Take your Process Improvement Skills to new levels in 2023!
AdaptiveLean Courses and Coaching

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Courses and Links to Descriptions

Hero on a Mission (online)

One Day AdaptiveLean Quick Start Class (In Person)

5 Fundamental Skills: SELF STUDY - FREE DOWNLOAD

AdaptiveLean Green Belt Equivalent (40 hours) In Person

5 Fundamental Skills: 5 Week Implementation with Coaching

Coming Soon... additional programs

The "10% Each Week" Challenge (Online)

Certification and Coaching Links

AdaptiveLean Green Belt Certification Program (Online)

Ongoing Group Coaching (Online)

Ongoing One-on-One Customized Coaching (Online)

Coming soon...additional options

AdaptiveLean Course Descriptions

Hero on a Mission

 

Long term success using a skilled approach to Process Improvement is a marathon – not a sprint!

 Without a clear “script” for you on this Mission you may find it difficult to sustain the effort.

As a certified Donald Miller Storybrand Coach, John Muka guides you through the official Hero on a Mission course using the actual Business Made Simple University online program.  You will also receive a discount if you decide to buy an annual subscription to all 10 of these amazing courses.

Hero on a Mission focuses on you in a personal way.  Through a series of engaging exercises you’ll learn to articulate your most important long term goals and begin to see your daily quest for better ways to get the work done in a much larger context.  

Key Components:

  • Write your own ultimate Life Summary Statement
  • Begin developing your own script for achieving your most important goals
  • Write you “Log Line”: a three or four sentence summary to keep you on track.
  • Daily Project Management habits to get things done
If you really intend to stand out while others are just trying to fit in this course will equip you to start each day with a renewal of the “Why am I doing this?”  that is essential for you as “A Hero on a Mission”.

Your instructor and coach, John Muka, considers this the real catalyst for much of what is being developed at AdaptiveLean.

CONTENT OVERVIEW:  4 Modules – once a week for 2 hours over 4 weeks

  • Module 1:  How to create a Life of Meaning
  • Module 2: 
    1. How to Reverse Engineer the Life you want
    2. How your Story Summary helps you make daily Decisions
    3. Cast short and long-term Vision for you Life
  • Module 3: How to Manage your own Projects and Goals
  • Module 4: Manage your Daily tasks with the BMS Daily Planner
Tuition:  $500
 
 Online with Group Coaching           

5 Fundamental Skills: SELF STUDY

  •  
In this free Self Study Course you will use the “Five Skills Basic Workbook” to learn the fundamentals of the AdaptiveLean method.:
 
  1. Process Observation
  2. Inputs-Process-Outputs (IPO) Diagrams
  3. Outcome Metrics and Run Charts
  4. Targets and Target Conditions
  5. Experimenting toward the Target Condition
The downloadable Workbook is designed for both the experienced Process Improver as well as for the well motivated beginner.  Not only can you effect important improvements in your personal workflow, you can also begin to influence your own internal/external suppliers and customers toward improvement as well.  These same 5 fundamental Skills continue to be developed and enhanced by other AdaptiveLean offerings.
 
 CONTENT OVERVIEW:  5 Modules – SELF PACED
 
  • Module 1: Overview of the 5 Skills
    •  Intro to  Process Observation and Observation  Application exercises
  • Module 2: IPO Diagrams: “Recipes” :
    • Overview and  Application Exercise
  • Module 3: Introduction to Metrics
    • Selecting basic Output Metrics
    • Using Run Charts
  • Module 4: Selecting Process Performance Targets: 
    • Adding Target Lines to Run Charts
  • Module 5: Experimenting toward the Target Condition:
    • Target Conditions vs. Solutions vs. Obstacles
    • Scientific Management Cycle:
      • Plan and Predict
      • Do
      • Collect Data and Observations
      • Evaluate and Focus on Obstacles

Tuition:  FREE  – Download the free WORKBOOK           

 

5 Fundamental Skills: 5 Week Implementation with Coaching

 As an important enhancement to the 5 Skills Self Study Workbook, this combination of Online Classes and Group Coaching expands the content and insures that you know exactly what is intended.  You will also be assured that you are “doing it right”.  

