Details
1-day course
CPD Credit: 8 hours; Competence/s: 4
Course Delivery Options
Course Overview
The course focuses on frameworks and tools with practical examples supported by case studies to support learning.
Lean and Six Sigma are examined separately with opportunities for integration clearly identified.
Course Aim
The aim of this course is to provide participants with a practical and strategic understanding of Lean and Six Sigma tools, frameworks, and methodologies as they apply in modern organisations. The course is designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to lead, support, and sustain continuous improvement initiatives that drive operational excellence, quality, and sustainability.
Course Programme
The course outline is given here with the workshop designed to be practical where attendees will complete a number of Instructor led exercises both individually and in teams.
1. Lean - historical context
2. Lean Frameworks (PDCA; 5 Principles; Shingo Model)
3. Lean Tool Box (SIPOC; VSM; Ishikawa diagram; 5S; Direct Observation; Kaizen; TIMWOODS etc).
4. Evolution of Quality (from pre -industrialisation to Quality 5.0)
5. Strategy and Leadership (Hoshin Kanri; KATA)
6. Change Management & Human Factors (Kotter’s 8 steps, ADKAR model)
7. Applying Lean - exercise
8. Six Sigma - historical context
9. Six Sigma Frameworks (DMAIC; DMAICT; SLSS; DFSS)
10. Six Sigma Tools (SPC Control Charts; Box Plots; Prob Plots; Process Map; DOE etc)
11. Quality Science - The basics
12. Identifying and managing Variation (common versus special cause and the WECO rules)
13. Demings System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK)
14. Applying Six Sigma - exercise
Learning Outcomes/Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, delegates should be able to:
1. On reviewing a number of Lean Frameworks (Lean A framework - Hines 2004 , Kaisramkumar & Indhu 2016, HELMA 2024; Shingo etc) choose one that may be purposed (modified) for your organisation.
2. Review Shingo framework and assessment and understand how it enables Operational Excellence through the Guiding Principles (Cultural Enablers, Continuous Improvement, Enterprise Alignment).
3. Apply Hoshin Kanri to align with Org strategy.
4. Mitigate for resistance to change
5. Identify DMAIC deliverables and tools separately for each of the 5 steps and understand how to choose suitable ones for different projects and problems.
6. Identify & address common and special cause variation using WECO rules
7. Evaluate the contribution of Lean & Six Sigma to sustainability goals (SLSS, ESG, circular economy).
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed to support & educate thought leaders from all industries and sectors including Finance, Manufacturing, Construction, Environmental, Academia and the Public Sector who wish to support both Lean and Six Sigma projects in their organisations.
Trainer Profile
Paul Comiskey
Paul Comiskey has spent over 45 years working in Military, Marine, Academic and Industry Organisations. He is a qualified Engineer (practicing) and Physicist (MSc) and holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from CAMMS. He has worked in the USA, Japan, China, the Middle East and Europe as both an Engineer and Manager in the Manufacturing and Construction Sectors. He has specific experience of implementing KM programs in both FDI and SME companies. He possesses expertise in Robotics, Semi-conductor Physics, Knowledge Management, Analytical Problem Solving (APS), Inventive Thinking (TRIZ), Systems and Critical Thinking and practices and teaches in Industry and at several Universities in Ireland.
Craig Wilkinson
Craig Wilkinson has spent 10+ years in Industry Organisations. He is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with expertise in Quality, Project Management, and Continuous Improvement within the Semiconductor and Construction sectors. He holds an MSc in Strategic Quality Management - Lean Sigma Systems and has delivered major cost savings, digital transformation, and sustainability initiatives within organisations. Craig specialises in Lean Six Sigma deployment, Data Analytics (Power BI, Minitab, SQL), and ISO 9001/45001 systems. Coaching Green and Black Belts and enabling teams to adopt practical problem-solving and continuous improvement practices.