Not all Lean Six Sigma books or Six Sigma books are made to help you prepare for a certification. Many of them talk about Six Sigma in general, including its history, ideas, and how it is used.
Three main types of providers offer Six Sigma certification:
- Accredited certification providers, usually recognized by one of these bodies:
- ASQ (American Society for Quality)
- IASSC (International Association for Six Sigma Certification)
- CSSC (Council for Six Sigma Certification)
- Universities (mostly online programs)
- Independent certification providers
Self-study is mainly practical for accredited certifications. Here’s why:
- Most accredited programs require you to attend their official training. If you don’t, you cannot take the exam.
- For non-accredited certifications, studying on your own can be risky because each provider may have its own rules or “Body of Knowledge”. So the Lean Six Sigma books you use may not match what their exams actually test.
For this reason, I have organized the Lean Six Sigma books according to their accreditation:
- ASQ Six Sigma handbooks
- ASQ Six Sigma study guides
- CSSC Six Sigma study book
- IASSC recommended Lean Six Sigma books
ASQ Six Sigma handbooks (open-book eligible)
ASQ handbooks are practical guides for applying Six Sigma to improve processes and reduce variation. They are useful for both exam preparation and professional work, offering a solid understanding of the Body of Knowledge (BoK) so you can contribute effectively to Six Sigma projects.
These handbooks can also be used during ASQ open-book certification exams, making them valuable both for studying and as a reference on the job.
Updated to reflect the latest standards, ASQ handbooks usually include detailed explanations of each BoK section, essay-style questions to reinforce understanding, extensive appendices with abbreviations and glossaries, online resources with practice exam questions, and lists of sources like webinars, tools, templates, and recommended publications.
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt Handbook
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Handbook
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Handbook
- The Certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt
ASQ Six Sigma study guides
ASQ study guides complement the official handbook and are designed to support those preparing for ASQ certification exams.
They offer structured practice questions aligned with the latest Body of Knowledge, crafted to match the required depth and cognitive levels. Each question comes with detailed explanations and references to the relevant BoK section to guide further study.
These guides usually include many practice sections, updates reflecting new topics and standards, and a list of additional references used by ASQ exam development teams.
Study guides by belt (not available for master black belt):
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt Study Guide
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Green Belt Study Guide
- The ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt Study Guide
CSSC Six Sigma study book
CSSC offers a comprehensive study guide covering all levels: Six Sigma: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide for White, Yellow, Green, and Black Belts (available in paperback and hardcover). They also provide free eBook versions for each individual certification level.
IASSC recommended Lean Six Sigma books
It does not provide a study guide, but learners should study and understand the official Body of Knowledge.
So, during your self-study journey, use the Body of Knowledge as a checklist to track your study progress.
For IASSC Six Sigma certification preparation, I highly recommend starting with — A First Course in Quality Engineering, this book balances management principles of quality engineering and statistics of Six Sigma approache.
The book covers many topics included in the IASSC Six Sigma Green Belt Body of Knowledge, especially in statistical analysis and process control. However, it does not cover the full BoK, which is organized around the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC method and includes specific Lean principles.
Still, it’s a great starting point if you think Six Sigma statistics might be challenging.
To complete your knowledge with consistent lean manufacturing knowledge you can read:
- “The Machine that Changed the World – The Story of Lean Production“ by Womack, Jones, and Roos (2007 edition)
- Focus: The history of mass production and the Toyota Production System, based on a five-year MIT study. Recommended for those interested in car manufacturing and Lean Production.
- “Toyota Production System – Beyond Large-Scale Production“ by Taiichi Ohno
- Focus: Original concepts of Lean Production developed by Ohno at Toyota. Emphasizes eliminating waste and inefficiencies. Initially published in Japanese (1978), now available in English.
- “The Lean Toolbox“ (5th edition)
- Focus: Practical handbook for Lean transformation in companies. Covers management, operational topics, and supply chain improvements. Used in courses at the Technical University of Munich.
- “Matching Supply with Demand“ by Cachon and Terwiesch
- Focus: Quantitative analysis of operations management and supply chains. Provides clear explanations of matching supply and demand in practical and academic settings.
- “Factory Physics“ by Wallace Hopp and Mark Spearman
- Focus: Advanced textbook covering quantitative aspects of production systems. Compares Lean Production with other approaches like the Theory of Constraints, including Kanban and production control techniques.
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Final thoughts
Self-study to nail Six Sigma certification is an available option for accredited certifications. Yet, those Lean Six Sigma books can well support students who have chosed to take trainings.
ASQ and CSSC provide resources for self-study, while IASSC only lists what you should study.
Still not sure which belt suits you? Read Six Sigma Belt Levels Explained, or get the info you need to choose between Lean Six Sigma and Six Sigma in Lean Six Sigma vs Six Sigma: Which is Better?
Read our 5-step guide to learn how to earn a recognized Six Sigma certification.