Certification Support
Everything you need to successfully complete your certification projects.
As part of the certification process, applicants must provide suitable evidence of their ability to apply principles and techniques learned throughout the workshops via practical application project(s) in their workplace and to show at least one (1) measurable result.
This page is intended to guide you through the project requirements. Each requirement has resources to assist you listed below it. If you have questions regarding a step, or how to utilize a resource, contact Leadership & Development Coach Jeremy Blake at jeremyb@mfrall.com
Individual Certification Welcome Packets
Includes Welcome Letter, Certification Info, Project Guides, and Sample Projects (Click on your corresponding certification to view and download):
Lean Practitioner Certification Welcome Packet
Senior Lean Practitioner Certification Welcome Packet
Supervision Fundamentals Certification Welcome Packet
Strategic Leader Certification Welcome Packet
Online 6 Sigma Green Belt Certification Welcome Packet
In Person 6 Sigma Green Belt Certification Welcome Packet
Project Pre-Work:
Planning
Select Project Topic:
- 5S
- Reduce WIP
- Decrease cycle time
- Reduce scrap
- Implement/improve standard work
- Reduce/Improve any of the 8 wastes
Senior Lean Practitioner Certification:
Same project ideas as the Lean Practitioner Certification, with a focus on:
- Strategic Alignment
- Creating a system beyond individual tools
- Demonstrating leadership
- Creating buy-in
- Coaching others on Lean
6 Sigma Green Belt Certification:
- Reducing defects
- Defect prevention
- Reducing scrap
- Increasing capacity
- Reducing variation
Supervision Fundamentals Certification:
- Improving communication
- Resolving conflict
- Reducing turnover
- Improving training or onboarding
- Improving department throughput
- Improving attendance, moral, or employee engagement
- Improving leadership presence (personal perception)
Strategic Leader Certification:
- Improving communication
- Developing a strategy statement
- Professional development planning
- Improving leadership presence
Resources:
Write a Problem Statement for your project. Submit it to jeremyb@mfrall.com for initial review and feedback
Resources:
Required Project Format:
MA Project Template – To be used for all certification projects with the exception of 6 Sigma Green Belt
6 Sigma GB MA Project Template – To be used exclusively for 6 Sigma Green Belt Projects
The 11 Project Requirements:
1: ( ) Project Introduction/Title/Signature Page
- Company name
- Applicant’s name and title
- Project name
- Team participants’ names/titles
- Company business description – 100 word max.
- Company sign-offs: names of applicant’s manager
2: ( ) Problem Statement – Define the problem without providing solutions or root cause speculation. What is the gap? What process isn’t working? Why is it worth the time and resources to solve this problem?
Resources:
3: ( ) Project timeline What needs to be done, by whom and by when to meet project objectives and timeline
Resource:
4: ( ) Current state: Describe current conditions, starting point, etc. include quantifiable measurements
- Describe the starting point or current condition
- Challenges anticipated
Resources:
5: ( ) Goals: The goals we plan to achieve
- Must be measurable
Resource:
6: ( ) Major project activities and challenges
- What took place? By whom?
- What barriers or challenges did the team face?
- How were they overcome?
Resources:
- Reference your Workshop Workbooks
- Project Task Timeline
- MA Educational Seminar Video
7: ( ) List Workshop Skills, Tools and Techniques used
Resource:
- Reference your Workshop Workbooks
8: ( ) Results & final conditions
- What were the results compared to the goals?
- What was the after effect of the project?
- TBD should not be used to show results
- Avoid words like improved, implemented, updated, enhanced, increased etc. without a concrete measurable unit
Resource:
9: ( ) Sustainment
- Think about this during the project
- How it will be perpetuated or maintained without your involvement?
- Who owns the process?
- Aim for more than “auditing” for sustainment
Resource:
10: ( ) Conclusion/Lessons Learned
- What was learned?
- Challenges? How were they addressed
- How it can be leveraged elsewhere
- Suggestions for further improvements
Resource:
11: ( ) Appendices
Supporting photos, notes, graphics or data charts. For example:
- Peer surveys
- Meeting notes/manager’s comments
- Charts of metrics: quality, engagement or financial trends
- Standard work, procedure updates
Manufacturers Alliance Evaluation Review:
Submission of Project
Email project to Jeremy Blake at Manufacturers Alliance, jeremyb@mfrall.com with contact info.
Allow up to 5 business days for the review as outlined below.
Project Reviewer’s Criteria
- Was the project signed off as credible by the applicant’s manager?
- Is the project in an acceptable format with all requirements met, including at least one positive measurable result?
- Does the project demonstrate the applicant’s effective application of skills and tools from the certification?
- Is the applicant following up or measuring the right things to reach the stated objectives to solve the problem and sustain the results?
Reviewer’s Feedback & Certification Completion
Successful submission is followed by:
- A letter of completion with comments
- Updated online records on Manufacturers Alliance website
- A certificate of completion
- Unsuccessful projects will be returned for improvement and re-submission