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Lean Fundamentals

Lean Fundamentals is a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating the eight wastes – considered non-value-adding activities-through continuous improvement.

Lean fundamentals

Why Get Lean Lean Fundamentals Certified?

Learn Advanced Lean Concepts

Lean Fundamentals takes you through the process of identifying and eliminating non-value adding activities that impact an organization’s performance and output.

Explore Process Enhancement

Learn the trade with industry experts on identifying non-value adding processes and find key areas for improvement and waste reduction.

Learn Core Operational Skills

Understand what it takes to become an expert in Core Lean skills to apply operational excellence across an organization to achieve perfection.

Progressive Career Growth

Discover a whole new domain of career opportunities with highly coveted and demanded roles. Stand out from other candidates!

Course Content

This section covers the history and background of Lean, starting with Henry Ford up through Toyota, including what it is and what it is not. You will learn about organizations that have successfully implemented Lean. We will discuss how Lean works in manufacturing and non-manufacturing environments, helping you see the hidden waste. You will also learn about the 5 lean principles of Value, Value Stream, Flow, Pull and Perfection. You will understand how variation and waste leads to process excellence, why improvement initiatives fail, and the House of Lean that describes the core Lean leadership principles needed for success. We will also discuss the importance of developing a learning organization, and watch a video of a morning meeting at FastCap.

This section reviews the 5 lean principles, and introduces the Lean Triad, called the 3 M’s (Muda, Mura, Muri). You will also learn about different problem-solving processes like Plan-Do-Check-Act and the 8-Step Problem Solving Process. You will learn how to communicate and organize your problem-solving progress onto one sheet of paper, called an A3.

This section introduces the Japanese word “kaizen” which means incremental and continuous improvement of our processes. Kaizen can be done in our own work areas to save ourselves time and effort, while improving the quality of our work. We introduce a methodology called Kaizen Blitz which can be performed with a small team to make dramatic improvements to a targeted process, and is highlighted with a video. We also explain the popular kaizen event format, which is a multi-day session that brings together a team of people across multiple process areas to streamline the entire system. We share a video of a value stream mapping event, which follows the kaizen event format. We end the session with a discussion on a Lean Project, which is used for larger improvements that can take 3-6 months to complete.

One of the first ways to improve your process is to notice and identify the 3 M’s (Muda, Muri and Mura). We start with Muda, learning the 8 different types of waste, summarized by the acronym DOWNTIME. We will explain each of the 8 wastes, and give examples across multiple industries and sectors. We go through the other two M’s (Muri and Mura) and end with a video exercise of someone making toast, where you can practice spotting waste in the process.

This section covers a few case studies across different sectors. We’ll take a look at the Province of Saskatchewan and how Lean applies to a government agency. Then we’ll look at a nonprofit, Saint Bernard Project, and how they used Lean to rebuild more homes. Next, we’ll look at Pierson Workholding, a small CNC manufacturer, to learn how they adopted Lean into their processes. Finally, we’ll look at the health care industry at the Virginia Mason Institute, an early adopter of Lean.

5S is an improvement methodology used early in process improvement to establish better organization, better visual management and structure. It represents 5 steps that start with S: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardization and Sustain. We walk you through each of the steps, discuss keys to a successful 5S implementation, watch a summary video from a healthcare clinic, and walk through a numbers game that reinforce the 5S principles.

In order to determine what improvements we want to make, we must ensure we understand who our internal and external customers are, and what they value. This module will introduce methods for gathering the Voice of the Customer (VOC), comparing it to the Voice of the Business (VOB), and aligning it to True North. We will also explain how to use Lean to increase profits through cost reductions, not price increases.

One of the first major steps in improving a process is to understand the current process in great detail. We can capture the current state using various types of process maps, such as a SIPOC diagram, flow charts, swim lane maps, spaghetti diagrams and value stream maps (VSM). We deep dive into a VSM to understand the four elements (material and information flow, timeline and data boxes), different states of a VSM (current, ideal and future), and review common VSM symbols and metrics used in a VSM. We provide a roadmap on how to create a VSM, along with some examples and best practices.

In this section, we will discuss different types of data, along with commonly used metrics to measure the efficiency and performance of your processes, such as yield, process cycle time, takt time, queue time, changeover time, work time vs calendar time, lead time, and the theory behind Little’s Law. We will also discuss some simple ways to represent and summarize your data using charts and graphs such as a bar chart, time series plots and Pareto charts.

This section covers a few case studies across different sectors. We’ll take a look at the Province of Saskatchewan and how Lean applies to a government agency. Then we’ll look at a nonprofit, Saint Bernard Project, and how they used Lean to rebuild more homes. Next, we’ll look at Pierson Workholding, a small CNC manufacturer, to learn how they adopted Lean into their processes. Finally, we’ll look at the health care industry at the Virginia Mason Institute, an early adopter of Lean.

Establishing consistent flow of work in a process is critical to operational excellence. Once we start working on an order or customer request, the goal is to never stop working on it until it is complete. Everytime it stops or gets put aside, we have disrupted the flow. This section covers techniques to improve the flow in a system using techniques such as a Spaghetti Diagram, calculating takt time and pitch, workload balancing, escalating problems using andon and other triggers, and reducing setup time with rapid changeover methods.

Once you have established good flow in your process, we can transition away from a push system to a pull system, where work is done only when a trigger is given from the next step. We will explain the differences between a push and pull system, why a pull system is better, and different types of methods for implementing pull. Methods include WIP Capacity, Kanban, 2-Bin Replenishment systems and other signaling devices. We share a few video examples of different types of kanban systems, and review an equation for calculating the correct kanban sizes.

