• UB Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) Department chair, Dr. Rakesh Nagi has announced the 2008/2009 Six Sigma Black Belt Student Certification Program. The Center for Industrial Effectiveness will be offering industry sponsorship opportunities to WNY companies.
• The 2008/2009 sponsorship program begins with the Fall 2008 semester. The program presents a unique opportunity for WNY companies to partner with UB Engineering. With your sponsorship, one or two engineering students (either seniors or graduate students) will complete a Six Sigma qualifying project in your facility. Each project will provide a significant, identifiable, and achievable improvement to your business.

• At the beginning of the Fall 2008 semester, the student intern and Master Black Belt mentor will meet industry sponsors to discuss project opportunities. Qualifying projects identify and achieve objectives with a significant and quantifiable financial impact on your operations. Once a project is selected and a project charter is created, students will spend 12-16 hours per week on site during both the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 semesters.
• A member of your staff is assigned as a liaison to give internal project support to the student. While desirable, it is not necessary that this individual be a Black Belt. Students will receive continuing mentoring and support from a UB Engineering Master Black Belt mentor advisor throughout the entire project. At the end of the project, students will present final reports to the appropriate industry sponsor organization.

• Projects in your facility will focus on eliminating process variation, eliminating the root cause.
• UB Engineering Master Black Belt mentors will work with you and the student to identify an appropriate project that has defined outcomes and achievable results to improve your business.
• Accomplished student resources, access to a pool of highly skilled potential employees.
• Contributions to a program that can help keep highly skilled engineers from leaving the region.
• Preferred status for participation in next year's program.

Benefits for our students:

• Participating student interns will have completed one qualifying project, making them eligible to test for certification.
• Working directly with a Master Black Belt to define specific project objectives.
• Access to a number of successful WNY businesses for potential employment.
• Students gain valuable experience working in industry.
• Participation in mentoring program led by industry professionals and technical experts.

Program schedule:

• Fall/Spring Semester: Students will be placed with sponsor companies by September 2008. Work on the Black Belt project is expected to be equivalent to 12-16 hours per week on site across the Fall and Spring semesters. Two to three times per semester a progress meeting will be held to assure milestones are being met. The student and Master Black Belt mentor will make a final report that will be presented at the conclusion of the project on or about, June 2009.

Cost of sponsorship:

• $ 4,900 for Academic Year 2008/2009