Lean Leadership Training: Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement

Type: Leadership / Lean Thinking

Dates: 10th & 11th June 2025

Location: Manufacturers Network Head Office, Trafford Park, Manchester

Duration: 2 days

Cost: £750 +VAT

Overview

This interactive two-day course introduces Lean thinking from a leadership perspective. It provides practical tools and frameworks to help leaders embed a culture of continuous improvement.

The programme explores the differences between Lean leadership and traditional management, with a focus on behaviours, mindset, and systems that sustain operational excellence.

Ideal for leaders at all levels, this course builds confidence, strengthens leadership impact, and provides a solid foundation for sustainable success.

What You'll Learn

Day 1:

Module 1 - Introduction:

• Team Introductions

• Key concepts and guiding principles of Lean and Operational Excellence:

  • History of Lean: Ford, Shewhart, Maslow, Deming, Ohno, Shingo, Smith

  • Lean principles: Customer Value, Value Stream, Flow, Pull and the Pursuit of Perfection

  • Identification & Elimination of Waste: TIMWOODS, VA, ENVA and NVA,

  • Introduction to Operational Excellence: Introduction to the Shingo Model

  • Systems Thinking

• Leadership Approaches to Structured Problem-Solving:

  • Benefits of a Structured Approach

  • Models vs Tools

  • The Scientific Method

• Lean Methodology Introduction:

  • The DMAIC methodology from a leadership perspective

  • A3 Thinking

  • 8D Problem Solving

    
    

Module 2 - People:

• What is culture? Behaviours and the key factors that drive culture

• Creating the right environment:

  • Psychological Safety

  • Responsibility and Accountability

  • Empowering Teams

  • Recognition

• Lean Culture: Respect for All, Trust, Customer Focus, Learning Organisations

• Leadership vs Management Analysis

• Leadership Styles: Traditional vs Lean

• Managing effective change: QxE=A

• Understanding Resistance to Change: Stakeholder Analysis, Motivation

• Change Models: Lewin, ADKAR, Kotter

• Growth vs Fixed Mindset

• Leader as a Coach: Practical Applications

• Practical Team Exercise

Day 2: 

Module 3 - Purpose:

• Doing the right things – Defining the Goal, Starting with the End in Mind (Covey)

• Leading Vision Mission and Values: Definitions, why VMV is important,

• Developing a Shared and Compelling sense of Purpose

• Leading Purpose: Crafting the Message, Communication

• Building the Purpose: Alignment, Strategy Development, Hoshin Kanri

• Measuring the right things: SMART Goals, measurement, reporting

• Business Performance Measurement: SQDCP, Leading vs Lagging

• Leading Team Performance Timeline

Module 4 - Process:

• Continuous Improvement Approach

• Problems as Opportunities

• PDCA Discipline

• What Leadership tools do we have?

• Lean Management Systems: Visual Management, Regular Accountability, Tiered Meetings, Leader Standard Work

• Sustaining the Gains: Standards Setting

• Promoting an Improvement Culture

• The 7 Quality Tools: Control Charts, Cause & Effect, Scatter Plot, Histogram, Process Mapping, Pareto, Tally Sheets

• Bringing it all together - Practical Team Exercise

  
  

Course wash-up:

• Reflective Practice

• Project Leadership: Ensuring project success

• Recap, key learning points and takeaways

Programme Structure

• Two days of interactive learning and facilitated discussion

• Practical tools and frameworks to apply immediately

• Group exercises and case examples

• Recap and action planning to embed learning

Who Should Attend

• Leaders and managers responsible for Lean or CI initiatives

• Functional heads and team leaders across all industries

• Professionals in operations, HR, IT, finance, H&S and more

• Anyone looking to lead with clarity, purpose and impact

Why Attend

• Gain a practical introduction to Lean from a leadership lens

• Understand the behaviours and systems that drive a CI culture

• Learn to lead with purpose and promote effective change

• Build capability to embed sustainable improvement

• Demystify Lean principles and boost leadership effectiveness

Speak to the Team