Before and during the course FAQs

Lean is a continuous improvement approach that incorporates a number of tools and techniques to create a Kaizen culture (a culture of continuous improvement). Lean allows businesses to redefine the output of departments and functions by focusing on what value is from a customer perspective at every stage of a product or service creation. Actions that do not add value to the customer are considered waste, or Muda which can be removed. For more information view our Lean training courses including our Lean Practitioner and Lean Leader training courses.

As an individual you can become certified through your organisation if it is certified by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS), or directly through the RSS. This is available to delegates that successfully complete either a Six Sigma Green Belt training course or a full Lean Practitioner Programme. The process will involve submitting a portfolio of evidence demonstrating successful practice. Delegates will also have to attend a half day assessment centre at RSS in London, for groups this can be arranged on site. Bywater does offer a bespoke training package to guide delegates through this process with one to one tutoring from Lean and Six Sigma experts.

A business can be become certified through the RSS 18404 scheme. This will be an assessment of the ‘system the organisation has in place for managing the competence of its Key Personnel under the standard.’  A full description of the process can be found here.

Yes, Lean has successfully been used in both services and the public sector for a considerable amount of time. Although Lean originates in manufacturing the tools have been developed to suit service-based industries, with certain tools such as 5s becoming service industry orientated. View our Lean Training Courses.

Although the two are often paired together seamlessly in conversation and can be combined in some introductory training courses, there are some substantial differences between Lean and Six Sigma. Lean is a set of tools and techniques that are used under a culture of continuous improvement aimed at eliminating waste. Whereas Six Sigma focuses on the reduction of process variation with use of data and statistical analysis tools.

Our Lean training courses, including Lean Practitioner and Lean Leader courses can be viewed here.

Our RSS approved Six Sigma training courses, including Six Sigma Green Belt and Black Belt training courses can be viewed here.

The certification process ensures that the business fully understands the principles of Lean or Six Sigma and how to successfully implement them. By doing so the business will ensure process improvement through waste reduction and defect elimination, resulting in increased efficiencies.

Successful certification of ISO 18404 also increases brand reputability as it demonstrates a commitment to producing quality products whilst adhering to internationally recognised standards.

Certification is approval from a third party. In the UK Lean and Six Sigma certification is undertaken by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS). Certification adds creditability by demonstrating that the individual or company is competent with ISO 18404 (the international standard for Lean and Six Sigma implementation). View our Lean and Six Sigma training course pages to find upcoming courses in your area, or schedule dedicated training on a date and at a location which is convenient for you team.

Kaizen simply means ‘improvement’ in Japanese. The word Kaizen has been used within Lean as an expression of a philosophy of small scale incremental and continual improvement changes.

Rather confusingly a ‘Kaizen event’ means something different, is an improvement event that happens over a very short period of time to make improvements of a pre-determined set of processes. Learn more on our Kaizen and 5S Training Course.

Benefits of becoming certified include:

• Certification is the step to define your expertise. It demonstrates that an individual has been assessed to hold a high level of competence to ISO 18404 the international standard for Lean and Six Sigma.
• Access to the RSS’ extensive resources and their certification database.
• You will be given a unique certification number from the RSS that will be on the certification database, displaying your approval.
• RSS certification can be publicised, allowing you to authenticate your reputability.
• Top manufacturing employers such as Jaguar Land Rover actively hire certified Green Belt and Lean Practitioners

The goal of Lean thinking is to increase efficiency and customer satisfaction by implementing a culture of continuous improvement (Kaizen culture). This culture is supported with the use of Lean tools and techniques such as value stream mapping, which is used to identify waste by mapping the flow of information and materials. Learn more about Lean on our Lean Training Courses.

Six Sigma is a set of statistical analysis tools used to measure and eliminate process variation, in other words, it improves quality by reducing the likelihood something is done wrong or differently to the way the customer is expecting. The Six Sigma process is based upon the DMAIC methodology of Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, and Control. We offer a range of RSS approved Six Sigma courses, including Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Six Sigma Green Belt and Six Sigma Black Belt Training Courses.