Training – Off the Shelf

Overall Lean Six Sigma description – Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is a combination of Lean and Six Sigma. Traditional Six Sigma has focused on the reduction of variation. Lean is the removal of waste. Both provide process improvement focused on customers and focused on achieving business process improvements.  When combining these two practices, a powerful Continuous Improvement process delivers great results.

Lean Six Sigma Belt System (PDF)

• Lean Six Sigma White Belt (1 day)
  Learn LSS philosophy and methodology (DMAIC), and obtain basic knowledge of the most common Lean and Six Sigma tools. This course is designed to provide participants with a good overall knowledge of the tools, application of the tools and potential benefits from applying the tools.
• Lean Six Sigma White Belt for Leaders (1 day)
  In addition to the traditional LSS White Belt, this 1 day session provides Leaders with techniques for identifying and selecting opportunities for improvement. They will see how LSS can impact bottom line and overall business performance. And they will begin creating a culture of Continuous Improvement utilizing LSS.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt (2 days)
  Learn LSS philosophy and methodology (DMAIC), and obtain basic knowledge of the most common Lean and Six Sigma tools. This course is designed to provide participants with a good overall knowledge of the tools, application of the tools and potential benefits from applying the tools. In addition, greater depth of knowledge and application will occur on the concepts of value stream mapping, variation, quality concepts and kaizen. Note: White Belt is not a prerequisite for Yellow Belt.
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt for Leaders (2 days) – aka LSS Champion
  In addition to the traditional LSS Yellow Belt, this 2 day session provides Leaders with techniques for identifying and selecting opportunities for improvement. They will see how LSS can impact bottom line and overall business performance. And, they will begin creating a culture of Continuous Improvement utilizing LSS. Note: White Belt is not a prerequisite for Yellow Belt.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (6 days over 3 months)
  Learn LSS philosophy and methodology (DMAIC). Obtain knowledge of the most common Lean and Six Sigma tools. Learn techniques for identifying and selecting opportunities for improvement. See how LSS can impact bottom line and overall business performance. Apply LSS concepts on a project to improve business processes. Begin creating a culture of Continuous Improvement utilizing LSS. Certification is also available: Certification requires individuals to attend all trainings, pass an assessment, work on a project (as a team), deliver results on the project and present the project. LSS Green Belt certification is optional. This option includes 1 day of project mentoring and final project reviews. Note: White and Yellow Belt are not prerequisites for Green Belt.

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Upgrade (7 days over 3 months)
  The Black Belt Upgrade (or fast-track) is for those who are already trained in LSS Green Belt. Admission to this program is at the discretion of ProgressivEdge, Inc. based upon previous training and experience. Contact us for details on this option. LSS Black Belt provides additional depth on all tools and advanced Design of Experiments training for those who have a need for more complex statistical applications. Note: LSS Green Belt training is a prerequisite for attending the Black Belt Upgrade.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (12 days over 5 months)
  LSS Black Belt includes all content of the LSS Green Belt program with additional depth on all tools. LSS Black Belt provides advanced Design of Experiments training for those that have a need for more complex statistical applications. Note: White, Yellow or Green Belt are not prerequisites for Black Belt.
  Lean Six Sigma Black Belt – 12 Days (PDF)
• Lean Six Sigma Champion (2 days)
  LSS Champions are engaged with both Green and Black Belts. They are usually department leads, Presidents, Vice Presidents or Managers. They need to understand the basic LSS tools and applications, but they do not need to do all the detailed work of putting the tools and applications into practice themselves. LSS Champions select projects, provide direction and motivate. They monitor results and assure activity and results align strategically.
  Lean Six Sigma Champion – 2 day (PDF)

Lean is a collection of tools and approaches used to identify and reduce waste in any business and for any process. Wastes are activities that customers are not willing to pay for and/or add no value to the product or service. Lean engages everyone in every business function. Lean focuses on the reduction of time from when the customer requests a service or product to the time they receive what they requested. Quick-focused events result in reduced costs, increased capacity (revenue) and increased profits.

