Jeff Lytle receives first-ever Lean Gold Certification

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Manufacturing News, Source : The Manufacturer US
Zone : Skills and productivity
Published : 09 Jul 2007 17:19

Dearborn, MI—The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), and the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing have conferred upon Jeff Lytle, Lean SixSigma Master BlackBelt, Omnova Solutions Inc., the first-ever Lean Gold Certification, the highest level of Lean Certification achievement.

Facilitated by SME, AME, and the Shingo Prize and developed by industry, the Lean Certification program is the first professional credential, independent of curriculum, in industry. Its intent is to bring alignment and consistency to the assessment of knowledge, skills, and abilities of lean practitioners.

The Lean Certification program comprises three distinct yet equally important levels: Bronze, which is focused on tactical lean or lean in a local environment; Silver, which is focused on integrative or value stream lean; and Gold, which is focused on strategic or enterprise transformational lean. In order to achieve his Gold Certification, Lytle successfully completed the requirements for all three levels of certification, which included for each level a comprehensive knowledge examination and peer-reviewed portfolio and, at the Gold level, an in-person panel interview.

"As with Six Sigma, many companies have their own lean (or Lean/Six Sigma) programs. These are either homegrown, developed by a consultant, or a combination of both. I'm excited that SME, AME, and the Shingo Prize have taken on the challenge to create a common Lean Certification platform," said Lytle. "This certification serves as a credible tool to assess an individual's knowledge and capabilities in lean and creates a model that can certainly help companies in their workforce development. Each level requires more tangible work experience in lean than the previous. With this knowledge neatly documented in a portfolio, individuals can use this data to help demonstrate their capabilities and career growth to current and future employers.

"Additionally, employers looking for lean practitioners within (and outside) of their organization can have a common platform to assess knowledge and skills by requesting their SME-AME-Shingo Prize Lean Certification Portfolios. The exams and panel interview at the Gold level add credibility to work experience shown in the portfolios."

Lytle's certification is valid for three years, and he will be required to demonstrate continuing practice of lean through continuing education and an update to his portfolio, which again will be peer reviewed.

Since January 2007, SME has received applications from more than 1,000 Lean Certification candidates. Additionally, the exam for the Bronze-level certification is being utilized by the 360vu Foundation and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership network as an outcome assessment for their Lean Enterprise Certificate Program.

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