Lean Principles Certificate

Lean Principles is a certificate course in the Lean Six Sigma online courses offered through the Division of Engineering Professional Education at Purdue University. Participants will learn and develop an understanding of the critical concepts and themes associated with Lean operating systems deployment. A graduate of the Lean Principles course should be able to apply the management principles of Lean Thinking and effectively utilize several of the Lean tools to implement lean principles to improve a value stream.

• Online: Yes
• Format: Instructor-led
• Course Fee: $2,100
• CEUs: 3.5
• Course Availability: Every other month
• Time to Complete: 8 weeks
• Prerequisites: None

The instruction of the course within the online learning management system is delivered by a highly qualified Lean Six Sigma professional serving on a team of instructors in the online Lean Six Sigma program. There is ample opportunity for students to interact with the instructor and with the other learners in the online course through the discussion forums, through the optional live lecture and Q & A sessions delivered virtually through WebEx, and through emails and phone appointments.

Three industry-specific learning tracks allow students to engage in the latest thinking on how to implement Lean concepts within their business environment. Each lesson is supported with research and readings targeted to either traditional manufacturing, healthcare and services, or IT and transactional business models. The tracks also extend to the discussion forums, enabling focused engagement with student peer groups.

Who Can Benefit

• Project managers and process owners who want to learn and apply Lean management principles and lead a Lean transformation of an individual value stream.
• Professionals across nearly all fields, including manufacturing, communications, health care, education and military, who are seeking a proven method for dramatically improving their organization's processes.
• Frontline employees who want to be change agents by introducing Lean to their company.
• Professionals interested in taking the next step toward Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification online.
• Professionals at smaller organizations who want to reduce waste without committing to the time and resources of the full Lean Six Sigma Certification.

" I started the Purdue Lean Six Sigma program with Lean Principles and now am taking the Green Belt course. Lean Principles was invaluable. The 14 management principles of the Toyota Way and associated skills and techniques apply to any organization in any industry, and I am implementing them in my own work in the financial services field. "

-Stas Snyder, Senior Investment Accountant, Bank of New York Mellon

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Articulate the business case for lean within their own business/industry
• Assess process maturity and health from a lean perspective
• Define a plan of action for lean deployment across an individual value stream
• Lead lean transformation of an individual value stream
• Describe the cores principles that define a lean operation

Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn certification in Lean Principles from Purdue University. You also have the option, at no additional cost, of earning 3.5 CEUs, which come with a Purdue transcript.

Schedule and Time Commitment

The 100% online, instructor-led Lean Principles course spans eight weeks. The amount of time students must invest to successfully complete this course is comparable to the time it takes to complete a week-long short course in a traditional on-campus environment. Though the online format enables you to do your work when and where you want, there are weekly assignments and quizzes that must be completed on schedule. Instructors recommend that you plan on studying 3.5 to 4 hours each week.

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification

The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is a certificate course and the capstone in a series of three online courses offered through Purdue's Online Lean Six Sigma Program. Participants will learn and develop an understanding of the critical concepts and themes associated with Lean Six Sigma (LSS). The instructional design of the course blends the concepts of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, tools, and techniques.

• Online: Yes
• Format : Instructor-led
• Course Fee: $3,750
• CEUs: 9
• Course Availability: Approximately 5 times per year
• Time to Complete: 16 weeks
• Prerequisites: Lean Principles, Green Belt

A graduate of the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt will be able to effectively utilize LSS tools and theories to improve work processes through identification and reduction in the number of defects occurring in processes, and the identification, reduction and/or elimination of waste in a process. After successful completion of the course, learners should be able to successfully complete high-impact projects that result in tangible benefits within any organization.

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified by Purdue University. There are also 9.0 CEUs (continuing education units) available for successful completion of the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the student should be able to do the following:

• Demonstrate mastery of core/common Black Belt tools & concepts
• Demonstrate proficiency at achieving results through the application of the Lean Six Sigma approach by running of your own LSS Black Belt Project

Who Can Benefit

Professionals, usually with at least two years of experience, who meet the course prerequisites. Black Belt students include:

• Anyone who aspires to lead the quality and Lean efforts in a Lean Six Sigma organization
• Anyone who seeks to drastically improve an organization's financial performance
• Process improvement team members with Lean Six Sigma Certification or Six Sigma Green Belt certification who are interested in increasing their skills

" I was very impressed with the quality of the instructors and their interaction with students. The courses were easy to access, interesting, and provided me with the tools for success as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt leader. "

- LSS Black Belt Course Graduate

The Purdue Online Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Difference

Our Black Belt course includes some Lean Principles topics, provides a deep dive into Black Belt subject matter, and is project-oriented. Since Purdue Black Belt students jump right into their project during the course, they must be versed in the use of many pivotal Lean Six Sigma tools. Our rigorous online Black Belt curriculum enables Purdue students to immediately begin applying their LSS knowledge and skills to their current work environment.

The Black Belt Project

Five weeks prior to the course start date, students identify a project to work on during the course and consult with the instructor as needed to determine a suitablSie scope. Projects can be conducted for a student's employer or for a charitable organization with which they are closely tied. Students develop a project charter, which must be approved by the course instructor and the appropriate managers at their organization.

Black Belt course projects require students to collect data and analyze it with Six Sigma tools. Depending on the selected plan, students will employ one of the two LSS sub-methodologies: DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) or DMADV (Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify). Gate reviews take place at the end of each phase of these processes. The weekly course assignments relate directly to and include project deliverables.

Schedule and Time Commitment

The 100% online Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification spans 16 weeks. It includes pre-work, weekly learning modules and breaks. The breaks provide students with additional time to collect data, present gate reviews to management teams at their organization, and prepare assignments.

Students have the opportunity to participate in online discussions with classmates about their project deliverables and receive real-time coaching from the instructor via the discussion forum, email, phone or online chat.

Students who successfully complete the course typically devote 95 hours to study during the 16 weeks of learning modules. Instructors recommend that you plan on spending 6 to 10 hours each week on learning activities. The online format enables students to do their coursework when and where they want, but there are weekly reading assignments, project deliverables and quizzes that must be completed on schedule.