Lean Certification Program

The Lean Certification Program is available to unclassified and classified Miami staff. This program is designed to develop leaders who can sustain a Lean continuous improvement culture at Miami. These Lean leaders will become the key cultural change agents for Miami and represent the University's potential future leaders.

As of fall 2016, this program is comprised of 3 levels: Lean Partner, Lean Leader and Senior Lean Leader. Each level builds on the previous level and has both educational and project requirements.

COVID-19 Extension

In response to the remote work being performed by many of the Lean program staff, the Lean Initiatives Office would like to announce an extension to the current continuing education requirements (education, service and project participation) for the Lean Certification program. 

The Lean reporting year will move to a fiscal year reporting period (July 1 to June 30) effective immediately.

Senior Lean Leaders (those that have completed the program) will have until June 30, 2021 to meet the annual continuing education requirements that were due May 31, 2020.  For those that certified after June 01, 2019 that currently did not have any continuing education units required for period ending May 31, 2020, you will have until June 30, 2021 to complete the annual requirements.  Stipends will continue for all Senior Lean Leaders.  Those that complete the Senior Lean Leader program will still be eligible to receive the Senior Lean Leader stipend.

For those who have completed all requirements to achieve the level of Lean Partner or Lean Leader by May 31, 2020 you will be eligible for a bonus in June 2020.  For those who have not completed all requirements by May 31, 2020, all completed requirements will carry over into the next year and will be used for bonus determination for the period ending June 30, 2021.

For those who have completed all requirements to achieve the continuing education requirements for Lean Partner or Lean Leader (highest level only) but have not reached Senior Lean Leader Certification completion by May 31, 2020 you will be eligible for a bonus in June 2020.  For those who have not completed all requirements by May 31, 2020, all completed requirements will carry over into the next year and will be used for bonus determination for bonuses for the period ending June 30, 2021.

We are confident that the transition to a fiscal year reporting period for Lean will alleviate some of the confusion around the program requirements. 

If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to your Senior Department Lean Leader or to the Lean Initiatives office.

As a final note:  if possible while working remotely Lean project work can and should continue with supervisor permission.  The Lean Office is continuing all reporting and auditing of files.

How to apply for this program?

Interested applicants must complete a Lean Certification Program application to be considered for the program. This application is to be used by all Miami staff (faculty, unclassified and classified) to apply for the program. Upon approval of the program, the applicant will be placed into the appropriate level based upon recorded Staff Development participation.

Fall 2019 Curriculum

Lean Partner

Learning Outcomes:

  • Ability to effectively serve and understand role of a Lean project team member
  • Understand the basics of change management in a team setting
  • Examine work processes to suggest improvements in efficiency or cost-savings

For completion of Lean Partner Level: Minimum of 36 hours (including all required courses) & successfully participate on 2 projects

Continuation at a Lean Partner level: participate in a minimum of one project per year, 3 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service

Lean Leader

Learning Outcomes:

  • Exhibit skills of Lean Partner, and
  • Ability to serve and apply Miami Lean principles as a Lean project team leader
  • Possess technical skills to effectively apply fundamental, technical, and acceptance tools to Lean projects
  • Ability to propose process improvement implementation plans

For completion of Lean Leader level: Lean Partner requirements (see above), additional hours to equal a minimum of 69.5 total hours (including specifically required courses), and lead 1 project

Continuation at Lean Leader level: lead at least 1 project per year, 6 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service

Senior Lean Leader

Learning Outcomes:

  • Exhibit skills of a Lean Leader, and
  • Ability to serve and apply Miami Lean principles as a recognized experienced Lean project team leader
  • Possess advanced technical skills to effectively apply fundamental, technical, and acceptance tools to Lean projects
  • Ability to manage process implementation plans
  • Effectively serve as a resource and mentor for Lean Leader trainees

For completion of Senior Lean Leader level: all Lean Leader requirements (see above), additional training hours (including required courses and participation in approved seminars and conferences relating to Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Leadership and Innovation and Creativity) to equal a minimum of 100 total hours, lead 2 additional projects, present a significant project to the Miami Lean Program Review Board

Note:  The minimum project requirement to become a Senior Lean Leader is 5 completed projects (with at least 3 of the 5 as a team lead).

