Lean Six Sigma Certification: Course Fees, Top Certifying Bodies, Average Salary, Career Scope

Lean is an approach to reducing cost and waste and improving efficiency in every process that provides value to the customer. This business philosophy roots from the Toyota Production System (TPS) in the 1950s that revolutionised the global manufacturing industry.  

PMI (Project Management Institute) describes lean as “a set of management practices that produces value for customers quickly through a focus on reducing delays and eliminating waste, which results in increased quality and lower cost.” 

In short, these are derived from the 5 defined lean principles, such as

1. Value - The way the customer defines the value
2. Value Stream - The entire project process is mapped out to identify where waste could be
3. Flow - Ensure the planning phase weeds out the waste
4. Pull - Not create a product unless there is a real need for it
5. Perfection - Continuously look into past errors and improve upon them

These principles drive Agile organisations. 

Today, nearly seven out of 10 businesses follow Agile (TechReport). So, as an aspiring project manager or one who is already in the field with knowledge of Six Sigma, it would be a great career move to take lean courses. There are a couple of ways to go about it. 

Lean Courses in 2024 - Highlights

Particulars	Details
Course Mode	Online
Duration	4 weeks to 6 months
Fees	INR 30000 to INR 1,80,000 approx
Top Certifying Bodies for Lean Education	American Society for Quality (ASQ), Purdue University, TQMI, ISI,Six Sigma Academy Amsterdam (SSAA), etc.
Top Online Course Providers	Coursera, Udemy, Simplilearn, etc.
Average Salary	Up to INR 20 lakh
Top Employers in India	MGI India, Schaeffler India, etc.

Major Lean Certifications and Certifying Bodies 

Certification	Certifying Body
Lean Six Sigma	ASQ, IASSC
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®	PMI
Six Sigma: Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Accredited)	PMI
SME Lean Certifications	Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Lean Expert Certification	IASSC

Industries Where Lean Is Used and Relevant Certifications

Here are a few industries where Lean is prominently used, along with the major Lean certifications that can help professionals excel in these fields. 

1. Manufacturing

Lean in the manufacturing sector eliminates waste, optimises processes, and improves product quality. Techniques used here are Just-In-Time (JIT), Kanban, and Kaizen. 

Relevant Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt (ASQ, IASSC): Provides in-depth knowledge of Lean principles and Six Sigma tools for process improvement.

• SME Lean Certification (Society of Manufacturing Engineers): Tailored for manufacturing professionals, focusing on Lean principles and practices specific to the industry.

2. Healthcare

Lean in healthcare aims to improve patient care, reduce wait times, and eliminate inefficiencies in clinical and administrative processes. Techniques like value stream mapping and error-proofing are used to enhance service delivery.

Relevant Certifications

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt (ASQ, IASSC): Useful for healthcare professionals looking to apply data-driven improvement methods alongside Lean principles.

3. Information Technology (IT)

In IT, Lean principles are applied to streamline software development processes, improve project delivery times, and enhance quality. Lean IT focuses on value delivery, reducing cycle times, and eliminating waste in IT processes.

Relevant Certifications

• Lean IT Certification (Lean IT Association): Provides specific training on applying Lean principles in IT environments to improve service management and project delivery.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt (ASQ, IASSC): Helps IT professionals implement Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to improve process efficiency and quality.

6. Project Management

The lean approach indeed plays an essential role in project management. Lean techniques help in identifying and eliminating waste in project management processes. These help in reducing costs and lead times while increasing quality. Further, that can lead to improved profit margins for the organisation by minimising unnecessary expenses and optimising resource utilisation.

Relevant Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt (ASQ, IASSC): These certifications provide a robust understanding of both Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, beneficial for project managers aiming to integrate quality improvement with Lean efficiency.

• PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): While not exclusively a Lean certification, it covers Agile principles which are closely aligned with Lean, making it valuable for project managers in Agile environments.

How to Learn Lean: Recommended Pathways from Beginner to Advanced

Learning Lean management can be structured in various effective ways. That will again depend on your current knowledge, career goals, and the industry you are working in. Here are some recommended learning pathways:

1. Foundational Learning

• Books: Begin with essential readings like "The Toyota Way" by Jeffrey Liker and "Lean Thinking" by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones. These books provide a solid understanding of Lean principles and their origins.
• Online Articles and Videos: Websites such as Lean.org and Gemba Academy offer introductory articles and videos. These are good refreshers explaining the core concepts of Lean.

2. Formal Education and Certification

• Online Courses: Platforms such as Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses on Lean management. These courses often cover the basics and intermediate concepts, providing a good starting point.
• Certifications: Pursue certifications from recognized bodies. For instance, the American Society for Quality (ASQ) offers Lean Six Sigma certifications, and the Project Management Institute (PMI) offers Lean Practitioner certifications. These certifications validate your knowledge and can boost your career prospects.

3. Advanced Learning

• Advanced Courses: For those looking to deepen their expertise, advanced courses in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Lean IT Certification can be pursued. Institutions like Purdue University and Six Sigma Academy Amsterdam (SSAA) offer these advanced programs.
• Industry-Specific Certifications: Depending on your industry, you might pursue specialized Lean certifications, such as Lean Construction Certification from the Lean Construction Institute or Lean Healthcare Certification from the Lean Enterprise Institute.

Following are the most popular Lean Six Sigma Certification Colleges in India. Learn more about these Lean Six Sigma Certification colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Lean Six Sigma Certification PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the top exams for Lean Six Sigma Certification. Students interested in pursuing a career on Lean Six Sigma Certification, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.