Advanced Problem Solving
Our Certified Lean Expert course provides a complete package of education, application, and coaching for those seeking, or already performing, a leadership role in a lean transformation.
As a Lean Expert, you will be able to address complex problems by articulating the situation, identifying the root cause, crafting countermeasures, and leading the implementation of improvements.
Leveraging a powerful, yet easy to navigate, learning management system, this course provides a variety of educational techniques. Examples include videos, articles, podcasts, and a problem solving project.
Lean Certification Options
100% online leveraging our easy-to-use learning management system. Enjoy the flexibility of 24/7 access, allowing you to study whenever and wherever you want. You can also take advantage of optional check-ins with your course instructor to ensure you’re progressing smoothly.
Customized programs for organizations with 8 to 12 candidates. This is your chance to craft a schedule of training and coaching which allows you to run multiple lean projects and see incredible results. Contact us to discuss how we can customize the certification experience for your team.
What's Involved?
This course has everything you need:
- A package of online tools you will access through a state-of-the-art learning management system
- Articles, videos, podcasts, and assignments laid out for you to learn and then apply what your learn
- A problem solving project designed to deliver improvements and demonstrate the power of a coaching-based problem solving approach
- Coaching from an instructor at every step along the way; you will not be alone on this journey of discovery
- A certification exam with the opportunity to earn personal recognition as a Certified Lean Expert
Throughout the course, you will work a lean problem solving project to create quantifiable improvements and achieve immediate results. The problem solving approach will leverage an enhanced version of the technique known as “A3 Problem Solving”. You will be the problem solver for your own project and receive coaching support from your instructor.
For most people, your time investment will need to be about 4 to 6 hours per week for 14 weeks.
Prerequisite for Certified Lean Expert
Taking Certified Lean Practitioner before this course is ideal, but not required.
Module 1 is a refresher on the Certified Lean Apprentice course.
7 Modules
1. Foundational Elements of Lean
2. The Art of Problem Solving
3. Articulate the Situation
4. Identify Root Cause
5. Develop Countermeasures
6. Implement Changes
7. Create Standardization
Module 1*
Foundational Elements of Lean
Lean Principles
Types of Value
Types of Waste
Standard Work
Continuous Improvement
*Refresher of Certified Lean Apprentice course.
Module 2
The Art of Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Plan Do Check Act
Problem Selection
Workplace Organization
Coaching
Module 3
Articulate the Situation
Problem Statements
Current Situation
Desired Situation
Stakeholder Value
Coaching Problem Definition
Module 4
Identify Root Cause
Quality
Root Cause Analysis
Cause and Effect Diagrams
SWOT Analysis
Coaching Root Cause Analysis
Module 5
Develop Countermeasures
Creating Consensus
Brainstorming
Best Practices
Benchmarking
Countermeasures
Module 6
Implement Changes
Documentation
Change Management
Force Field Analysis
Implementation Planning
Coaching Change
Module 7
Create Standardization
Repeatable Processes
Gemba Walks
Kaizen Blitz Events
Project Closure
Self-Management
Support
You won't be alone:
- Participants have telephone, email, and online support
- Instructors are experienced experts able to help participants respond to challenges
- The learning management system is easy to navigate and includes an extensive "help" feature
- Materials include templates and samples which significantly enhance effectiveness
Who Are Certified Lean Experts?
This program is designed for all types of individuals working at an organization seeking to make a lean transformation.
Examples include individuals working in:
- Healthcare Services
- Product Development
- Maintenance
- Human Resources
- Manufacturing
- Customer Service
- Supply Chain
- Sales
- Food Service
- Engineering
- Logistics
- Retail
- Information Technology
- Financial Services
- Field Service
- Marketing
- Hospitality Services
- Sourcing
- You
Lean works on any functional area which has waste!
Our project-oriented approach supports people from any functional area and gives this class a competitive advantage you won't find with most other classes.
Lean Expert Certification Projects
This course includes a problem solving project where you will apply what you learn.
You can bring a project from any process. Possibilities include:
- Inpatient Admissions
- Product Launch
- Slot Machine Repair
- New Hire Orientation
- Product Assembly
- Order Management
- Sales & Operations Planning
- Promotion Planning
- Meal Preparation
- Prototyping
- Receiving
- Stock Rotation
- Software Updates
- Budgeting
- Dispatching Technicians
- Market Research
- Housekeeping
- Purchasing Repair Parts
- Career Development
Lean works on any process which has waste!
