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.