Custom Courses Leadership and Management

Lean Thinking Training

SAQA US AATICD-0086 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $913 per delegate

Description

This course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of Lean Thinking principles and their practical application in various organisational contexts. It equips learners with the tools to identify and eliminate waste, optimise processes, and drive continuous improvement. By the end of the programme, participants will be able to contribute to a culture of efficiency and value creation within their teams or departments.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply Lean Thinking principles to identify and eliminate waste in organisational processes.
  • Analyse value streams to distinguish value-adding from non-value-adding activities.
  • Implement continuous improvement techniques such as Kaizen and 5S to enhance workflow.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of Lean initiatives using appropriate metrics and feedback mechanisms.
  • Design a basic Lean implementation plan tailored to a specific work area or process.
  • Demonstrate the ability to facilitate a team-based problem-solving session using Lean tools.

Target Audience

This course is designed for managers, team leaders, process improvement specialists, and any professionals seeking to enhance operational efficiency and reduce waste in their work environment.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Lean Thinking and Value

Objectives:
• Define Lean Thinking and its core principles.
• Distinguish between value and waste in a process.
• Identify the five Lean principles: value, value stream, flow, pull, perfection.
• Recognise the benefits of Lean in various industries.

Topics:
• Origins of Lean Thinking (Toyota Production System).
• The five Lean principles.
• Value-added vs. non-value-added activities.
• Types of waste (Muda, Mura, Muri).
• Overview of Lean tools and techniques.
• Case studies of Lean implementation.

Day 2: Value Stream Mapping and Flow

Objectives:
• Create a current-state value stream map.
• Identify bottlenecks and waste in the value stream.
• Design a future-state value stream map for improved flow.
• Understand the concept of continuous flow.

Topics:
• Value stream mapping symbols and process.
• Current-state mapping exercise.
• Identifying waste and improvement opportunities.
• Future-state mapping principles.
• Creating flow: cell layout, kanban, heijunka.
• Work standardisation for flow.

Day 3: Pull Systems and Just-in-Time

Objectives:
• Explain the pull system and its benefits over push.
• Implement a basic kanban system.
• Understand Just-in-Time (JIT) production.
• Apply takt time and pitch to synchronise production.

Topics:
• Push vs. pull systems.
• Kanban types and rules.
• Designing a kanban system.
• Just-in-Time principles.
• Takt time calculation and line balancing.
• Heijunka (production leveling).

Day 4: Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) and Problem Solving

Objectives:
• Apply the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.
• Conduct a kaizen event.
• Use root cause analysis tools (5 Whys, fishbone diagram).
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Topics:
• Kaizen philosophy and events.
• PDCA cycle in practice.
• Problem-solving tools: 5 Whys, fishbone, A3 reports.
• Standard work and its role in improvement.
• Gemba walks and observation.
• Employee engagement and suggestion systems.

Day 5: Lean Culture, Sustainability, and Integration

Objectives:
• Develop a Lean implementation roadmap.
• Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) for Lean.
• Understand leadership's role in sustaining Lean.
• Integrate Lean with other systems (e.g., Six Sigma, ISO).

Topics:
• Building a Lean culture.
• Leadership and change management.
• Lean metrics and visual management.
• Sustaining improvements through audits.
• Lean and Six Sigma synergy (Lean Six Sigma).
• Creating a personal action plan.

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Hands-on workshops and simulations allow learners to apply Lean tools in a controlled environment. Practicals include value stream mapping, kanban simulation, and kaizen events to reinforce theoretical concepts.

Practical Activities
  • Value Stream Mapping Simulation — Learners map a current process, identify waste, and design a future-state map using a simulated manufacturing scenario. (4h)
  • Kanban and Pull System Exercise — Using a card-based simulation, learners set up a pull system and adjust kanban quantities to balance production. (4h)
  • Kaizen Event Workshop — Teams conduct a mock kaizen event, applying PDCA and root cause analysis to improve a given process. (4h)
  • Lean Simulation: Full Value Stream — An immersive simulation where learners run a production line, apply lean tools, and measure performance improvements. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $913 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $913 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $913 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $913 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $913 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $913 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $913 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $913 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $913 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $913 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $913 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $913 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $913 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $913 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $913 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $913 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 420 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe Winter 2026 $2,587 Register
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Bangkok, Thailand Winter 2026 $5,827 Register
Mon 31 Aug 2026 Fri 04 Sep 2026 Lusaka, Zambia Winter 2026 $2,587 Register
Mon 31 Aug 2026 Fri 04 Sep 2026 London, UK Winter 2026 $5,827 Register
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Mauritius Spring 2026 $3,343 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,188 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,188 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,188 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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