Online course for Lean and Six Sigma practitioners
AI for Lean Practitioners
A 7.5-hour course that shows Lean and Six Sigma practitioners at any belt level how to apply AI to the improvement work they already do, with their own judgment in the lead.
A free preview of Module 3: how AI fits into the Do, Check and Act stages of PDCA, and how to review AI-assisted A3 thinking. A short sign-up is required.
Free preview
Try Module 3 in about 15 minutes
How AI fits into the Do, Check and Act stages of PDCA, and how to review AI-assisted A3 thinking. A short sign-up is required.
Start the free previewWhat you will learn
Nine modules, each connected to Lean practice
You will not learn AI in the abstract. Every module connects to tools you already use, such as PDCA, value stream mapping, A3, 5 Whys, and standard work, and shows where AI adds value and where it does not.
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What AI Is and Is Not
The AI types you will actually meet, in plain language, and the four things AI cannot do for you.
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AI Literacy and Prompting
How generative AI works, why it makes things up, and the CRAFT framework for prompts that produce useful output.
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AI and PDCA
Where AI supports each phase of the cycle, and where the practitioner has to stay in the lead.
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AI and Lean Tools
Applying AI to value stream mapping, 5 Whys, A3 documentation, and standard work.
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Data Readiness
Why data quality determines the value of AI, and how to assess what needs to be in place first.
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Predictive Analytics
Reading predictive output critically and deciding whether it is reliable enough to act on.
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AI for Documentation and Reporting
Drafting and updating Lean documents with AI, against a practitioner review standard.
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AI Ethics and Governance
Bias, transparency, privacy, and a responsible-use checklist for the workplace.
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Applied Exercise
A scenario that brings every module together in a real improvement context.
What participants say
Well structured and practical. It reinforced where AI supports Lean work and where the practitioner's judgment has to lead. The CRAFT framework and the emphasis on the Gemba walk stood out. I'd recommend it to anyone combining AI with Lean.
Overall, this course gave me the confidence and tools to use AI as an assistant rather than a fact finder or to fully write and execute a task. AI can give wrong information and make up facts. This course taught me how to create a proper prompt in AI to get the right information while still validating the information I provide. Knowing I am still the content owner, gives me confidence that AI is assisting my job, not taking it over. This is such a great tool to have!
Format
Two ways to take the same course
Live online cohort
- December 9, 2026, delivered online in a morning and an afternoon session, Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
- Led by instructor Andrew Gryfe, with time for questions and discussion.
- 7.5 hours of instruction in a single day.
Self-paced online
- 7.5 hours of online modules you can start and stop as it suits you.
- Up to one month of access from the day you enroll.
- Start any time; no fixed dates.
Credential. Both formats lead to the AI-Ready Lean Practitioner digital badge, issued through Accredible, valid for two years and shareable on LinkedIn.
Year-end offer
Join the December 9 cohort, or take it self-paced
Self-paced: introductory price of US$299 until December 31, 2026. Live cohort: save 15% with code AIYEAREND at checkout until registration closes on December 2. Prices are in US dollars.
Live online cohort
December 9, 2026
US$649
Registration closes Wednesday, December 2, 2026.
Morning and afternoon sessions, Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), with instructor Andrew Gryfe.
Save 15% with code AIYEAREND at checkout until registration closes on December 2.
Register for December 9Self-paced online
If you cannot attend on December 9
Regular price US$349 US$299
Introductory price until December 31, 2026, then US$349.
Up to one month of access, 7.5 hours of content.
Enroll in the self-paced courseProfessional development reimbursement
Every enrollment includes an itemized receipt. Email us for a one-page program summary to support a professional development reimbursement request.
Questions
Before you enroll
Do I need a particular belt level or prior AI experience?
No. The course is built for practitioners at any belt level, from White Belt to Black Belt or equivalent experience. It assumes you know Lean or Six Sigma, not AI.
Which AI tools does it use?
Any of them. The approach works with any general-purpose AI assistant, including Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini. No specific or paid tool is required.
How much time does it take?
The course is 7.5 hours. The live cohort covers it in a single day of morning and afternoon sessions. Self-paced participants have up to one month of access and can start and stop as it suits them.
Can I buy this for my team?
Yes. We run the program as a private live cohort for up to ten people at a fixed fee. See the team program.
Buying for a team? We run the program as a private cohort for up to ten people at a fixed fee. See the team program.
About Leading Edge Associates
Leading Edge Associates has trained Lean practitioners since 1995, in private- and public-sector organizations. Our courses are built and taught by practitioners who lead improvement work, so the content reflects real operational problems rather than theory.