Continuation at Senior Lean Leader level: lead 1 or be a member on 2 projects, 6 hours of approved education and 1 unit of service

*Summary of course required to receive full credit

Note: all program participants who had not reached certification by June 1, 2019 must now meet Fall 2019 program requirements.

Continuing Education Requirements

Purpose

To develop a continuing education program for the Lean Partners, Leader Leaders, and Senior Lean Leaders that will encourage leadership, project participation and continued development in Lean initiatives. This program will improve the Lean process and allow Lean Partners, Leader Leaders, and Senior Lean Leaders to achieve the five breakthrough objectives more efficiently.

COVID-19 Extension

In response to the remote work being performed by many of the Lean program staff, the Lean Initiatives Office would like to announce an extension to the current continuing education requirements (education, service and project participation) for the Lean Certification program. 

The Lean reporting year will move to a fiscal year reporting period (July 1 to June 30) effective immediately.

Senior Lean Leaders (those that have completed the program) will have until June 30, 2021 to meet the annual continuing education requirements that were due May 31, 2020.  For those that certified after June 01, 2019 that currently did not have any continuing education units required for period ending May 31, 2020, you will have until June 30, 2021 to complete the annual requirements.  Stipends will continue for all Senior Lean Leaders.  Those that complete the Senior Lean Leader program will still be eligible to receive the Senior Lean Leader stipend.

For those who have completed all requirements to achieve the level of Lean Partner or Lean Leader by May 31, 2020 you will be eligible for a bonus in June 2020.  For those who have not completed all requirements by May 31, 2020, all completed requirements will carry over into the next year and will be used for bonus determination for the period ending June 30, 2021.

For those who have completed all requirements to achieve the continuing education requirements for Lean Partner or Lean Leader (highest level only) but have not reached Senior Lean Leader Certification completion by May 31, 2020 you will be eligible for a bonus in June 2020.  For those who have not completed all requirements by May 31, 2020, all completed requirements will carry over into the next year and will be used for bonus determination for bonuses for the period ending June 30, 2021.

We are confident that the transition to a fiscal year reporting period for Lean will alleviate some of the confusion around the program requirements. 

If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to your Senior Department Lean Leader or to the Lean Initiatives office.

As a final note:  if possible while working remotely Lean project work can and should continue with supervisor permission.  The Lean Office is continuing all reporting and auditing of files.

Program Requirements

Bonus criteria will be evaluated on May 31st of each year through 2020.  Next evaluation period ends June 30, 2021.

General Eligibility Requirements:

  • Faculty certification participants are not eligible for the bonus program.
  • Academic Administration participants are eligible for the bonus program.
  • Only employees with a satisfactory performance appraisal and no current disciplinary action will be awarded a bonus.

Lean Partners who have successfully completed all requirements for the Lean Partner portion of the Lean Leader program by May 31st will be eligible to receive a $250 bonus.

Lean Leaders who have successfully completed all requirements for the Lean Leader portion of the Lean Leader program by May 31st will be eligible to receive a $500 bonus. Lean Leaders are no longer eligible for the Lean Partner bonus.

Senior Lean Leaders who have successfully completed all requirements for the Senior Lean Leader program will be eligible to receive a $2,000 annual stipend. Once certification is complete, Senior Lean Leaders are no longer eligible for the Lean Partner or Lean Leader bonus.

Senior Department and Divisional Lean Leaders have successfully completed all requirements for the Senior Lean Leader program and have been chosen to represent a department(s) or division. These Senior Department and Divisional Lean Leaders will have additional responsibilities to facilitate the achievement of departmental Lean goals and will receive a separate stipend for these duties.

Annual requirements to be eligible for an additional bonus payable after June 1st for Lean Partners and Lean Leaders are outlined below. Please refer to the Activities section for the descriptions of each annual requirement.

Lean Partner- participate in a minimum of one project per year, 3 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service.

Lean Leader- lead at least 1 project per year, 6 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service.

Annual requirement to be eligible for continuation of the stipend for Senior Lean Leaders and Senior Department and Divisional Lean Leaders are outlined below. Please refer to the Activities section for the descriptions of each annual requirement.

