Lean Horizons Consulting | Knowledge Transfer

A comprehensive Lean Six Sigma program opens limitless possibilities.

Lean Six Sigma Champion Training
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Training

Providing the necessary organizational infrastructure to support your Lean Six Sigma Program is a critical element of the journey to becoming a successful World Class Enterprise. A significant component to this infrastructure is the creation of the various training programs needed to support all associates, from leadership to the front line, on topics ranging from Lean Six Sigma Champions to the Master Black Belts, who continually drive improvements in every area of the business. The combination of Lean and Six Sigma is powerful, providing your organization with a principled and structured culture of relentless waste reduction from value streams empowered further by the advanced techniques of process variability analysis and reduction.

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma Training Suite provides comprehensively the learning materials needed to target improvements in every area of your business. The Lean Six Sigma program features: Lean Six Sigma Champion Training, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training, and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Training.

Lean Six Sigma Champion Training

Champion training is a key component of any Lean Six Sigma program. Lean Horizons provides a simple and useful approach to project and metric review. Through a highly disciplined process, senior management and or process owners use the Champion Toolbox to ask the right questions and interpret the answers; then, filter the non-critical projects and “champion” the breakthrough projects in key areas.

The driving force

The Lean Horizons Champion Training targets the senior management team and process owners including the chief executives and their direct reports in manufacturing, sales, quality, marketing, supply chain operations and finance.

The benefits

Key focus areas of Lean Horizons’ Lean Six Sigma Champion program rely on a rigorous yet formative platform that provides the structure required for success and the flexibility to adapt to a wide variety of businesses and industries. Program benefits include:

• Alignment of Lean Six Sigma with the organization's critical business imperatives and business strategy
• Ownership and accountability for problem-solving down to root cause confirmation
• Customized training packages to specific target audiences...not "one size fits all"
• Easy-to-use instructional materials intended for facilitation by company leaders
• Key deliverables outlined for each training phase with follow-up mentoring

The Lean Horizons approach

Lean Horizon’s comprehensive Lean Six Sigma Champion Training employs a flexible program designed to provide an education in the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) process itself and how Lean Six Sigma is deployed throughout an enterprise for consistent application and sustainable results:

Introduction to Continuous Improvement Process: This module explains how organizations that have taken different paths to continuous improvement fit together under a Lean or Lean Six Sigma Transformation program.

Lean Fundamentals Overview: Participants will take part in an interactive training session and discussion highlighting why companies such as Toyota are so successful with Lean and what leadership teams can learn from their experiences.

Kaizen: A focused methodology used for the implementation of Lean (office or factory), this module covers the structure of a kaizen event (preparation, execution, and follow up) and the keys to results-oriented execution and implementation. This is a disciplined process that is critical to Lean transformations.

Problem Solving Tools Overview: This module may be incorporated into any Lean kaizen event or may be used as a stand-alone to introduce teams to basic Lean problem-solving tools and methods. Participants will learn which tools are best suited for solving particular problems.

DMAIC Overview: Each of the five phases of a Lean Six Sigma project is examined and explained in this module, as are the tools most commonly used, and approaches for setting project goals and capturing customer needs to drive improvements.

Basic Statistics Overview: This module gives a basic introduction to the most commonly used statistical techniques and introduces Champions to the statistical language used by Green and Black Belts.

Team Chartering: Using this module a Champion will be able to determine a Lean Six Sigma Charter and ensure the team is adequately equipped to be successful. It is of paramount importance to ensure the project has the correct primary and secondary metrics in place. This module will show you how to safeguard your project.

Belbin Leadership Style Assessment: This is a self-perception class report that “fingerprints” candidates’ preferences for each of the nine Belbin team roles. It is likely that team members will embody three or four natural roles that they can use appropriately depending on a current situation. The value of the Belbin team-role theory lies in enabling an individual or team to benefit from self-knowledge and adjust according to the demands being made by an external situation.

Green Belt and Black Belt Selection: Choosing the “right people” for these roles is probably the single most important attribute in determining the success of a Lean Six Sigma program. We help you work with HR, Operations and Management to find, train, reward and retain the best people in your organization.

Leading Change: As with any change program, commitment from the most senior team is mandatory, but leading that change requires skills, practice and behavior modification to insure success. We’ll show you how to effect change.

