Level 1c
Improvement Leader

Summary
The Improvement Leader Level 1c will build knowledge, understanding and application of lean improvement and implementation techniques. Candidates that complete LCS 1c will be able to actively participate in improvement activities in the workplace.

Prerequisites for Level 1c
Level 1a, Level 1b. – preferable but learning can be incorporated in the course design.

Level focus
On the implementation and improvement tools used to improve and sustain processes.

Level knowledge outcomes

• Workplace organisation and optimisation techniques
• Standard operations
• Visual management and performance measures
• Scheduling, and capacity planning
• Enablers for flow
• Management and planning
• People, teams and sustainability

Level practice outcomes

The Improvement Leader course focuses on the learners ability to:

• Apply workplace organisation techniques
• Implement standard work principles and tools
• Use visual management and performance measures for effective communication and control
• Implement capacity planning techniques and scheduling approaches
• Apply tools to enable flow
• Apply quality tools
• Apply techniques to understand the nature of demand and manage it effectively.
• Use policy deployment techniques to plan, measure and communicate
• Use key people or ‘soft’ skills to effect change, lead, coach, participate and communicate

Indicative Topics

A training programme that aims to cover the knowledge requirements for LCS Level 1c is likely to reference the topics listed below. The list is indicative; some topics may not be relevant, some will require passing reference only and there may be other relevant topics that are not included in the list.

Workplace organisation:

• 5S; cell design; layout; 3P – production, preparation, process; ergonomics

Standard operations:

• SOPs; standards; leader-standard-work; Training within Industry (TWI) i.e job instruction, job methods

Visual management and performance measures:

• A3; display boards; Andon; team communications

Scheduling and capacity planning:

• Theory of Constraints; pull systems; Kanban; Heijunka; drum buffer rope; CONWIP; runners-repeaters-strangers

Enablers for flow:

• Takt time; Total Predictive Maintenance (TPM); SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Die); OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness); demand management; mistake proofing/poke yoke; activity timing

Management and planning:

• Policy deployment/Hoshin Kanri; project management; performance management; Scrum

People, teams and sustainability:

• leadership; coaching; change management; facilitation; team management; personal communications; TWI (job relations)

Delivery
A course or programme designed to deliver Level 1c outcomes can be organised in several ways and there is no prescribed format. It will typically use a combination of:

• Face to face, taught in groups – in modules or blocks of days.
• Digital delivery and eLearning.
• Blended learning
• Workplace based guidance and support – going to the ‘Gemba’.

The total learning time guidance for a course aligned to L1c is 40 hours. This can include face to face teaching, elearning, assessment, pre/post course reading/research, practical application, offline group work, on the job training and one-2-one support activities.

Level Assessment
The assessment shall demonstrate that the outcomes have been achieved.

Knowledge
An assessment that demonstrates the learner can remember and understand L1c Implementation & Improvement, for example, through a multiple choice test, problem or case-based exams, oral exam, essay exam.

Practical Application
The successful Level 1c practitioner shall provide evidence of the application of L1c related tools and techniques in the workplace. Methods that should be used to capture the evidence include A3 reports, project reports, workbook, project portfolio/log or diaries.