Lean Belt Training Overview
Lean Agility helps people and teams who work in knowledge environments apply Lean thinking, tools and techniques to deliver better quality work, faster through more efficient processes. One of the ways we do this is through Lean Belt training certificate courses – with different belts signifying different levels of mastery, similar to the way martial arts belts are used to represent the level of expertise of students in martial arts.
Our interactive, activity-based curriculum uses examples and case studies from knowledge work environments such as:
- human resources,
- finance,
- communications,
- procurement,
- program delivery,
- research,
- information technology,
- product development,
- grants and contributions,
- security,
- permits/applications,
- investigations and more.
Whether you are just getting started with Lean, have a specific process to fix or need more advanced Lean improvement facilitation skills for ongoing/complex processes there are varying courses available to choose from.
To compare each Belt level on each of these criteria click on the categories listed on the left hand side of the table below.
With the exception of the Lean Black Belt which requires graduation from a Lean Green Belt program, there are no prerequisites for Belt training. White, Yellow and Green Belt courses cover the same content but go into progressively more depth, over a longer duration. Click on the tabs titled “Format” and “Prerequisites” for more information.
To register for a course click on the title of a Belt course to visit a dedicated course page with a more detailed description, course dates and registration details.
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White Belt (General)
Understand what Lean is and how it works in order to:
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improve how you do your job
Understand what Lean is and how it works in order to:
- apply it to improve the work of your team
- eliminate wastes that only leaders can eliminate
An overview of DMAIC (Lean method of process improvement) and practical Lean tools and techniques in order to:
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improve a simple process
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contribute to an existing Lean team/improvement exercise
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improve how you do your job
In depth review of DMAIC (Lean method of process improvement) process and change management tools and techniques in order to:
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improve increasingly complex processes
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sustain Lean improvement results
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facilitate Lean improvement projects
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explain and teach Lean concepts to others
An individualized Lean skills assessment and customized learning/coaching program in order to:
- improve any process and sustain results in the long term
- create a culture of continuous improvement and create operational excellence at all levels
- develop Lean expertise at a high level
- become a valued partner to executives in strategy and execution discussions
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White Belt (General)
Understand what Lean is and how it works to:
- make decisions about whether and how to implement Lean
- build broad organizational understanding of Lean to support transformation efforts
- get employees thinking about improving how they do their job
Understand what Lean is and how it works to:
- better identify and eliminate Lean wastes that only Leaders can eliminate
- make decisions about whether and how to implement Lean
An overview of DMAIC (Lean method of process improvement) and practical Lean tools and techniques in order to:- streamline a simple process to deliver better and faster with less effort
- eliminate a backlog of work in a simple process
- build Lean knowledge base to support a broader process improvement transformation
- improve employee engagement and morale
In depth review of DMAIC (Lean method of process improvement) process and change management tools and techniques in order to:- streamline more complex processes
- resolve a backlog of work
- sustain results by creating habits, tools and routines of continuous improvement
- develop in-house Lean facilitators for ongoing Lean process transformation
- develop Lean champions to mentor emerging Lean talent
An individualized Lean skills assessment and customized learning/coaching program in order to:- create a Lean movement
- improve any process in any type of organization and sustain results over the long long term
- develop focused strategic plans and execution that drive performance at all levels
- develop Lean management systems that support Lean objectives via visual management, improvement routines
- work to align organizational mindsets and behaviours to maximize Lean results
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- Leaders
- Managers
- Front-line employees involved in an improvement project
- Aspiring Lean process improvement facilitators
- Lean process improvement facilitators wishing to master their craft
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- Lean principles
- Lean as it applies to knowledge work
- How to identify and eliminate interruptions to flow and waste; failure demand
- The impact of variation and overwhelm and what to do about them
- Lean tools and techniques including visual management, huddle meetings and more
- Using the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust cycle to conduct experiments to learn and improve
- Practical ways to make Lean, continuous improvement and innovation a normal part of the work
- The people side of Lean
- Same as White Belt (General) but geared towards the role of a leader in a Lean transformation
White Belt topics plus:- Introduction to the DMAIC 5-step approach to process improvement projects
- DEFINE (current situation, target situation, problem statements, objectives)
- MEASURE (collecting process data, value stream mapping)
- ANALYZE (data analysis to find and prioritize root causes)
- IMPROVE (identify, prioritize, plan, test and implement solutions)
- CONTROL/CONTINUE TO IMPROVE (implement controls to sustain improvements, begin continuous improvement and manage the people side of Lean implementation)
- A deeper focus on the human side of Lean and change
A deeper dive into Yellow Belt topics plus:
- Visual management
- Huddle meetings
- Error-proofing
- Standard work, visual work instructions)
- Advanced human change management techniques (creating buy-in, execution planning, common people challenges and solutions, facilitation skills)
- Hands-on experience in at least two real-life process improvement projects
TBD based on results of individual assessment and customized learning/coaching plan but may include any/all of the following:
Candidate must demonstrate measurable, sustained results in at least 5 projects at the Green Belt level.
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1-day in-class instruction (virtual or in-person)
Interactive Lean simulation
1-day in-class instruction (virtual or in-person)
Interactive Lean simulation
3-days in-class instruction (virtual or in-person)
Interactive Lean simulation (DMAIC = Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control/Continue to Improve)
Approximately 16 - 18 days effort (8-days of hands-on classroom instruction including on a live process and approximately 8 - 10 days of individual project work on candidate's own Lean project)
- Combines an interactive Lean simulation AND two hands-on Lean improvement projects for practical experience
- In-class sessions split into two, 4-day sessions dedicated to learning the concepts and applying to improve a "live" sponsored classroom process with their classmates
- After the each 4-day in-class session, participants apply the concepts learned in an individual improvement project with coaching from the course facilitator
- Approximately 16 - 18 days of total hands-on effort improving two processes (classroom, plus their own Green Belt project) over 15+ weeks
- TBD based on results of individual assessment and customized learning/coaching plan
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Public course:$425 + tax per personPublic course:$1,695 + tax per personPublic course:$4,395 + tax per person
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Black Belt Self-Assessment Form and Recommendation to achieve Black Belt: $995 + tax
Additional costs based on results of assessment and candidates learning plan to achieve Black Belt
Onsite course:$5,995 + tax (up to 25 participants)Onsite course:$15,995 + tax (up to 20 participants)Onsite course: variable depending on number of participants -
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None.
The Yellow Belt includes the content covered in the White Belt but adds an overview of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control/Continue to Improve).
None.
The Green Belt includes the content covered in the Yellow Belt but adds an in-depth review of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control/Continue to Improve) and change management techniques.
Green Belt and an existing demonstrated experience in improving processes using Lean (ideally at least five improvement projects led by the Black Belt candidate)
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