Lean Black Belt

The Lean Black Belt training focuses on managing larger improvement projects and achieving impact at an organisational level. You will learn how to deploy Lean methodologies to structurally improve processes while simultaneously engaging employees in change. The emphasis lies on leadership, change management, and coaching, ensuring that improvements are not only implemented but also sustained. You will work on cross-departmental issues and develop skills to guide teams towards a culture of continuous improvement.

This training is ideal for professionals who wish to play a key role in improving performance and collaboration within their organisation.

Which roles is Lean Black Belt relevant for?

The Lean Black Belt training is intended for professionals who are already familiar with Lean and are ready for the next step: providing direction, making choices, and anchoring improvement within the organisation, guided by consultants who apply this in practice daily; participants are typically professionals who play an active role in directing and achieving organisation-wide improvements and work at the intersection of strategy, operations, and change.

This training is suitable for:

• Executives and managers
• Project and programme managers
• Senior process improvers and Lean specialists
• Professionals implementing or further expanding Lean within their organisation

What is the objective of Lean Black Belt training?

The training focuses on leading complex improvement projects and strategically implementing Lean, with an emphasis on team guidance and the sustainable anchoring of continuous improvement.

Upon completion, you will be able to:

• Set up and lead organisation-wide improvement projects
• Translate improvement strategy into concrete plans
• Select projects based on impact and feasibility
• Apply Lean at tactical and strategic levels
• Manage teams and engage employees

What are the additional techniques in the Lean Black Belt training?

In this course, you will delve into advanced Lean techniques such as Hoshin Kanri, Kata, and business process automation (BPA/RPA), supplemented with insights into human dynamics and AI in operations. This enables you to sustainably anchor strategic improvements within the organisation.

What does a Lean Black Belt project deliver?

A Lean Black Belt ensures sustainable impact by leading improvement programmes and coaching teams. The result: more efficient collaboration and lasting performance improvement. A Lean Black Belt DMAIC project typically delivers at least £50,000 per year, but often several hundred thousand.

The training prepares you for the Lean Black Belt exam from the Lean Six Sigma Academy (LSSA), an internationally recognised certification body. The LSSA certificate is used worldwide by training and examination institutes, including the University of Twente, APMG International, and EXIN. In the Netherlands, the certificate is issued by the University of Twente.

The exam is optional and consists of a theoretical and a practical component. For the practical exam, you must complete two DMAIC projects at Black Belt level.

Symbol is an ‘Accredited Training Organisation’ (ATO), where you can order an exam voucher and receive guidance for your practical project.

You will receive all the materials you need during and after the training.

• Textbook and Exercise Book: ‘Climbing the Mountain’ book set (Dutch or English)
• Digital learning environment: access to an online platform with instructional videos, exercises, and interactive content
• Templates: directly applicable in your own organisation
• Certificate of attendance: upon completion, you will receive an official certificate of attendance from Symbol

The books in the ‘Climbing the Mountain’ series (by H.C. Theisens, Director of Symbol) have already sold more than 50,000 copies worldwide.