How do I get into LEAN/6-sigma in the renewable energy field?

[cranilation]

Hi all,

I'm struggling with my career.  I got a MA last year in Organizational Behavior Management (process improvement, employee motivation, and training).  I'm having trouble translating that into job titles.  (Last year I was a data analyst, right now I'm a titleless institutional culture change researcher.) 

I think what I would really like to do is focus on the process improvement, and as far as I can tell the main way to do that is through LEAN/6-sigma.  I don't have any certifications because I've always said I would wait until a company paid for those.  But because I've never done anything, I don't know any of the language, buzz words, etc.  Question:  How much lean/6-sigma do I need to know to get a job?  How can I get experience in it while I am looking for a job?

I know "energy" is a big field, big enough that it could support someone like me.  But I don't know anything about the field and don't really know where to start looking.  I would like to work in renewables because (a) it's cutting edge, and (b) I support it politically.  Question: Where can I learn more about this field, e.g. what the big companies are, what they are looking for, current challenges etc?

thanks!

[pdxvandal]

In wind power, the three big companies are Siemens, GE and Vestas. Many other smaller manufacturers/servicers, too. RE developers like Iberdrola, EDP, First Wind, RES and EDF are pretty big players, too. Check out AWEA, the wind industry's advocacy group. Don't know as much about solar, but SolarCity and SolarWorld are pretty big in the U.S.

It's a cool space but also dependent on government tax credits, which the industries are gradually being weaned off of as they become more self-sufficient. Hence, there has been a lack of stability. Good luck!

[NICE!]

blahblah, the Air Force has been paying 6-sig contractors with which I've been thoroughly unimpressed for some time (at least since '09, but I think further back than that). I don't remember the names of the companies and I'm not sure I could dig them up, but you could try to research this angle. The military and government overall are trying to trim the fat so they don't have to cut the workforce or the "meat" of their budgets, so they've been interested in efficiency measures for awhile.