Lean courses can help you learn process improvement, waste reduction, value stream mapping, and continuous improvement techniques. You can build skills in problem-solving, team collaboration, and implementing efficient workflows. Many courses introduce tools like Kanban boards, 5S methodologies, and root cause analysis, showing how these skills can streamline operations and enhance productivity in various settings.

Starweaver
Skills you'll gain: Lean Manufacturing, Lean Methodologies, Process Mapping, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Kanban Principles, Process Analysis, Employee Engagement, Process Optimization, Operational Excellence, Operational Efficiency, Continuous Improvement Process, Quality Management, Process Improvement, Workflow Management, Leadership, Waste Minimization, Change Management
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Tecnológico de Monterrey
Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Process Capability, Process Analysis, Process Mapping, Six Sigma Methodology, Lean Methodologies, Lean Manufacturing, Statistical Process Controls, Process Improvement, Quality Improvement, Process Optimization, Operational Analysis, Business Process, Quality Control, Statistical Analysis, Continuous Improvement Process, Value Engineering, Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Production Process
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Kennesaw State University
Skills you'll gain: Six Sigma Methodology, Lean Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, Lean Methodologies, Process Improvement, Data Collection, Quality Improvement, Process Optimization, Correlation Analysis, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Kaizen Methodology, Process Analysis, Probability Distribution, Regression Analysis, Process Capability, Business Process, Statistical Process Controls, Quality Management, Team Management, Project Management
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Kennesaw State University
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Process Controls, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Process Capability, Team Management, Quality Improvement, Root Cause Analysis, Six Sigma Methodology, Lean Six Sigma, Lean Methodologies, Exploratory Data Analysis, Process Improvement, Quality Control, Probability & Statistics, Process Analysis, Lean Manufacturing, Statistical Analysis, Process Mapping, Correlation Analysis, Data Collection, Regression Analysis
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Kennesaw State University
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Process Controls, Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Methodology, Lean Methodologies, Process Improvement, Team Management, Process Capability, Lean Manufacturing, Data Collection, Knowledge Transfer, Team Building, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Meeting Facilitation, Quality Improvement, Continuous Improvement Process, Performance Measurement, Conflict Management, Analytical Skills, Sampling (Statistics), Statistics
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Agile Software Development, Agile Methodology, Kanban Principles, Agile Project Management, User Story, Sprint Retrospectives, Sprint Planning, Workflow Management, Performance Metric, Team Oriented, Backlogs, Performance Measurement, Lean Methodologies, Continuous Improvement Process, Prioritization, Estimation
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Quality Management, Project Management Life Cycle, Requirements Analysis, Project Scoping, Project Closure, Project Management, Project Planning, Agile Project Management, Continuous Improvement Process, Project Controls, Backlogs, Milestones (Project Management), Project Risk Management, Stakeholder Analysis, Quality Assessment, Team Management, Agile Methodology, Change Management, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

Tecnológico de Monterrey
Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Six Sigma Methodology, Lean Methodologies, Statistical Process Controls, Quality Improvement, Process Improvement, Process Analysis, Continuous Improvement Process, Customer Analysis, Waste Minimization, Quality Management, Return On Investment, Process Mapping, Project Management, Cost Benefit Analysis
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Process Mapping, Process Improvement, Process Analysis, Business Process, Continuous Improvement Process, Waste Minimization, Statistical Analysis, Quality Management, Operational Efficiency, Statistical Process Controls, Root Cause Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Customer experience improvement, Business Metrics
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Simplilearn
Skills you'll gain: Lean Manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, Process Mapping, Statistical Process Controls, Six Sigma Methodology, Failure Mode And Effects Analysis, Kaizen Methodology, Process Optimization, Quality Improvement, Operational Efficiency, Process Improvement, Performance Measurement, Manufacturing Operations, Quality Management, Operational Excellence, Business Process, Statistical Analysis, Performance Metric, Waste Minimization, Kanban Principles
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Quality Management, Process Analysis, Quality Improvement, Process Capability, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Process Flow Diagrams, Pareto Chart, Run Chart, Statistical Process Controls, Process Improvement, Statistical Analysis, Quality Control, Data Analysis, Data Analysis Software, Histogram, Scatter Plots
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

Skills you'll gain: Lean Six Sigma, Lean Methodologies, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Correlation Analysis, Process Improvement, Sampling (Statistics), Project Management, Data Literacy, Regression Analysis, Process Capability, Goal Setting, Statistical Analysis, Scatter Plots, Customer experience improvement, Quality Management, Microsoft Excel, Process Mapping, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Lean is a project management methodology that emphasizes rapid iteration in the product development process and the elimination of waste. This systematic approach to business is rooted in the lean manufacturing techniques developed at Toyota in post-war Japan, and the“Toyota Production System” was critically important in enabling the efficiency gains that transformed that company into one of the world’s largest automakers.
This philosophy has since been adapted to the needs of companies all over the world and across a wide range of industries. In manufacturing, the “Six Sigma” approach has emerged to apply a lean approach to process improvement, seeking to use statistics and data analysis to minimize variation in output to six standard deviations (or sigmas) from the control. And in software development, agile methods use lean-derived approaches like “just enough” planning to quickly prototype and bring products to market that meet user needs.
Because lean methods have been harnessed by many industries seeking to improve their efficiency and gain a competitive advantage, a background in this methodology can be a gateway to a wide range of careers. Industries that employ lean and lean Six Sigma include manufacturing, construction, mining, design, and agriculture, and typical roles using these skills are found in project management, operations management, and supply chain management.
A background in lean and “lean agile” development is also an asset to career paths in tech. Because lean and agile methodologies seek to empower individual team members to make decisions in the product development cycle, it is as important for software developers to be familiar with these processes as it is for product managers. And, with a median annual salary of $107,510 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, software developers today are often paid as much as management roles in other industries.
Certainly. Whether you want to apply lean methods to supply chain management or mobile app development, Coursera can give you the opportunity to learn online with a flexible schedule and lower costs than on-campus students. For example, you can learn Six Sigma methodology through a multiple course Specialization through the University of Georgia, or lean software development through the University of Minnesota. You can also learn about lean from leading companies like Atlassian and Boston Consulting Group.
Before starting to learn Lean, you may find it helpful to have experience with using traditional software development processes, although this is not required. Introductory knowledge of agile methods would also be helpful. When you're starting to learn Lean Six Sigma, you'll find it helpful to have previous or current experience working on a team or applying a team effort to solving a problem, creating a project, or similar experience.
If you are an individual or business in the software development industry and apply a team effort to developing software or any other projects, learning Lean may be right for you. Lean brings a streamlined approach to development and is designed to allow for less delivery time and more functionality. It eliminates activities that are unnecessary, thus saving time and money. It also teaches leaders how to empower team members to make decisions, which often boosts morale. If this sounds like it would be helpful to you, learning Lean is probably right for you.
Topics related to Lean that you can study include time-management skills, cultural diversity, gender bias, customer satisfaction, building team morale, and goal-setting. You can also study any topics in software development, including programming languages and coding. Learning about communication skills, conflict resolution, work-life balance, marketing, agile principles, and Kanban are also topics you can pursue that are related to Lean.
Software engineers and developers with a background in Lean may find work in a variety of settings and industries, including manufacturing firms, human resources and payment processing companies, insurance providers, and financial services companies. Places that hire people with a background in Lean Six Sigma to help with recruiting, training, or leading teams effectively are also varied and may include transportation companies, consulting firms, technologies corporations, manufacturing companies, and a lot more.
Online Lean courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Lean skills. Choose from a wide range of Lean courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.
When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Lean, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.