Our project-oriented approach allows you to pick a project which will make an impact for you and your organization. This provides you a significant advantage you won't find with most other classes.
Register for 100% Online Class: Price = $1,500.00
Customized Lean Certification Classes
Contact us for customized options for any of our lean certifications and other classes.
Credential Registry
We are members of the Credential Registry, an organization dedicated to providing up-to-date information about all credentials, a common description language to enable credential comparability, and a platform to search and retrieve information about credentials.
The best credentials are found at the Credential Registry.
Learn more at Credential Registry.
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FAQs
How does Certified Lean Expert relate to the other certification levels?
Lean Apprentice is the introductory certification and is designed for everyone at an organization which is pursuing a Lean Transformation.
Lean Practitioner gives you hands-on experience leading a value stream mapping project.
Lean Expert, this certification, gives you hands-on experience leading a problem solving project.
Lean Master walks you through an assessment of your organization’s Lean Transformation program and helps you build an improvement roadmap.
You can learn more at Lean Education Standards.
Is an expert the same as a black belt?
Historically, belts have been used for Six Sigma certifications, a methodology focused on reducing variation. Some companies have applied the belts to Lean training. The black belt would be a close match to expert, but it can be confusing as an expert practices Lean problem solving and a black belt is focused on Six Sigma.
Collaborating with our customers and others, we have gone with Expert as it’s a clear connection to a role required at organizations pursuing a Lean Transformation.
You can learn more at Lean Education Standards.
How long does it take to obtain a Lean Expert certification?
For most people, your time investment will be about 4 to 6 hours per week for 14 weeks. Since the course is self-paced, you can go faster or slower.
The scope of your problem solving project will have the most influence on the time it takes you to complete the class.
What is involved with a Problem Solving project?
The Problem Solving project, in this course, is an enhanced version of the technique known as “A3 Problem Solving”. You will address a complex problem by articulating the situation, identifying the root cause, crafting countermeasures, and leading the implementation of improvements.
You can learn more at Why A3 Problem Solving Efforts Fail
What type of projects have been done by other Certified Lean Experts?
Previous students have completed projects from all types of functional areas. Common themes for projects include reducing cycle time, increasing flexibility, improving quality, or eliminating wasteful activities.
A sampling of projects includes project closure errors, raw material defects, construction project delays, failure to maintain workplace organization, poor training, customer feedback errors, and poor production capacity planning.
What support will be available to me as I complete my Lean certification?
Your assigned coach, will be available based on your preferences. You can connect with your coach via email, telephone, Zoom meetings, or through the learning management system. This customized approach allows you to get the most out of the course.
We are passionate about developing Lean leaders through education, application, and coaching. You will not be alone on this journey of discovery.
Can my organization go through Lean certification as a group?
Yes. It is very common for an organization to send waves of people through training. A Lean Transformation program is more energized and successful when everyone is on the same page.
One common approach is having 8 to 12 people take the class together and work on 4 to 6 projects. You can imagine the impact 4 to 6 projects can have on your organization!
Contact us to learn more.
How long does a Lean certification last?
Our Lean certifications need to be renewed every 5 years.
Our certification maintenance program is focused on keeping your skills refreshed through continuing education, improvement projects, and giving back.
Find more at Certification Maintenance.
How is Lean different from Lean Six Sigma?
Research into Lean Six Sigma reveals it is much more about Six Sigma and tends to have very little about the rich features of a Lean Transformation. Lean Six Sigma will often treat Lean as a collection of tools, you can sometime use when you work on a Six Sigma project.
Descriptions of Lean Six Sigma will often place a strong emphasis on using the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) methodology. This methodology is big for Six Sigma projects and not very common for Lean projects.
You can learn more at What is Lean Six Sigma?
Can a Lean certification be integrated with other management systems?
Yes. Lean certifications can easily fit into other management systems.
Lean is more than a set of tools, it’s a mindset of empowerment and improvement. This transformational mindset can support many successful management systems.
References
Course Information at the Credential Registry.
Problem Solving Skills Are Sought By Employers by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
