Who We Are: OU's Lean Institute

The OU Lean Institute is a division of the University of Oklahoma's University Outreach, College of Continuing Education. OU Lean Institute is designed to support enterprise-wide transformation of core processes through dynamic, focused professional training that is tailored to meet the specific needs of each of our customers.

Training includes workshops, coached activities and certification programs that employ Lean, Six Sigma and SCOR process improvement knowledge and skills. The Lean Institute reflects a partnership model that builds branding, unity of effort, responsive decision and planning cycles and efficient use of resources. This produces a collaborative relationship between the Institute and its customers.

Our training is characterized by:

• World class trainers and educators
• Dynamic, challenging and professional training
• Advanced content focused on skills and knowledge required to support transformation efforts
• Training programs that produce real-world results through process improvement projects
• Emphasis on skills application in the workplace with extensive use of hands-on activities
• Integration of Lean, Six Sigma and SCOR process improvement strategies that provides the best improvement outcomes by selecting the best tools for each problem.
• Professional certification, Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and graduate college credit through the OU College of Liberal Arts

The Lean Institute’s training strategies are tailored to the specific needs of each client and include: 

• Hands-on experiments in statistical measurement, analysis and process design
• Case studies derived from situations and challenges that use practical examples from problems in the workplace
• Simulations that demonstrate first-hand the effects of Lean, Six Sigma and SCOR-related strategies and processes
• Experiences in actual work settings, observing the current state in the participants’ own work group(s) and practicing techniques in participants’ own work area(s)
• Implementing techniques in participants’ own work area(s) under the coaching and advice of a subject matter expert (SME)
• Individual and team projects targeting performance issues that offer direct benefit to client organizations

The Lean Institute utilizes a variety of training materials, including:

• Participant manuals that present information in plain language, supported by appropriate graphics and visuals for use during training and as a reference after training.
• Worksheets and exercises that stress applications, not just concepts and results rather than theories
• Videos that explore how to apply Lean, Six Sigma and SCOR principles
• Opportunities for interactive, hands-on exercises and training that emphasizes active, participatory learning
• Blended learning model that can be utilized to reduce classroom time by shifting portions of training to a self-directed, online system under the close observation of the instructor