Advanced Problem Solving
This Certified Lean Expert course provides a complete package of education, application, and coaching for those seeking to address complex problems and advise project teams.
The curriculum for this class includes advanced topics required by those seeking to become coaches and problem solvers charged with creating a sustainable organization.
Leveraging a powerful, yet easy to navigate, learning management system, this course provides a variety of educational techniques. Examples include video presentations, articles, podcasts, and discussion forums.
Three Options
- 100% online, for 7 weeks, with a weekly check-in with the instructor and coach
- Blended, or flipped classroom approach, with online and 7 half-day in-person coaching and instruction sessions
- Customized programs for organizations with 8 to 16 candidates – your chance to run multiple projects and see incredible results

What’s Involved?
This course has everything you need:
- A package of online tools you will access through a state-of-the-art learning management system
- Assignments you will need to complete every week for online and every other week for the blended approach
- A problem solving project designed to deliver improvements and show the power of a coaching-based problem solving approach
- Coaching from an instructor at every step along the way; you will not be alone on this journey of discovery
- A certification exam with the opportunity to earn personal recognition as a Certified Lean Expert
Throughout the entire course, you will work a lean problem solving project to create quantifiable improvements and achieve immediate results. The problem solving approach will leverage an enhanced version of the technique known as “A3 Problem Solving.” You will be the problem solver for your own project and receive coaching support from your instructor.
Your time investment will need to be about 8 to 12 hours per week.
Prerequisite
Taking Certified Lean Practitioner before this course is ideal, but not required.
Module 1 is a refresher on the Certified Lean Apprentice course.

7 Modules
1. Foundational Elements of Lean
2. The Art of Problem Solving
3. Articulate the Situation
4. Identify Root Cause
5. Develop Countermeasures
6. Implement Changes
7. Create Standardization
Module 1*
Foundational Elements of Lean
Lean Principles
Types of Value
Types of Waste
Standard Work
Continuous Improvement
*Refresher of Certified Lean Apprentice course.
Module 2
The Art of Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Plan Do Check Act
Problem Selection
Workplace Organization
Coaching
Module 3
Articulate the Situation
Problem Statements
Current Situation
Desired Situation
Stakeholder Value
Coaching Problem Definition

Module 4
Identify Root Cause
Quality
Root Cause Analysis
Cause and Effect Diagrams
SWOT Analysis
Coaching Root Cause Analysis
Module 5
Develop Countermeasures
Creating Consensus
Brainstorming
Best Practices
Benchmarking
Countermeasures
Module 6
Implement Changes
Documentation
Change Management
Force Field Analysis
Implementation Planning
Coaching Change
Module 7
Create Standardization
Repeatable Processes
Gemba Walks
Kaizen Blitz Events
Project Closure
Self-Management
Support
You won't be alone:
- Participants have telephone, email, and online support to discuss progress
- Instructors are experienced experts able to help participants respond to challenges
- The learning management system is easy to navigate and includes an extensive "help" feature
- Materials include templates and samples which significantly enhance effectiveness
- Online discussion forums allow students to engage one another and build a support community

Who Should Attend Certified Lean Expert?
This program is designed for all types of individuals:
- Logistics
- Customer Service
- Purchasing
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Maintenance
- Sales
- Human Resources
- Information Technology
- Supply Chain
- Finance
- Manufacturing
- You

Potential Projects
- Order Management
- Product Development
- Purchasing
- New Hire Orientation
- Business Development
- Master Scheduling
- Shipping
- Receiving
- Market Research
- Budgeting
- Promotion Planning
- Sales & Operations Planning
- Cycle Counting
- Career Development
- Demand Forecasting
A lean problem solving approach works on any process which has waste!

Public Classes for Certified Lean Expert
Pricing is $1,200 for 100% online classes and $1,500 for a flipped classroom approach which includes 7 half-day in-person coaching and instruction sessions.
Click here for more information and registration.
Private Classes
Contact us to discuss bringing this course to your organization.
We can help educate your team and get everyone on the same page and pulling in the right direction.
Credential Registry
We are members of the Credential Registry, an organization dedicated to providing up-to-date information about all credentials, a common description language to enable credential comparability, and a platform to search and retrieve information about credentials.
Learn more at Credential Registry.