• Lean Overview (1 day)
  The Lean overview covers the most common tools and their applications. A simulation game provides hands-on learning of the concepts. This is a great introduction to the Lean concepts.
• Lean Practitioner (1 week)
  As a Lean Practitioner, you will learn the Lean concepts and their applications. Lean is the removal of waste and the removal of barriers to flow. With a focus on the customers, the tools applied will benefit customers as well as those supporting the needs of the customers.
• Value Stream Mapping
  As one of the 5 Lean principles, Value Stream Mapping (VSM) takes processes and makes them visual. Once the processes are made visual with this mapping technique, activities are identified as value added or non-value added. A current state is mapped, a future state is designed and finally an action plan is created to form a path for improvement. VSM can be provided as training or as a workshop focused on one of your own processes.
• Kaizen
  Kaizen is Continuous Improvement. It can be very small actions or very large projects. Kaizen events are a structured approach to achieve kaizen. Kaizen can be provided as training or as a workshop focused on improving any aspect of your business.
• 5S and Visual Management
  In order to improve flow of products or services, 5S and visual management concepts are applied. Not only do these techniques provide a more organized area, but overall efficiencies are also achieved as a result.
• Cells/Flow/Pull/Kanban
  Flow and Pull are two of the 5 Lean principles. Cells and kanbans support flow and pull. Cells take dissimilar processes producing similar products or services and brings them together. Kanban provides a means of linking process steps to assure the most efficient flow of products or services to the customers.
• Set-up Reduction
  Set-up time reduction allows for more efficient use of time and resources. Capacity increases can be achieved along with faster response time to customer demand.
• Mistake Proof
  Mistake proofing is getting to the root cause of an error and then eliminating the error. If a defect occurs, the error that caused it is identified and eliminated.
• Total Productive Maintenance
  TPM focuses on optimizing equipment. Through the use of preventive/predictive maintenance and team involvement, TPM provides increased production, improved quality and increased capacity.
• Standard Work
  Standard work is one final control to assure process improvements are sustained. Standard work is the formal process of identifying the steps of a process and the activity to occur at each step.

Six Sigma is focused on the reduction and control of variation in your processes and is based on importance to the customer. Six Sigma is an integration of tools from a variety of continuous improvement initiatives. It is built around a model of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control). Six Sigma is deployed by Green Belts, Black Belts, Master Black Belts and Six Sigma Champions. It reduces variation and costs.

• White Belt (1 day)
  Learn Six Sigma philosophy and methodology (DMAIC). Obtain basic knowledge of the most common Six Sigma tools. This course is designed to provide participants with a good overall knowledge of the tools, application of the tools and potential benefits from applying the tools
• Yellow Belt (2 day)
  Learn Six Sigma philosophy and methodology (DMAIC). Obtain basic knowledge of the most common Six Sigma tools. This course is designed to provide participants with a good overall knowledge of the tools, application of the tools and potential benefits from applying the tools. In addition, greater depth of knowledge and application will occur with on the subjects of; variation, quality concepts and other measure/analyze tools.Note: White belt is not prerequisites for Yellow Belt.
• Green Belt (1 week)
  Learn Six Sigma philosophy and methodology (DMAIC). Obtain knowledge of the most common Six Sigma tools. Learn techniques for identifying and selecting opportunities for improvement. See how Six Sigma can impact bottom line and overall business performance. Apply Six Sigma concepts on a project to improve business processes. Begin creating a culture of Continuous Improvement utilizing Six Sigma.Optional Certification is also available: Certification requires individuals to attend all training, pass an assessment, work on a project (as a team), deliver results on the project and present the project. Six Sigma Green Belt certification is optional. This option includes 1 day of project mentoring and final project reviewsNote: White or Yellow belt are not prerequisites for Green Belt.

• Project Management Overview (1 day)
  This 8 hour course will provide the basic overview of Project Management. Packed with tools and techniques, you will see both theory and application that can be put to use immediately.
• Project Management for PMP (5 days)
  This 5 day course provides all core content related to becoming a Project Management Professional (PMP) and is based on the Project Management Institute (PMI) Body of Knowledge. Theory, application, tools and techniques will all be provided during this comprehensive course which prepares the student to take their PMP exam through PMI.
• PMP Exam Preparation (3 days)
  This 3 day course is designed for those that already have some experience and some training on Project Management. It is provided to those who want to be prepared to take the PMI exam to become a Project Management Professional.

One part of an overall Continuous Improvement strategy is to utilize the 10 steps for deployment. Learn about the steps and the detail required for a successful implementation of Continuous Improvement efforts.

Resources are scarce, and it seems no one has extra time available to do much more than fight fires. Balance is required between managing our time with work, family, health, social involvement, and so on. Application of some basic concepts can bring back balance.

When implementing Continuous Improvement efforts, you should know if there is an acceptable return on the efforts. Cost savings analysis enables a common approach to measuring and analyzing savings from events and projects.

Lean Manufacturing was the primary focus of Lean. It was deployed in high volume, low mix production areas. See how beneficial Lean can be in the job shop environment with low volume and high mix.

This session will assist with the identification and development of your competitive advantage. Who are your target customers? Who are your competitors? Identify and develop your competitive advantages and then market them properly to assure a stable and growing business.