Two one-on-one 30 minute Coaching sessions are also included outside of the weekly classes  scheduled at your convenience.

CONTENT OVERVIEW:  5 Modules – 2 hours per week for 5 weeks

  • Module 1: Overview of the 5 Skills
    •  Intro to  Process Observation and Observation  Application exercises
  • Module 2: IPO Diagrams: “Recipes” :
    • Overview and  Application Exercise
  • Module 3: Introduction to Metrics
    • Selecting basic Output Metrics
    • Using Run Charts
  • Module 4: Selecting Process Performance Targets: 
    • Adding Target Lines to Run Charts
  • Module 5: Experimenting toward the Target Condition:
    • Target Conditions vs. Solutions vs. Obstacles
    • Scientific Management Cycle:
      • Plan and Predict
      • Do
      • Collect Data and Observations
      • Evaluate and Focus on Obstacles
Tuition:  $500
 

The "10% each Week" Challenge

 

Looking for impact but don’t have the time right now to learn a new approach?  What if there is a way to steal the time you need from all the do-overs, interruptions and sudden setbacks 

 

 Without a clear “script” for you on this Mission you may find it difficult to sustain the effort.

As a certified Donald Miller Storybrand Coach, John Muka guides you through the official Hero on a Mission course using the actual Business Made Simple University online program.  You will also receive a discount if you decide to buy an annual subscription to all 10 of these amazing courses.

Hero on a Mission focuses on you in a personal way.  Through a series of engaging exercises you’ll learn to articulate your most important long term goals and begin to see your daily quest for better ways to get the work done in a much larger context.  

Key Components:

  • Write your own ultimate Life Summary Statement
  • Begin developing your own script for achieving your most important goals
  • Write you “Log Line”: a three or four sentence summary to keep you on track.
  • Daily Project Management habits to get things done
If you really intend to stand out while others are just trying to fit in this course will equip you to start each day with a renewal of the “Why am I doing this?”  that is essential for you as “A Hero on a Mission”.

Your instructor and coach, John Muka, considers this the real catalyst for much of what is being developed at AdaptiveLean.

CONTENT OVERVIEW:  4 Modules – 2 hours per week for 4 weeks

  • Module 1:  How to create a Life of Meaning
  • Module 2: 
    1. How to Reverse Engineer the Life you want
    2. How your Story Summary helps you make daily Decisions
    3. Cast short and long-term Vision for you Life
  • Module 3: How to Manage your own Projects and Goals
  • Module 4: Manage your Daily tasks with the BMS Daily Planner
Tuition:  $750

One Day AdaptiveLean Quick Start Class (In Person)

This 8-hour, in-person class has long been one of the best immediate immersions into the world of the AdaptiveLean System.  From the start of the session you will be launched into an engaging and fun “Production System” that starts as chaos and progresses to clear structure and effectiveness by end of that same day.  The 2022 version has an improved emphasis on understanding and applying the 5 Fundamental Skills.  These Skills are further enhanced throughout the day with the following key principles of excellent Process Design:

Key Principles of excellent Process Design:

  • Quality at the Source
  • Variation Reduction
  • Cycle Time and Lead Time improvement
  • Co-Location
  • One Piece Flow
  • Metrics and Run Charts
  • Balanced Scorecard
  • Daily Lean Management
  • Standardized Work Instructions

The day is constructed as a “fast forward” combination of continuous, Kaizen and Project improvements method.  You will experience an all-at-once understanding of how these components work together. Transferability of this learning to your own situation is high.  You can expect “back home results” built on a foundation primed for affecting your own daily quality, workflow and cost factors.

When multiple members of the same organization attend together, this session becomes a powerful way to establish the teamwork magnifies your real world results while reducing the time it takes.

