What is LEAN?

The LEAN Training Program, by definition, is an industry-leading program, which provides individuals, businesses, and educators with a comprehensive roadmap for professional development and workforce training that is aligned with industry-recognized standards. This is a journey of evolution where knowledge and experience are combined to build a foundation on which you can continue building. It combines innovative thinking and business practices with real-world results and applications. Lean is a method that reduces the eight wastes and maintains productivity. It was developed in Japan under the Toyota Production System (TPS). It aims to reduce waste in an operation and show what adds value while removing what doesn’t. It is important to remember that Lean requires time.

LEAN can be applied to any process, and there are many different methods. We will discuss the eight types of waste LEAN aims to eliminate, and the definition of Lean principles, tools, and techniques that businesses all over the globe have adopted into their business processes.

Definition for LEAN
Definition for LEAN, LEAN Definition

Why is the certification the gold standard?

Six Sigma Development Solutions, inc. offers the LEAN Certification program, which represents the best certification practices. The certification program ensures that you understand it and can apply it effectively to real-world problems. The process begins with education, training, and development. You can prove that you understand lean by passing a comprehensive test covering a wide range of knowledge. Working on real projects will help you to solidify the concepts while gaining confidence. You submit a written report of your skills that is reviewed by lean professionals with experience once you have gained enough experience. You can recertify as you gain more knowledge, experience, and skills.

Both existing firms and new startups must constantly address the fundamental questions of purpose and process, as well as people to solve the eight wastes of lean:

  1. What is the purpose of value-driven design? What is the value-driven purpose?
  2. What work is needed to solve the problem?
  3. What are the required capabilities (to solve the problem)?
  4. What is the management system – operating system, leadership behavior, and behaviors?
  5. What basic thinking is required of the organization to be purpose-driven, socio-technical systems?

LEAN vs. Six Sigma, what is the difference?

LEAN Manufacturing (or LEAN enterprise) and Six Sigma are two complementary business improvement methodologies that can be used to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase customer satisfaction.

LEAN Manufacturing (or LEAN enterprise) is a set of principles and practices that originated in the Toyota Production System. It focuses on identifying and eliminating waste in all aspects of a business, from manufacturing to customer service. Lean principles include:

  • Value: Identifying the activities that add value to the customer.
  • Waste: Identifying and eliminating activities that do not add value to the customer.
  • Flow: Creating a smooth and efficient flow of work through the process.
  • Pull: Producing products or services only when the customer demands them.

Six Sigma is a set of statistical methods and tools that can be used to improve the quality of products and services. Six Sigma aims to achieve a defect rate of no more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities (DPMO). Six Sigma principles include:

  • Define: Define the problem or opportunity that you want to improve.
  • Measure: Measure the current performance of the process.
  • Analyze: Analyze the data to identify the root causes of the problems.
  • Improve: Implement changes to the process to improve its performance.
  • Control: Implement controls to ensure that the improvements are sustained.

Lean Six Sigma is a combination of Lean and Six Sigma principles and practices. It is a more comprehensive approach to improvement that can be used to achieve significant results in a variety of industries.

The main difference between Lean and Six Sigma is that Lean focuses on eliminating waste, while Six Sigma focuses on reducing variation. Lean is also more focused on the overall flow of the process, while Six Sigma is more focused on the individual steps in the process.

In general, LEAN Manufacturing (or LEAN enterprise) is an excellent choice for businesses that want to improve their efficiency and reduce costs. Six Sigma is a good choice for businesses that want to improve the quality of their products and services.

Which comes first, Lean or Six Sigma?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best approach will vary depending on the specific needs of the business. However, in general, it is a good idea to start with Lean principles to identify and eliminate waste. Once the most obvious sources of waste have been eliminated, then Six Sigma principles can be used to further improve the quality of the process.

LEAN versus Six Sigma
LEAN versus Six Sigma

Benefits of being certified in LEAN

LEAN principles, techniques, and philosophies can give you a competitive edge by eliminating eight of the eight wastes mentioned earlier. Let’s look at real-world examples that show how Lean manufacturing has given companies an edge.

Around 60% of all production activities worldwide are waste. When it comes down, every company can improve its ability to minimize waste, make high-quality products, and lower overall production costs. It takes time to implement the tools, methods, and philosophies that we have discussed if you want to be certified. These techniques will help your team to reduce any of the eight types. They’ll just have to do their job.

It is important to remember the Lean cycle when you are considering Lean implementation. The Lean cycle has five steps:

  • Value is what you should be focusing on. This involves thinking about the customer as a whole and what they value.
  • The value stream should be mapped. Organize all steps in your process. Get rid of any that don’t add value.
  • Establish flow. Find ways to streamline the steps so that the customer receives the most value.
  • Establish pull. Increase demand from your customers so that they are more interested in the product than you are trying to force on them.
  • Strive for perfection. Lean is all about continuous improvement. When talking about the implementation of its principles, it is important to remember that people are also important. This means making it a core principle to ensure employees are happy and engaged in their work. People will lose respect for their colleagues and perform less well if they don’t feel valued.
What is the definition of lean?
What is the definition of LEAN manufacturing?

Average Salary of a LEAN Practitioner 

According to salary.com, the average LEAN Practitioner salary in the United States is $122,005, but the salary range typically falls between $113,270 and $132,630. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target. 

Salary of a LEAN Practitioner
Salary of a LEAN Practitioner

How to Become a LEAN Practitioner?

Six Sigma Development Solutions, Inc. has an excellent LEAN Certification Course. We are an Accredited Training Organization (ATO) with the International Association of Six Sigma Certification (IASSC). The certification course can be held either virtually, on-site (at your organization) or a hybrid of both. We also have virtual, live in-person, and hybrid public courses held monthly at our 50+ global training sites.

The course is full of games, videos, and simulations. We will be playing with dice, legos, and airplanes to make the LEAN Methodologies come to life. The instructors will keep you engaged and excited!

Certification by an IASSC ATO
IAASC Authorized Training Organization