Practice exams including IASSC Black Belt Mock Exam ($85), IASSC Green Belt Mock Exam ($75), and general IASSC Practice Exam ($99.99) that simulate the certification testing experience.
4. Project Management Kits and Tools: Sale of supplementary materials including Green Belt Project Management Kit ($98.99), Black Belt Project Management Kit, Yellow Belt Project Management Kit ($58.99), and various online training courses for individual tools (SIPOC, Value Stream Map, FMEA, Root Cause Analysis, Project Charter, Input Map, Cause and Effect Matrix).
5. Training Brochures: Free downloadable training brochures for each certification level. Also sells classroom training materials including training simulators and games like The Greatest LEAN Pull Game Ever ($4.99) and Lean Zone simulations ($165-$995).
6. Professional Services - Consulting and Deployment: Organizational deployment programs helping companies implement Lean Six Sigma, including consulting services and implementation support alongside training.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. (SSDSI) provides IASSC-accredited Lean Six Sigma certification training from White Belt through Master Black Belt, delivered via public in-person classes in 52 cities, live virtual classrooms, and customized onsite corporate programs. The company also sells exam vouchers and mock exams for IASSC certification, project management kits, online methodology courses (DMAIC, FMEA, VSM, SIPOC, RCA, etc.), Lean Zone simulations, training games, a founder-authored book, and a related podcast, supplemented by consulting and deployment services for enterprise clients.

