What you will gain

from completing this course:

  • A valuable certification for your portfolio

  • Knowledge to participate on an improvement team project

  • Ability to make improvements in your work area and on your processes

Course curriculum

Introduction to Process Improvement | Yellow Belt

  • 1

    Getting Started

  • 2

    Module 1: Structured Process Improvement

    • What You will Learn in Module #1

      FREE PREVIEW

    • What is a Process?

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Submit a List of Processes

      FREE PREVIEW

    • Tips to Identify Processes for Improvement

      FREE PREVIEW

    • A Brief History of Structured Improvement

    • Single Question Quiz - History of Improvement

    • Examples of Actual Process Improvements

    • Example: UK Naval Aircraft Carrier

    • Single Question Quiz - UK Aircraft Carrier Improvements

    • Example: Heavy Equipment Setup

    • Single Question Quiz - Heavy Equipment Setup

    • Example: HR Interview and Job Offer Process

    • Single Question Quiz - HR Interview and Job Offer Process

    • Example: Review of Construction Drawings

    • Single Question Quiz - Review of Construction Drawings

    • Example: UK Magistrate Court System

    • Single Question Quiz: UK Magistrate Court System

    • Example: Measurement Accuracy

    • Single Question Quiz: Measurement Accuracy

    • Preparing for the Exercise to Baseline and Improve Process Performance

    • Exercise: Baseline Process Performance

    • Exercise: Analysis of Baseline Data

    • Exercise: Implement a Process Improvement

    • Exercise: Analysis of Data from Round #2

    • Exercise: Submit your results here

    • Feedback on the Exercise
  • 3

    Module 2: Identify Waste

    • Learn to identify Value-Producing Activities and Process Waste

    • Value-Producing Activities

    • Please Submit Your List of Value-Producing Activities

    • Process Waste - Part 1

    • Quiz - Classify Activities as Value-Producing or Process Waste

    • Process Waste - Part 2

    • Exercise - Baseline and Improve the Process of Making Coffee

    • Exercise: Baseline a Process with a Physical Flow Map (Spaghetti Diagram)

    • Exercise: The Procedure for Making Coffee

    • Exercise: Improve the Layout and Measure the Impact

    • Exercise: Detailed Analysis - Round #1

    • Exercise: Final Analysis - Round #2

    • Exercise: Submit Your Results Here

    • Reflection on the Exercise
  • 4

    Module 3: Reduce Variation

    • Reduce Process Variation - Outline and Files

    • The Input-Process-Output (IPO or SIPOC) Diagram

    • Please Submit Your IPO Diagram

    • Process Flow Diagram

    • The Cause and Effect (CE or Fishbone) Diagram

    • Mistake Proofing

    • Submit Your Mistake Proof Solutions

    • 5S

    • Visuals

    • Submit Your Example List of Visuals

    • Standard Work - Part 1

    • Please Submit your Sketch

    • Standard Work - Part 2

    • Please Submit your New Sketch Created Using the Procedure

    • Standard Work - Part 3

    • Demonstration - How to Draw a Sketch of a Pig in 1 minute
  • 5

    Module 4: Visualize Data

    • Common Charts for Visualizing Data

    • Run Charts

    • Pareto Charts

    • Histogram

    • Control Chart

    • Quiz - Visualizing Data
  • 6

    Module 5: Improve Flow

    • Improving Flow

    • Batch vs Single-Piece-Flow

    • Level Loading a Process

    • Quiz: Please Submit Your Calculations for Level Loading a Process

    • Exercise - Dice Experiment

    • Exercise - Dice Experiment - Analysis

    • Please submit your dice exercise results here
  • 7

    Module 6: Individual and Team Improvement

    • Individual and Team Improvements - Outline

    • Team Projects - Roles and Responsibilities

    • Quiz - Team Roles and Responsibilities

    • The DMAIC Improvement Project Roadmap

    • Quiz - DMAIC Roadmap

    • Introduction to the Project Charter/Contract

    • Create a Draft Project Charter/Contract

    • Please Submit your Draft Project Charter here

    • Quiz - The Improvement Project Charter / Contract

    • Individual Just-do-It Improvements - PDCA Cycle - Ideas to Get Started
  • 8

    Conclusion and Next Steps

    • Final Exam - Introduction to Process Improvement

    • Conclusion and Next Steps

    • Course Survey

    • Next Live instructor-led Zoom Session

Instructor(s)

Senior Consultant

Stephen Turnipseed

The Deployment Champion for Chevron's Lean Six Sigma program, Steve initiated and expanded the methodology across the corporation's Global Upstream business units. A certified Master Black Belt and an experienced instructor that consistently receives 5 ratings, he has taught hundreds of people from basic overviews to certified facilitators. The Managing Director called Steve, "One of the best mentors in the corporation".

