Advanced CI Leadership Programme - starts 3rd February 2026

About this course

Lean leadership that drives performance – and sustains it.

Certified to Lean Competency System Level 2b

In a world where market pressure, customer expectations, and operational complexity never stand still, the greatest advantage lies in leadership that doesn’t just deliver quick wins but creates lasting transformation.

The Advanced Operational Excellence Leadership Programme equips senior CI leaders to do exactly that — to deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, cost, and delivery, while embedding a culture of improvement that endures.

This is not theory — it’s applied leadership. Through immersive learning, peer collaboration, and targeted coaching, you’ll lead a live improvement project expected to deliver £100,000 of measurable business benefits — proving your capability to deliver results now and sustain them long into the future.

Dates:

3rd, 4th February and 17th, 18th March 2026

Location: 

Manufacturers Network Head Office, Trafford Park, Manchester

Duration: 

4 days, including site visit plus coaching support

Why this programme matters:

• Protect and enhance performance – leaders equipped to anticipate challenges, prevent losses, and keep operations running at peak capability.

• Unlock hidden value – eliminate waste and complexity, freeing up resources to reinvest in growth.

• Make improvement part of the culture – build behaviours, systems, and routines that make CI second nature.

• Accelerate transformation – leaders who unite functions, break down barriers, and deliver change that sticks.

• Demonstrate immediate ROI – with a high-value improvement delivered during the programme and a globally recognised qualification.

Who should attend:

This is a senior Lean programme, designed for those with:

• Over five years of experience in CI, Lean, Operational Excellence, or related leadership roles.

• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, LCS Level 1c, or equivalent Lean qualification.

  
  

Typical attendees include:

• Senior CI practitioners and improvement managers

• Lean coaches and internal change agents

• Operational leaders with responsibility for performance and culture

• Those leading or supporting major transformation programmes

  
  

Programme highlights:

• Senior-level leadership immersion – four days of advanced, interactive workshops delivered in two blocks, with coaching and live application between sessions.

• Industry benchmarking – a best practice visit to Jaguar Land Rover Halewood, seeing how a high-performing site sustains Lean leadership behaviours, systems, and tools at scale.

• Immediate business impact – lead a strategic project targeting ~£100k in measurable improvement benefits during the programme.

• Practical, applied learning – every concept is tested and refined in the context of your organisation’s challenges.

• Recognised expertise – achieve LCS Level 2b: Implementation & Leadership, validating your ability to lead enterprise-wide change.

  
  

Programme modules:

1. Critical Thinking & A3 Storytelling

   1. Craft compelling problem-solving narratives, analyse data effectively, and coach others through structured improvement.

2. Coaching for Performance

   1. Master the GROW model, strengthen mentoring skills, and build team capability for sustained improvement.

3. Associated Improvement Approaches

   1. Explore Agile-Lean integration and apply Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to optimise reliability and flow.

4. Strategy Deployment & Alignment

   1. Translate vision into an actionable strategy using X-matrix, catchball, visual management, and QFD.

5. Change Management

   1. Lead change confidently with ADKAR and Forcefield Analysis to anticipate and address resistance.

6. Communication & Facilitation

   1. Enhance training delivery and facilitation skills to engage stakeholders and accelerate adoption.

7. Leader Standard Work

   1. Conduct purposeful Gemba walks, manage tiered accountability, and use visual systems to sustain focus.

8. Sustaining Cultural Change

   1. Apply Lean frameworks, including the Shingo model, to embed improvement in your organisation’s DNA.

9. Project & Assignment Review

   1. Present, review, and reflect on your live improvement project and leadership growth.

Programme details:

• Duration - 4 training days (2+2 format) over ~6–8 weeks, plus coaching and a live improvement project.

• Format - Interactive workshops, site visits, simulations, and gemba-based assignments.

• Location - In-house or at Trafford Park, Manchester (public programmes include a site visit to Jaguar Land Rover Halewood).

Assessment & Certification

• Portfolio of evidence (project charter, A3s, leadership reflections, benefits realisation).

• Final presentation & professional discussion.

• Certificate issued at LCS Level 2b on successful completion.

  
  

What you’ll leave with:

• A strategic improvement plan is already delivering measurable results.

• A toolkit for leading, coaching, and sustaining enterprise-level change.

• A globally recognised certification at LCS Level 2b.

• Insights and practices from Jaguar Land Rover Halewood, ready to adapt to your business.