Product overview

Six Sigma Development Solutions offers a comprehensive portfolio of Lean Six Sigma certification training products organized in a tiered belt system (White, Yellow, Green, Black, Master Black Belt) plus standalone LEAN certification. The core offerings include in-person public training across 52 cities worldwide, live virtual training (under 10 students), and onsite customized training for enterprise teams. Supporting products include exam vouchers and mock exams for IASSC certification, project management kits for each belt level, online courses for specific methodologies (FMEA, VSM, SIPOC, Root Cause Analysis, etc.), and simulation/games for hands-on learning (Lean Zone series). The company also provides educational resources including the 'Why They Fail' book and podcast. All certifications are IASSC accredited and include free Master Black Belt mentorship until project completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lean Six Sigma White Belt Certification Entry-level self-paced certification (2-4 hours) introducing foundational Lean Six Sigma principles, terminology, and DMAIC methodology for any organization member; free introductory tier.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification 1-2 day practitioner training for team members supporting improvement projects, covering DMAIC, basic statistical tools, and PDCA methodology; offered online ($498) plus public, virtual, and onsite formats.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification 5-day practitioner-level certification for professionals leading their own improvement projects, covering statistical analysis, root cause investigation, and process control within DMAIC; online $998 with 4-6 month typical project timeframe.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification 10-day senior-level certification covering advanced statistical methods, project portfolio management, and team leadership for enterprise-scale improvement initiatives; online $998 plus public / onsite / virtual formats.
• Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Program Most senior certification level for strategic deployment leadership, coaching other Belts, and enterprise governance of Lean Six Sigma programs.
• FAST-TRACK to Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Self-paced online bundle combining Green Belt and Black Belt content; 610 minutes of video plus 40 hours of project work for those starting from ground zero; priced at $1,996.
• LEAN Certification Standalone LEAN methodology certification covering waste elimination and process optimization principles.
• Onsite Corporate Training Customized Lean Six Sigma training delivered at client locations for groups up to 20 employees at a fixed cost, with free Master Black Belt mentorship and curriculum tailored to the organization's real improvement opportunities.
• Live Virtual Training Live online instructor-led training with classes under 10 students; same IASSC-accredited curriculum and Master Black Belt instructors as in-person delivery.
• Public Training (In-Person) In-person cohort classes across 52 cities worldwide with small class sizes, IASSC accreditation, and included project mentorship for individual and sponsored learners.
• IASSC Lean Six Sigma Exam Vouchers (Yellow, Green, Black Belt) Examination vouchers for IASSC Certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow, Green, and Black Belt exams (150 questions, 4-hour closed-book proctored for Black Belt); Yellow $280, Green $390, Black $450-$500 with $100 Take2 retake option.
• IASSC Practice and Mock Exams Timed and scored practice exams simulating IASSC testing: Black Belt Mock $85, Green Belt Mock $75, 100-question IASSC Practice Exam $99.99.
• Lean Zone Production Methodologies Simulation Interactive simulation training game for learning production methodologies and process flow principles; priced at $765.
• Lean Zone Office Simulation Simulation for learning lean principles applicable to office and transactional environments; priced at $945.
• Lean Zone Agile Manufacturing Simulation Simulation training for agile manufacturing methodologies and flexible production systems; priced at $165.
• Lean Zone Sub-Assembly Simulation Simulation for learning sub-assembly processes and lean manufacturing principles; priced at $995.
• The Greatest LEAN Pull Game Ever! Educational game demonstrating the difference between traditional Push processes and Replenishment Pull/Kanban methodologies; priced at $4.99.
• Lean Six Sigma Project Management Kits (Yellow, Green, Black Belt) Project management toolkits that document and structure each DMAIC phase for Yellow, Green, and Black Belt projects; Yellow $58.99, Green $98.99 (discounted from $298.99).
• Why They Fail Book Book by founder Kevin Clay explaining why over 90% of Lean Six Sigma deployments fail and outlining a 'Simple Key' to building sustainable improvement efforts.
• Why They Fail Podcast Podcast hosted by Kevin Clay featuring honest conversations about what kills Lean Six Sigma deployments and how to revive them; distributed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
• Organizational Deployment Program (Consulting) Professional services program that helps organizations implement Lean Six Sigma at scale, combining training with implementation support and consulting alongside certifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 10% of SSDSI programs fail vs industry average of 90% failure rate for Lean Six Sigma deployments
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• International Association for Six Sigma Certification (IASSC)coreOthersSSDSI is an IASSC Accredited Training Organization (ATO). This accreditation validates courseware quality, instructor credentials, and delivery standards. SSDSI offers IASSC certification exams and mock exams. The accreditation requires demonstrated management systems, courseware aligned to IASSC Bodies of Knowledge, and highly qualified instructors.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lean Six Sigma Institute: Lean Six Sigma Institute offers belt-level certifications and corporate training aligned to multiple recognized bodies (IASSC, ASQ) — overlapping with SSDSI's accreditation strategy and certification monetization.
• Simplilearn: Simplilearn is a large online professional certification provider whose Lean Six Sigma portfolio covers Yellow/Green/Black Belt courses with similar self-paced and live virtual delivery — competing with SSDSI on individual certification buyers and enterprise upskilling budgets.
• GreyCampus: GreyCampus offers IASSC-aligned Lean Six Sigma certification (Yellow, Green, Black Belt) via online and self-paced formats with project mentorship — a direct peer to SSDSI's certification and add-on product set, particularly for individual professionals.
• MoreSteam: MoreSteam is a long-standing provider of Lean Six Sigma training and eLearning software (EngineRoom), offering Yellow/Green/Black Belt programs, IASSC-aligned content, and enterprise process-improvement tools — directly comparable to SSDSI's belt-level certification and simulation offerings.
• Aveta Business Institute: Aveta Business Institute (formerly Pyzdek Institute / Six Sigma Online) offers Lean Six Sigma belt certifications and corporate training, positioning as a comparable online-led certification provider to SSDSI.
• GoLeanSixSigma.com: GoLeanSixSigma.com offers White through Master Black Belt certification, online and onsite training, and corporate deployment programs for individuals and enterprises — directly competing with SSDSI across belt levels, delivery formats, and target buyers.
• Vilfredo Pareto Consulting: Vilfredo Pareto Consulting provides Lean Six Sigma training, coaching, and certification across belt levels with a methodology-heavy curriculum — competing with SSDSI for enterprise deployments and individual belt certifications.

Broad incumbents

• American Society for Quality (ASQ): ASQ is the broader incumbent in the quality/process-improvement field, offering its own belt certifications, training, and publications. It is a broader-portfolio incumbent rather than a niche specialist, but addresses the same professional buyer and competes for enterprise training spend.
• Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a large enterprise learning platform offering thousands of courses including quality/process-improvement content — a broader incumbent competing for the same corporate training budget as SSDSI's onsite and virtual cohorts.

Emerging players

• Coursera: Coursera hosts university and partner-led Six Sigma and process-improvement specializations/certificates; while not a direct Six Sigma specialist, it competes at the low end for self-paced certification buyers and offers a more flexible refund/audit model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTkwhQ06nG7x4ha1pbsAmCA
• Facebookfacebook.com/sixsigmadsi
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ssdsi
• Xx.com/SSDSI

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Six Sigma Development Solutions