Senior Lean Leader- lead 1 or be a member on 2 projects, 6 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service.

Senior Department or Divisional Lean Leader- lead 1 or be a member on 2 projects, 6 hours of approved education, and 1 unit of service and the achievement of departmental Lean goals. Senior Department or Divisional Lean Leaders will be required to hold biannual reviews with those in the Lean Program in their respective departments/divisions to monitor their progress towards certification and to review continuing education progress.

Lean Leader Certification requirements will be based on a Lean reporting period from June 1st-May 31st of each year.

Please note:  continuing education is not required immediately following certification but will be required for the following Lean year. For example, if you certify on August 24, 2019, your continuing education requirements will not begin until June 1, 2020 and you will have until May 31, 2021 to fulfill all continuing education requirements.

Activities

  • Service- Facilitating a Lean course or facilitating special Lean event training. The following are approved service opportunities:
    • Lean Fair presentation, booth work, setup, tear down, room monitor, general customer service
    • Departmental Lean meeting participation as a presenter
      • Present a project/lean concept
    • Lean Initiatives Office meeting participation as a presenter
      • University Guest Lean Overviews
      • Cohort Orientation
    • Lean mentoring
      • Actively engaging with someone from a “newer” cohort to guide them through the Lean journey
    • Participation with Staff Development at Lean courses such as Two Day Training or Excel to Visio to present a project or assist course participants in training
    • Providing Lean Open-lab facilitation for the Lean project tracking database
    • Peer review for closing a traditional or Kaizen Lean project
    • Service other than those listed above must be pre-approved by the appropriate Senior Department Lean Leader and the Director of Lean Initiatives. Please submit via the Service Pre-Approval Request Form.
  • Education- For Lean Partner and Lean Leader:  Attending the required number of hours of courses from those remaining in the Lean Program. If all courses in the program have been taken, courses from the pre-approved list of trainings for Senior Lean Leaders can be utilized.

    For Senior Lean Leader- Attending the required number of hours of specialized education from the pre-approved list below.

    Course facilitation by the Certified Senior Lean Leader does not meet the educational requirement.

    The pre-approved list of courses will be developed in collaboration with the Director of Lean Initiatives, the Senior Department or Divisional Lean Leaders and Staff Development and reviewed on an annual basis. Other educational opportunities must be pre-approved by the Director of Lean Initiatives. Please submit via the Education Pre-Approval Request Form.
  • Project- Participation in a regular or Kaizen Lean project. JDI projects do not qualify for project participation.

Continuing Education Courses offered at Miami University-Oxford campus

  • Lean Two Day Training*
  • Lean Excel Template Conversion to Visio*
  • Lean Standard Work*
  • Lean Metrics*
  • Any Lean Certification Course elective not previously taken
  • Performance Management Series for Supervisors
    • PM: Addressing Poor Performance
    • PM: Coaching for Peak Performance
    • PM: Communicating for Leadership Success
    • PM: Developing Yourself and Others
    • PM: Setting Goals and Reviewing Results
  • HR Change Guides
  • Geothermal/Steam Plan Tour and Training (invitation sent through Lean Office)
  • CSC Tour and Training (invitation sent through Lean Office)
  • Unclassified Search Committee Training
  • Miami MiniMBA
    • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    • Change Management
    • Creativity and Design Thinking
    • What is a Supply Chain and Why is it Important
    • Cross-cultural Management

Continuing Education Courses and Seminars off campus

  • International Deming Research Seminar
  • Deming Institute Annual Fall Conference
  • Aileron- Introduction to Deming Management Method- Dayton, OH
  • Lean Enterprise Institute Annual Lean Summit
  • Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI) Annual Conference
  • NCCI Webinars and Web Meetings
  • APPA Conference
  • OPEX Conferences
  • Toyota Tour (invitation sent through Lean Office)
  • Rumpke Recycling Tour (invitation sent through Lean Office)

Additional Opportunities

Pre-approved participation in seminars and conferences relating to Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, Project Management, Leadership, and Innovation and Creativity

Pre-approved college level courses- these must be approved by both Senior Management and the Director of Lean Initiatives

*course can be retaken if more than 2 years since last completion