Project Selection: Many Lean Six Sigma programs begin to fail when Green and Black Belts choose the wrong project. The Project Selection module provides parameters for determining if a project is viable, relevant and worthy of support.

Project Closure: Once a project is in its “control” phase and has yielded the prescribed return or improvement, the outcomes need to be systematized into daily, weekly, monthly routines to ensure sustainability. We show you how in the Project Closure module.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training

Lean Manufacturing is the cornerstone to fundamentally improving business processes on the shop floor and in office environments. However, once a sustained and standardized Lean program has successfully identified and eliminated waste, it will be time to ensure “continuing improvement” in all business value streams. The key to implementing a results-oriented Lean Six Sigma process is the proper delivery and execution of the Lean Six Sigma fundamentals. Our Lean Six Sigma Suite provides not only the full spectrum of Six Sigma tools, but more importantly, introduces each tool in the proper context and application within a Lean Six Sigma journey. As a result, the user gains both knowledge of the tools themselves and the proper understanding of where and when to use the tools in a wide range of applications. Our original training in world-class operations, combined with 20 years of hands-on implementation, is the basis for our learning and your deployment. The next step after Champion Training is to initiate Belt Training. Green Belts are the “engines” that provide the relentless force to accelerate a Lean Six Sigma program from inception to success.

The driving force

The Lean Horizons Green Belt Training is designed for use and understanding at all levels of an organization. The suite provides talent and learning development to engineers, front line supervision, management and continuous improvement teams.

The benefits

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma Suite has been designed with both implementation and deployment in mind. Our diligence to the lessons we learned from some of the world’s most respected companies, GE, Motorola, Allied Signal...combined with our experience as operations executives has resulted in training modules providing both knowledge transfer to employees and proper understanding to management. This suite is an integral component of any continuous improvement program. Benefits include:

• A standardized approach to understanding, implementation and deployment that is simple to understand and easy to engage and integrate with your Continuous Improvement program(s) of today
• Emphasis, not only on the tool itself, but more importantly on how to ensure alignment of the tool(s) with improving business objectives (metrics)
• A set of recommended tools, selected from hundreds of tools and methods in the marketplace, that are most applicable to Lean Six Sigma implementation, eliminating the need for extensive research to pick the right tools to use
• Professional, high quality material with examples and step-by-step instructions

The Lean Horizons approach

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training includes all components of the Champion Training as well as:

Measurement Systems Analysis: This module will give candidates a thorough understanding of the difference between discrete and continuous data, of utilizing stratification and validating a measurement system.

Process Mapping: Candidates will learn through instruction, examples and exercises how to properly document business and technical processes in a way that supports both Lean problem solving and continuous improvement.

XY Matrix: XY matrices can be used in a wide variety of applications. We show you how to use them in the ”analyze” phase.

Understanding Variation: To make data meaningful, you need to look at the variation. Certain patterns can provide clues about the source of process problems. We’ll show you how to detect and interpret these clues.

Decision Making: Determining an action from an understanding, or perception, of the data gathered is any manager's daily vocation, but for a Green or Black Belt it can be the difference between success and failure. This module trains Green and Black Belts in making the best decision, based on the empirical data gathered, every time.

Mistake Proofing: Candidates learn the fundamentals about the role, use and function of mistake proofing, commonly referred to as "Poka-Yoke." This module includes examples from assembly, machine shops, office and warehouse operations.

Failure Mode and Effect Analysis: This is a simple “how to” module that informs the construction of a FMEA. During the exercise, candidates will learn to identify potential failure modes, anticipate the possible consequences, assign risk detection factors and estimate the likelihood of occurrence. A very effective tool, FMEA is used as much in transactional processes as manufacturing.

Implementation Planning: Finding a “cause” and developing a “solution” is not always the hardest task faced by a Green or Black Belt; acceptance of their methods is often slowly won. Planning a robust implementation of any solution is often the best way to receive immediate support for proposed changes.

Response Planning: As with Implementation Planning, having a set and vigorous “response” to any potential failure mode is an all-important weapon in any Green or Black Belt’s arsenal. This module will show candidates how to put their earlier learning into practice.

