Daniel Purdy,
Bellingham, WA
Purdue University, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Daniel is a procurement and supply chain management professional who works at a global oil and gas company. As a strategic sourcing specialist, he purchases raw materials and services for several oil refineries, including construction and maintenance services; instrumentation and electrical components; catalysts and chemicals; and MRO.
He first decided to earn his Lean Six Sigma certificate online simply because of geography. “I live in a remote part of the country, so face-to-face attendance just wasn’t an option,” he said.
It was after comparing several programs and pedigrees of several well-known universities that he decided to go through The College Network® and Purdue University. “I discovered that I could earn all three certificates in less than a year at Purdue University. I wanted the credibility of a prestigious university and the continuing education credits from a respected program.
After starting the program, Daniel faced one primary obstacle—time management. “I had to reprioritize my hectic work/life schedule to accommodate the 4-5 hour weekly commitment. The flexibility of the assignments and tests helped me to work around business trips and balance responsibilities at home,” says Daniel.
Daniel was surprised at how quickly the courses were completed. “At first, I was overwhelmed by the syllabus and the time commitment. I quickly found, however, that I was able to keep pace with the reasonable workload, readings, and videos. Time really does fly!” he says.
While obtaining Lean Six Sigma certification isn’t a requirement for staff at his company, he feels that he will be able to offer his training and experience to further support his company’s goals. “My company places a strong emphasis on safe operations, continuous process improvement, lean manufacturing, cost savings and waste reduction. The Lean Six Sigma program gives me the collective training and tools I need to impact many of those areas.”
Having his black belt compliments Daniel’s personal development plan and serves him well in a work environment that is constantly changing. “As the global marketplace becomes more competitive for customers and resources, companies must transform into more efficient and productive organizations. This specialized skill set will positively differentiate me from others seeking the best individual contributor and management-level positions. Most important, this knowledge and expertise is applicable to virtually any company, in any industry,” he said.
He offers advice to those who are considering earning their Lean Six Sigma certificates. “I recommend this program to anyone willing to invest just a few more hours per week in their career. You can do this! It’s a great sense of accomplishment seeing how some specialized knowledge and personal contribution can make a positive impact,” said Daniel.
> Read more Lean Six Sigma Success Stories