It is with great pride that we announce that Joachim M. Vis has graduated as a Lean Master.

This milestone marks the culmination of his learning phase this year, during which he has already successfully completed the Six Sigma Black Belt, the Design for Six Sigma Black Belt, the AI Manager (IHK) and the AI Application Consultant. But what does it actually mean to be a Lean Master and how can companies benefit from this knowledge?

The 14 Tools of Lean Management

Lean Management aims to minimize waste and continuously improve processes. Below you will find an overview of the 14 essential tools that a Lean Master must master:

1. Value Stream Mapping: Visualization and analysis of material and information flows.
2. 5S Method: workplace organization to improve efficiency and safety (sorting, setting, cleaning, standardization, self-discipline).
3. Kaizen: continuous improvement through small, incremental changes.
4. Kanban: Visual system for controlling and optimizing the production process.
5. Just-in-Time (JIT): production and delivery exactly when needed.
6. Poka Yoke: error prevention through simple, often mechanical devices.
7. Andon: Visual feedback system for immediate problem detection and elimination.
8. Heijunka: Production smoothing to avoid overloads and bottlenecks.
9. Hoshin Kanri: Strategic planning and goal implementation.
10. Gemba Walks: managers go to the workplace to observe and understand processes.
11. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM): Maintenance strategy to maximize machine uptime.
12. Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED): Setup time optimization to reduce machine downtime.
13. Root Cause Analysis (RCA): Root cause analysis to identify and rectify problems.
14. Standardized Work: definition and documentation of the best-known working methods.

Connection to other degrees

The combination of my degrees in Six Sigma, DFSS, and certified AI Management is an ideal complement to lean methods. While Lean Management ensures process efficiency and quality, Six Sigma and DFSS provide structured methods for problem solving and process improvement.

Knowledge in the field of Artificial Intelligence enables data-driven decisions and the further automation and optimization of processes.

With this comprehensive knowledge, I am now well-equipped to succeed in the implementation phase of the AI era.

Conclusion

Lean Management offers enormous potential for increasing efficiency and reducing costs. With the right tools and methods, companies can optimize and sustainably improve their processes.

We are happy to provide you with further information and look forward to hearing from you.