Can be delivered on-site as well as in public open enrollment classes.  The content can also be flexibly delivered on Saturdays or over several evenings. 

Class size:  12 to 24 Participants

Tuition:  Individual Open Enrollment:  $400   

Customized Team Sessions available – call to discuss.

AdaptiveLean Green Belt Equivalent (40 hours) In Person

Day 1:   The AdaptiveLean Quick Start Content (8 hours)

(See the content description in the Quick Start course section)

Day 2: In depth:  Process Observation – “Recipes” – Output Metrics (8 hours)

  • Grasp the Current Operating Pattern
  • The three Process Ideals
  • Process Mapping, Spaghetti Charts, Functional Flow Diagrams
  • Graphical Measurement Tools: Run Charts, Pareto methods
  • Process design criteria: TAKT time, Balance Charting
  • Practice: Huddle Team meetings
  • The Experimental Record method

 Day 3:  In depth:  Experimenting toward the Target Condition (8 hours)

  • Time Based Management techniques
  • Delay and time variation studies
  • Standardized work for Startup Routines and Shutdown Routines
  • Introduction to Measurement Systems Analysis and Statistical Process Control

Day 4: Applying Statistical Models  (8 hours)

  • Applying Statistical Models to data
  • Variation Reduction and Mistake Proofing
  • Introduction to Designed Experiments
  • 5S Workplace Organization
  • Visual Controls

Day 5:  Share and Sustain: Standardized Work and Training (8 hours)

  • Daily Accountability Routines
  • Tiered Huddle and Value Stream methods
  • Standardized work for Managers
  • Introduction to Training Within Industry (TWI) approaches
  • Communications and Out-briefing methods

Class size:  12 to 24 Participants     Scheduled M-F, or 1 day a week for 5 weeks, or Sat-Sun sessions.

Tuition:  $2900

Pre-requisites: 5 Skills Self Study, OR 5 week Coaching Program, OR 10% Challenge Program

Required Texts:  Toyota Kata by Mike Rother; Lean Six Sigma for Dummies

AdaptiveLean Green Belt Certification Program

 

AdaptiveLean Green Belt Certification Pathway:

A series of four 2 hour Group Coaching sessions for trained AdaptiveLean Green Belts seeking a certified Green Belt credential based on the AdaptiveLean program.  In addition to the Group Coaching, at least two 30 minute one-to-one coaching sessions will also be available along with incidental phone and email support.

  • The establishment of a certified Work Group Team. This Team would include a Leader, Supervisor or Director of a group of at least 4 people who co-operate on a daily basis to get the work done.  Evidence of completion would include: daily Huddle Meetings, posted Metric Charts, cross- training plans, ongoing daily and weekly process improvement using the 5 Fundamental Skills and the routines provided in the Toyota Kata text.
  • The successful completion of a Kaizen (Rapid Improvement) Event: This would include the initial Chartering of the Kaizen, engaging and orienting team members and sponsors, developing a problem focus, using the tools and techniques of Green Belt to facilitate the multiple day event and delivering a new Operating Pattern featuring ongoing application of the 5 Fundamental Skills and Toyota Kata routines.
  • The successful completion of a GB Level Project: Similar to the Kaizen Event only a situation that requires ongoing intermittent improvement work over a period of time ranging from a few weeks to up to 3 months with a substantial Experimenting Record.

Session 1:  “Seeing the Challenge”

  • Orientation to and choice of one of the three possible Certification Paths.
  • Review of AdaptiveLean Green Belt Tools and approaches for engaging Sponsors, Managers, Leaders and Staff in focusing and describing an important challenge to the work processes. This could include one of more of the key factors of Quality/Safety, Flow and Waste elimination.
  • The need for an onsite Coach from their organization to assist and verify their work.
  • Metrics and Process Observations tools to facilitate a robust challenge description.
  • A requirement to complete this challenge description before the next Module.
  • In addition to Instructor insights, the group will be encouraged to discuss and contribute to the development of each other’s projects during the class.

