With the fourth quarter of 2025 in our wake, let’s list the most exciting accomplishments during Q4:
- People are Propelling Their Careers
- Lean Leadership Resource
- Blast from the Past
- Featured Customer of the Quarter
- Support the University of Wyoming Supply Chain Management Club
- 2026 Annual Plan
Each of the accomplishments deserves a closer look.
1. People are Propelling Their Careers
We helped people become Certified Lean Apprentices and Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belts.
79 people earned the Certified Lean Apprentice designation.
70 people earned the Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt designation.
While the numbers are not in yet, we are looking at a large number of people completing the Certified Lean Practitioner in Q2.
2. Lean Leadership Resource
Our resource on Lean Leadership is filling a gap people have been searching for.
Our resource page provides a roadmap for the leadership team to navigate the 3 phases of a Lean Transformation. These 3 critical phases of a Lean Transformation, where the leadership team has special responsibilities, are explore, launch, and sustain. Each phase has unique responsibilities for the leadership team at any organization.
The response to our Lean Leadership resource page has been very positive. So positive, that we are building more information for Leaders to use during the 3 phases of a Lean Transformation. We are also recruiting a specialist to help coach Leaders to excel at being Project Champions and Continuous Improvement Enthusiasts.
3. Blast from the Past
Very interesting to see that Levi’s sold the Dockers® brand to Authentic Brands Group
We do wish the best of luck to our colleagues at Levi’s. It’s been a while since we helped them transform their supply chain management processes using value stream mapping and tossing in some help from SAP APO. Working in San Francicso, we wore Blue Jeans from Monday to Thursday and Dockers® on Fridays.
Read more about the news from Levi’s at Levi’s Sells Dockers.
4. Featured Customer of the Quarter
We helped Vanlife Customs launch their Lean Transformation program focused on education for everyone, projects, and building a culture of continuous improvement.
We covered why Lean is the #1 organizational improvement program and how great Lean Transformation Programs have the 3 critical elements of Lean Projects, Continuous Improvement, and Program Management.
All employees have earned the Certified Lean Apprentice designation and Lean Value Stream Mapping projects have begun.
5. Support the University of Wyoming Supply Chain Management Club
In collaboration with the University of Wyoming Supply Chain Management Club, we are sponsoring a specially priced Certified Lean Apprentice class.
As a bonus, each registration by a professional will help fund the activities of the SCM club!
Regularly priced at $295, readers of the Transformance Communiqué and University of Wyoming students can enroll and take this online program for only $125 – a savings of 58%. In addition, part of the proceeds will support the University of Wyoming Supply Chain Management Club. This special event will run for a limited time through April 31, 2026.
Our Certified Lean Apprentice course provides a great introduction to the principles, concepts, and terms which everyone “must understand” in any organization seeking to make a Lean Transformation.
Future events at the University of Wyoming will include Certified Six Sigma Yellow Belt classes.
6. 2026 Annual Plan
The fourth quarter was fairly busy. Developing our 2026 Annual Plan has been pushed to January 7, 2026. We have been conducting research into investment and growth options and plan to continue improving our courses with AI, videos, and partnering with apprentice training programs.
We will continue helping clients and prospects apply for educational grants facilitated by Manufacturer’s Edge, Colorado’s official Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center. The funding for training is through Skill Advance Colorado Job Training Grants. If you are a Colorado manufacturer, then contact us to see how you can benefit from training grants.
Large classes are expected for Lean and Six Sigma classes. We already have about 60% of 2026 already booked. We have a number of organizations getting ready to launch their Lean Transformation programs in early 2026.
Get the Transformance Communiqué
“the newsletter for those crafting a sustainable organization”
Mike Loughrin
Mike Loughrin is the CEO and Founder of Transformance Advisors. He also teaches for Louisiana State University Shreveport and is on the board of directors for the Association for Supply Chain Management Northern Colorado.
Mike brings exceptional experience in industry, consulting services, and education. He has directed several Lean Transformation programs and has helped organizations such as Levi Strauss, Warner Bros., Cabela’s, Constellation Brands, Lexmark, CoorsTek, and Sweetheart Cup.
Keeping a commitment to a balanced life, Mike loves downhill skiing, bicycle rides, and hiking in the mountains. See one of his trails of the month at: Little Switzerland.