Instructor

Victor Ugorji

Victor is a passionate transformation champion with proven success in diverse lean six sigma initiatives. He held the responsibility of a Lean Sigma Advisor for Chevron Nigeria, was a Member of the Global Asset Performance Management team in a multinational mining company in Canada, and is currently a management team member of the Continuous Improvement team in a Canadian-based company. Victor has worked in more than 200 process transformations with accrued financial benefits of more than $140 million.

FAQ

  • What is the difference between the Overview course and Introduction to Process Improvement?

    Introduction to Process Improvement leads to Certification as a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and includes all of the Overview Course material plus much more. The Into course takes between 6 to 8 hours to complete the online material, exercises, and the live session. The Overview, White Belt course is intended as an awareness module and takes about 2 hours. It does not include a live session or as many lessons or exercises. After completion of the Overview course, you will receive a White Belt Training Certificate.

  • If I intend to pursue my Yellow Belt Certification, should I start with the Overview course?

    If you know that you want a deeper knowledge of process improvement or desire to have the certification, then jump straight to the Introduction course. If you are not sure, you can start with the Overview then apply the purchase price toward your next course within 12 months.

  • Do I need to complete all of the topics and assigments before attending the virtual instructor-led session?

    Yes, we set and uphold a high standard for our students. To receive an invitation to the live instructor-led session, all topics must be completed, quizzes are taken, and assignments submitted.

  • When are the live Zoom sessions with the instructor(s) held?

    Unless otherwise announced, the instructor sessions are held twice a month on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:30 pm EST and the fourth Saturday of the month at 1:30 pm EST. If you have a group that would like to request a date, please send a note to info@makingvalueflow.com

  • Facilitator Leading a Team Meeting
  • Young man writing on post-it notes
  • Worker checking a meter

Course Reviews

Introduction to Process Improvement | Yellow Belt

5 star rating

Everyone in Business Needs to Take This Course!

Mark Russell

I've been in industry for more than three decades and have led countless projects from small design/installs to designing and implementing an entire theme pa...

Read More

I've been in industry for more than three decades and have led countless projects from small design/installs to designing and implementing an entire theme park. This training has been eye-opening and very valuable. It's broken down into bite-sized lessons and videos that guide you step by step through various process improvement methods that you can apply immediately, and the timing for us is perfect because we've done exactly that with a project that we're developing now. For anyone who manages processes, whether in manufacturing or any other industry, this training will be of benefit. Steve's support is also amazing. He's very responsive to any questions that we have, and is always very well prepared for a training or planning meeting. We're excited to have Steve work with other teams within our organization, and we know the positive impact will be great. Steve truly does Make Value Flow!

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5 star rating

A Comprehensive Introduction to Improvement

Joseph Phillips

In my opinion, this course is the most comprehensive introduction to systematically improving the performance of processes available. It clearly defines proc...

Read More

In my opinion, this course is the most comprehensive introduction to systematically improving the performance of processes available. It clearly defines processes, provides numerous examples, reviews the levels of processes, includes training exercises, and examples of employee involvement. The history of structured process improvement segment includes the 5 key principles, the 14 management principles of Toyota, Theory of Constraints, "The Goal" by Goldratt, Total quality management (TQM), statistical tools including W. Edward Deming's book, "Out of Crisis," PDCA (plan, do, check, and act), six sigma, including lean six sigma. Finally, it includes examples of improvements for a range of processes: physical, service, and measurement.

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5 star rating

Great Quality Videos; Excellent Material

Donna Cohen

The quality of the videos exceeded my expectations; This is not just a talking head and slide show. The sessions contain professional-quality images and foo...

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The quality of the videos exceeded my expectations; This is not just a talking head and slide show. The sessions contain professional-quality images and footage. The material includes several excellent exercises which both reinforce the topics and teach new topics. Reinforcement questions follow each video to reinforce the key points. I highly recommend this course to anyone who needs to learn about process improvement!

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Begin Your Journey

in Process Improvement Today

Become a valued team member on improvement projects. Make time and cost-saving changes to your processes. With improvement certification(s) on your resume, you can get noticed in the job market. Take a blended-course that is interesting and practical from a company with a proven history that uses a blended approach and produces superior results.
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