Lean Concepts

Overview/Description
Most business processes are 90% waste and 10% value-added work. The challenge for businesses today is to find new ways to dramatically reduce costs and improve investment returns while better serving their customers. To meet these challenges, organizations have turned to Lean Thinking, which seeks the elimination of all forms of waste, strives for continuous improvement, and simplifies business processes. |w This course explores how businesses that implement Lean Thinking learn how to reduce waste, streamline production and improve operational flexibility. Practical steps and tools for the identification, treatment and removal of waste are explored while focusing on increasing organizational effectiveness. |w

Target Audience


Candidates for Black Belt certification; managers/executives overseeing personnel involved in the implementation of Six Sigma in their organization; consultants involved in implementing a Six Sigma proposal; organizations implementing a Six Sigma project

Expected Duration


3.5 hours

Objectives :

Lesson Overview

  • recognize the benefits that Lean thinking can bring to an organization

    • Introduction to Lean

  • recognize examples of the implementation of the business philosophies of Lean

    • The Key Principles of Lean

  • recognize examples of workplace activities or tasks associated with each of the five key principles of Lean

    • Lean Enterprise Transformation

  • recognize the factors needed for a successful transformation to a Lean enterprise

    • Lesson Overview

  • differentiate between two Lean methodologies

    • The Kaizen Methodology

  • differentiate between the three types of Kaizen projects
  • identify the Kaizen framework sequence
  • identify the benefits of the Kaizen methodology

    • The 5S Methodology |w

  • sequence examples of the tasks involved in using the 5S methodology

    • Lesson Overview

  • identify the three key principles of continuous flow manufacturing (CFM)
  • recognize the advantages of continuous flow manufacturing to organizations

    • Managing Flow

  • identify best practices in managing continuous flow

    • Mapping Flow

  • interpret a continuous flow map

    • Additional Continuous Flow Tools

  • recognize examples of tools used to implement continuous flow

    • Lesson Overview

  • recognize the benefits of being able to identify the weakest link in a system

    • Understanding Theory of Constraints

  • recognize examples of the common tools used to apply the Theory of Constraints

    • Addressing and Implementing Constraints

  • apply the five focusing steps of TOC


    • Course Number: oper_01_a01_bs_enus