Telling employees to be more careful or adding inspection after every step of the process is not an effective approach for reducing errors. Humans are going to make mistakes, so we need to plan for these mistakes, and come up with cost-effective devices that prevent the error or detect it right away (called Poka-Yoke devices). We will explain the cost of allowing errors to escape through your processes, and how to approach human errors in a positive way. You will learn about Shigeo Shingo and W. Edwards Deming and how they focused on reducing human errors. You will learn to identify “red flag” areas that are most prone to errors, and 6 mistake proofing principles you can consider when creating your own device.

The fifth principle of Lean is pursuing perfection, which drives the need to continuously improve. In this section, we will discuss how standardized work is a core foundation for improvement to hold the gains. We will discuss steps to create standard work, and show the benefits of standard work using the “Draw a Pig” exercise.

In this section, we will review Toyota’s True North concept, along with the Ideal State of a process (without waste and quick response). We will spend most of the module on the Future State of a process by discussing how to ask good questions using the 5 W’s, conduct a brainstorming session, and common strategies for improvement called ECRS (Eliminate, Combine, Rearrange and Simplify).

Now that you’ve learned about Lean, we want to introduce you to another popular improvement method called Six Sigma. We will introduce the process thinking approach of managing input variables instead of reacting to the output variables, and how Six Sigma focuses more intently on data collection and analysis. We’ll review the history of Lean and Six Sigma, how Lean and Six Sigma tackle improvements differently, how the number of process steps and process yield impact operational excellence, and how best to blend Lean and Six Sigma together to utilize the strengths of each method.

In this section, we will recap all the previous modules to tie all the concepts together.

Why 6Sigma.us?

  • Curriculum by Certified and Experienced Lean experts.
  • Regularly updated courses to meet the latest industry standards.
  • Specially designed course to ensure a holistic learning experience.
  • Additional reading materials, PPTs, PDFs, etc. to gear you with real-world knowledge.
  • All analytical tools, software, etc. to turn you into an industry-ready professional.

Globally Recognized

6Sigma.us is trusted by more than 25,000 participants across 5000+ organizations!

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Trusted by People Worldwide

Based on 400+ reviews

How Do I Become a Lean Fundamentals Certified
Professional?

Explore opportunities, grow boundlessly, learn exclusively.

LI

Lean Introduction

Introduction to Lean and process identification

LF

Lean Fundamental

Learn to reduce waste and make processes efficient.

Top Opportunities for Lean Fundamentals Certified Professionals

  • Lean Engineer
  • Lean Specialist
  • Lean Leader/Expert
  • Lean Agent/Consultant/Advisor
  • Lean Project Manager
LF-client

Do you Know?

Average salary of a certified Lean Fundamental professional ranges from

$50,000

to

$70,000

/yr

Trusted by Professionals Across the World

  • Joe was instrumental in coaching our team in deploying Six Sigma at the Wichita plant. He provided profound motivation to our champions and Black Belts to understand and effectively implement the use of Six Sigma methodology and achieve our business goals.

    Joe Basala
    Rajesh Solanki, Case New Holland
    LinkedIn
  • Peter is an expert in his field and shares that knowledge and experience with all of his students. His practical application of statistics and process improvement techniques provides customers with the tools they need to be successful in any industry.

    Peter Peterka
    Jaclyn Waldrop, Administrative Director at Performance Improvement at Trinity Mother Frances Health System
    LinkedIn
  • Joe and team kicked off one of the 1st BPI/SixSig efforts at Dell Inc. in 1997. The effort was focused around the returns process and netted quick sustained gains that are being realized today.

    Joe Wexler
    Joseph Weis, Program Manager Federal OCONUS at Total Quality Consulting
    LinkedIn
  • I have worked with for over 7 years now as our account manager, helping us to drive culture change throughout the organization. His skills, abilities and passion were instrumental in helping us to drive to a culture of continuous improvement with real financial results.

    Joe Ficalora
    Dana Crowe, Sr Manager at Raytheon IDS
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  • I have known Dr. Richard Lynch for over 20 years and personally saw his work as a colleague at both SBTI and Six Sigma Academy. Richard is that perfect blend of theoretical and practical statistician. That plus his over 10 years of lean and six sigma consulting make him a most valuable addition to any consulting team or organization. I strongly recommend Richard.

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  • Frank Adler was a demanding noHold client. One that quickly grasped the implications of any conversation or presentation and drilled down into the critical issues. noHold’s service with MiTAC is one of our most effective, with a high ROI for MiTAC. This was a direct result of Mr Adler’s leadership.

    Frank Adler
    Donald Johnson, MiTAC Digital Corporation (formerly Magellan Navigation)
    LinkedIn

Get Certified Today!

Learn the skills to minimize waste and improve organizational performance!

  • On demand, 24/7 access to the training program.
  • Self-paced to help you learn the topics at your own pace.
  • Covers Lean Introduction and Lean Fundamentals
  • Learn a practical approach geared for real-world results.
  • Crafted by the best instructors across the globe.
  • Case studies and real-world Lean project examples.

Frequently Asked Question

Learners need to complete Lean Introduction training certification to pursue Lean Fundamentals training program by 6Sigma.us.

As businesses push for waste reduction and achieving operational excellence, there is always a need for certified Lean certified professionals. You can expect to work as: Lean Engineer, Lean Supervisor, Continuous Improvement Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Quality Engineer.

The Lean Introduction by 6Sigma can be completed within 2 weeks. Attendees are provided with 1 year of access to complete the course at their own pace.

  • Analytical and problem-solving approach.
  • Involved in quality improvement projects.

Lean Introduction certification is perfect for those looking forward to kickstart their career and expand their opportunities. It is recommended for managers, auditors, engineers, supervisors, and any other individual looking to improve their organization.

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