Session 2:  “Solving the Problems” – developing the best solution set

  • Review of each student’s project, either by individual presentations or by small group discussions with the Instructors guidance.
  • Review of Problem Solving tools from Green Belt as appropriate to the particular Challenge discussions.
  • Planning an orderly approach to the particulars of each project.
  • Implementing appropriate metrics to determine progress.

Session 3:  “Share and Sustain” – implementing permanent improvements

  • Review and discussion of project status for all students
  • Review of appropriate Sustainment tools from the Green Belt Class
  • Planning a structured approach to instructing Staff members and Leaders in the new methods and approach to the work processes to insure long term improvement.
  • Direction on how to convert process level metrics into financial results.
  • Preparation for outbriefs to local Management on the results of the projects.
  • Format and preparation for a Certification application to AdaptiveLean.

Session 4:  Candidate Outbrief – via Zoom or in Person

Attendance by the Candidate’s Sponsor is needed. Certification will require both a written report on the work done as well as a copy of the final Outbrief materials.

Pre-requisites: AdaptiveLean Green Belt Training OR comparable Green Belt Training AND

the One Day AdaptiveLean Quick Start Class

Online Class Size:  a 4 to 8  Participants

Tuition: $900

One-on-One Customized Coaching

ONE-ON-ONE COACHING

One-on-One coaching is available for those who have completed the AdaptiveLean Greenbelt, 5 Week Fundamental Skills Coaching or the 10% per week Challenge.  Those with previous Green Belt or Black Belt training in other programs are also welcome upon completion of the 5 Week Skills course or the 10% per week Challenge as well.

These One-on-One Sessions are typically one hour long and are scheduled for once every two weeks over a 3 month period for a total of 12 Sessions.  The usual method is a Zoom call but in person sessions are also possible.

In these sessions you will be focused on real world problems from your own work situation.

These sessions follow a basic structure:

Session 1:  Initial Assessment.  Review of business or organizational Challenges leading to a draft of overall set of desirable outcomes by the end of the 3 month period and initial decision on the Focus Process.  Assigned “Homework” before the next session usually includes Process Observations, an Input-Process-Output-Description (“Recipe”) and a survey of existing data sources. 

Session 2: Review of initial findings.  Decide  the Focus Process.  Review the skills and methods for grasping and describing the current operating pattern including key output metrics.  Plans for data gathering and further process observations will also be discussed.  The use of Run charts for metrics review will also be planned.

Session 3:  Review the current operating pattern information, metrics and run charts.  The focus now shifts to planning the first Target Condition with an achieve by date.  Most often the scope will be configured to fit to a two week achieve by date (that is, due at the next Coaching session.  The specific tool of the Experimenting Record and the use of the 4 steps of the Scientific Method will be initiated (see Toyota Kata by Mike Rother for details).

Sessions 4 through 12:  continued to engage the 4 Step Scientific Method toward a series of Target Conditions with appropriate achieve by dates.  At session 7 conduct a “midpoint” critical review and any modifications to the plans needed for the best possible results at the end of the 12th session.   The 12 Session will include an in depth review of what went well,  what did not go well and next steps. 

Class Size:  one Individual

Tuition:  call for a quote

Required Text:  Toyota Kata by Mike Rother

Customized Group Coaching

 

ONGOING GROUP COACHING:

Group Coaching Sessions have the same pre-requisites and format as explained in the One-on-One description.  The key difference is you will be in a study group of 4 to 8 people.  This provides broader exposure to the thinking and actions of others taking on the similar challenges.  These sessions can also be offered at a lower cost per person.

In these sessions you will be focused on real world problems from your own work situation.

This is also a three month program of 12 Sessions, one every two weeks.  Similarly, the structure and content is the same as the One-on-One Coaching.

 

Class Size:  4 to 8 Participants

Tuition: call for a quote

Required Text:  Toyota Kata by Mike Rother