Overview
Improvement Leaders are responsible for developing improvement strategy, providing leadership in improvement for the business and for coaching and supporting Improvement Specialists in advanced analysis. The Improvement Leader typically reports to Board members or Heads of Department and manages (directly and/or matrix) a team of Improvement Specialists, who deploy the strategy, and lead improvement projects. They work closely with all functions of the business to support the setting and achievement of business goals, often accountable for Improvement activities within the largest-scale and highest priority programmes of work. For example, they may develop top-level Value Stream Maps to identify improvement opportunities that are then scoped into projects to be delivered by Improvement Specialists or they may design new products/processes/services. The role is typically office-based but involves working wherever their improvement activities are focussed for example they could be working on the shop floor or at customer/supplier premises.
Details of program
This apprenticeship usually takes 18 – 24 months to complete during which you will participate in training, development and on-going review activities. This apprenticeship covers the professional behaviours, knowledge and skills that are required of an Improvement Leader.
Typical roles & responsibility:
- Developing Improvement strategy and providing leadership in improvement for the business
- Developing processes and resources to support improvement strategy deployment such as guidance for structured project reviews
- Training, coaching and mentoring Improvement Specialists and senior stakeholders
- Designing and sourcing training solutions for the business
- Leading large-scale, complex Improvement activities
- Managing a team of Improvement Specialists
Improvement Leaders have high-level expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, Project and Change management and are recognised as the specialists in leading improvement strategy.
Roles are commonly found in all industry sectors and functions including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Telecommunication, Retail, Finance, Food, Drink, Travel and Leisure. Job titles associated with the Improvement Leader occupation include, but are not limited to: Lean Master, Senior Lean Leader, Senior Navigator, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Senior Consultant.
For this course we also offer access to the Black Belt Course plus Certification. The Six Sigma Black Belt is a unique set of tools and methodologies that can be applied across numerous industries to improve productivity and reduce waste. The Black Belt Certification is designed to demonstrate your proficiency at an advanced level in handling complex projects and implementing Six Sigma principles and methodologies.
- Strategic deployment of continuous improvement
- Business benefits
- Team formation and leadership tools and techniques
- Capability Development
- Project Management & Project Selection and Scoping
- Reviewing projects and coaching others
- Presentation and reporting
- Change Management
- Principles and methods
- Problem definitions
- Voice of the Customer
- Process mapping and analysis
- Lean concepts and tools
- Data acquisition for analysis
- Statistics and graphical analysis
- Process Capability and Performance
- Root Cause Analysis
- Experimentation, optimisation and simulation
- Identification and Prioritising
- Failure Mode Avoidance
- Data Analysis & Statistical Process Control
- Benchmarking
Duration: 18 – 24 months
Delivery Options:
Online ☑️
Face to face ☑️
Combination of both☑️
Start dates: Monthly
Assessment Gateway
After a minimum of 18 – 24 months on programme, at the assessment gateway your employer will make the decision that you are ready to undertake the end point assessment
Before going forward for end point assessment, you must have:
- English/maths Level 2
- Portfolio of evidence
- Employer satisfied apprentice is consistently working at, or above, the level of the occupational standard
- 20% off the job training
End Point Assessment
Following successful completion of the Gateway, you will proceed to end point assessment (EPA).
The EPA is undertaken by an independent assessment organisation.
The End Point assessment components are:
- Professional discussion, underpinned by portfolio of evidence
- Dissertation, presentation and questioning
Both components of the end point assessment must be completed and an end point assessment grade
will be determined by the end point assessor.