CAREER
CORNER
Get a Lean Certification
by Greg Hutchins
H
ere is possibly the most impor-
tant career tip you will hear this
year: Get leancertification,
that is.
First, read up on lean in the June
2005 Quality Progress, which offered
great introductory articles on lean
along with a glossary of basic lean
terms. Then consider the new lean cer-
tification being developed by three
organizations.
So, what is lean? Lean manufactur-
ing is a set of simple, doable and
proven tools. Process/project lean is a
continuous improvement mind-set.
Lean enterprise is a way of doing busi-
ness. As lean has morphed from a tool
set into an enterprise solution, so has
its real and perceived value.
Whats Different Now?
Lean has been around for 40 years,
but only in the last year has it reached
its tipping point, gaining critical mass
and exploding.
Organizations see what works, then
follow the herd. Todays mega, global
success story is Toyota. The compa-
nys management was prescient,
anticipating markets such as com-
pacts and hybrids. Toyota has the
most efficient manufacturing opera-
tions in the world. It has strong brand
equity. Toyotas top line, bottom line
and cash reserves are the envy of
alland it did all this largely through
lean.
Every movement also needs an
experta visionary to sing its praises
to the world. Jack Welch, former
General Electric CEO, has been on the
speaking circuit talking up his recent
book, Winning. 1 The leaning of
American companies is his prescrip-
tion for improvement. Remember how
he extolled Six Sigma 10 years ago, and
it exploded.
Certification
The definitive need to create a cre-
dentialing process for lean manufac-
turing certification was based on a
survey conducted a few months ago,
90 I SEPTEMBER 2005 I www.asq.org
with more than 1,100 industry respon-
dents. The survey results are stun-
ning:2
A likelihood of pursuing lean cer-
tification was indicated by 77%.
Lean certification was critical,
very important or important
according to 83%.
Key lean leaders at their supplier
companies should earn lean cer-
tification, according to 60%.
Three organizations
are collaborating on a
new industry standard.
The Society of Manufacturing
Engineers, Assn. for Manufacturing
Excellence and Shingo Prize for
Excellence in Manufacturing decided
to collaborate on a new industry stan-
dard for lean certification, scheduled
for launch in the fourth quarter of
2005.3
Think lean White, Yellow, Green,
Black and Master Black Beltsthe
same as Six Sigma. With hundreds of
Six Sigma training programs and certi-
fications offered, the challenge for
everyone has been to determine which
offered real value. A credible certifica-
tion should be much more than simply
getting a ticket punched through tak-
ing a test. To be credible, a certification
needs to be robust and provable.
The new lean certification will have
three critical elements that will enhance
its credibility and acceptance:4
1. An examination that assesses
knowledge of lean principles.
2. Mentoring of certification candi-
dates.
3. A portfolio that illustrates how
lean principles were applied
within an organization and doc-
uments the results achieved and
lessons learned.
Whats in It for You?
The job numbers are stunning. I
think as many as 40% of us will be
itinerant professionals within a few
years, moving from job to job. Our
personal differentiator and added
value in the consulting marketplace
will be the knowledge we have and
the abilities we offer an employer.
So, what is in it for you to get lean
certified? It comes down to personal
marketability and personal brand
equity. The certification should be
your bottom-line career management
tool. Lean should be covered in every
professional workshop, certification
and career development offering you
consider.
In addition to enhancing your
knowledge, skills, marketability, per-
sonal brand equity and added value,
the lean certification will most certain-
ly add to your earnings potential.
REFERENCES
1. Jack Welch with Suzy Welch, Winning,
HarperCollins Publishers, 2005.
2. SME, AME and the Shingo Prize Launch
New Standard for Lean Certification, news
release, April 28, 2005, www.sme.org/cgi-bin/
smenews.pl?/memb/smenews/sn0605index.
htm&200506&snews&.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
GREG HUTCHINS is an engineering principal
with Quality Plus Engineering and Lean SCM
in Portland, OR. He is a member of ASQ.
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