Certification: At the conclusion of Green Belt Training, Lean Horizons outlines client-approved certification criteria that often include an examination, the successful completion of organization projects and recommendation from a Lean Horizons Master Black Belt.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training

While Green Belts are a part-time resource – contributing approximately 50 percent of their time – Black Belts are the full-time "power houses" behind any successful Lean Six Sigma program. One hundred percent dedicated to the identification, measurement, analysis, improvement and control of your business’s processes, Black Belts, once trained and certified, are the most valuable resource deployed in your business. The implementation of Lean Six Sigma is not simply a matter of taking what has worked in another organization and applying it to your business. Lean Horizons provides a structured approach to the education and development of every Lean Six Sigma Black Belt through the application of Lean Six Sigma tools specifically developed for the their work environment. This approach begins with an introduction providing a foundation in the tools, principles and behavior required for a successful Lean Six Sigma implementation that is complemented by the ability to use the DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) methodology in key value streams and achieve best-in-class performance.

The driving force

The Lean Horizons Black Belt Training is designed for use and understanding at all levels of an organization. The suite provides talent and learning development to engineers, front line supervision, management and continuous improvement teams.

The benefits

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma package benefits include:

• A consistent understanding of the Lean Six Sigma principles across the organization
• The ability to engage the DMAIC methodology in key value streams that are aligned with the overall organizational objectives
• Proven techniques for mapping and analyzing product, transactional, and information flows
• A clearly defined roadmap for Lean Six Sigma implementation
• Practical tools and capabilities for achieving sustained performance improvements

The Lean Horizons approach

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training includes all components of the Champion and Green Belt Training as well as:

Testing Proportions: Using practical exercises to demonstrate proportional testing, this module steps through experimentation, application, conclusions and presentation of data.

Testing Normal Data: Using live data, candidates learn to identify "normal" and "non-normal" data and, more importantly, how to interrogate and interpret analysis results. Candidates also gain a statistical vocabulary – P-values, Kurtosis, Skew, Mu – to facilitate a common language.

Mentoring: This module describes the relationship between a Green Belt and a Black Belt and is the first step for a Black Belt embarking on Master Black Belt Training. Providing support, sharing experiences and proficiencies and strengthening their own leadership attributes are all included in this phase.

Basic Instructional Techniques: This module enables Black Belts to better support the Green Belt community and is a continuation module for Master Black Belt training.

Certification: At the conclusion of Black Belt Training, Lean Horizons outlines client-approved certification criteria that often include an examination, the successful completion of organization projects and recommendation from a Lean Horizons Master Black Belt.

Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Training

Master Black Belt Training is not to be taken lightly. The 60 percent success rate for Master Black Belt certification bespeaks the level of commitment required but also reveals the potential competitive advantage. Lean Horizons provides a structured curriculum tailored to an individual candidate’s skill mastery needs. Paired with a Lean Horizons Master Black Belt the candidate becomes well schooled in the approach to Lean Six Sigma knowledge transfer and Belt mentoring. To achieve best-in-class performance, an organization must develop best-in-class performers. Lean Horizons’ unique combination of tacit and explicit Lean Six Sigma knowledge provides your organization a superior program for identifying promising candidates and developing the skills that enable these candidates to win Master Black Belt certification.

The driving force

The Lean Horizons Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt package is specifically targeted for Lean Horizons-trained Black Belts with a minimum of three years project experience in the client organization.

The benefits

Benefits include:

• A consistent and expert understanding of the Lean Six Sigma principles
• The ability to identify, train and mentor Champions, Green Belts and Black Belts
• Proven ability to use Lean Six Sigma techniques for significant business improvement
• A clearly defined curriculum of learning
• Practical tools and capabilities for achieving sustained performance improvements

For pricing and terms, please contact info@leanhorizons.com or telephone +1.860.537.6786 to speak with one of our specialists.

		Lean Knowledge Suite
		Introduction to Lean

		Strategic Deployment

		Advanced Value Stream Mapping

		Lean Problem Solving

		Lean Administrative Process Transformation

		Lean Manufacturing

		Kaizen Fundamentals

		Lean Supply Chain

		Lean Six Sigma

		Lean Supervisor

		For pricing and terms, please contact info@leanhorizons.com or telephone +1.860.537.6786 to speak with one of our specialists.