About Lean Academy Courses
The Denver Health Lean Academy provides numerous Lean tools and systems courses to support you. More courses are scheduled to be added over time, so please come back often to stay up-to-date on their launch and new course dates. Below are course descriptions, dates and fees.
New this Fall!
We have transformed the Denver Health Lean Academy to include new and enhanced offerings! Check out our listings below for more information!
Full Immersion (includes LMS Lean Foundations, LMS Continuous Improvement and Lean Coaching for Continuous Improvement or Lean Strategic Planning)
May 15-19, Aug 7-11 (w/Coaching), Oct 9-13 (w/Strategy)
5 days $3500
During this 5-day interactive series, you will journey through the first two levels of the Denver Health Lean management system (LMS), from the front-line tools and practices to the leadership commitments and behaviors and problem solving that support a highly functioning LMS. The immersion will provide you with a strong foundation in Lean principles and prepare you to advance a Lean culture through leadership practices rooted in respect for people and a commitment to continuous improvement. The Thursday and Friday course will alternate between Coaching for Continuous Improvement (offered virtually for some sessions) and LMS Strategic Planning and Deployment (the third level of the Denver Health Lean management system).
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Lean Foundations
Sep 11-12, Nov 13-14
2 days, $1500
Lean Foundations is the first step in your lean education. The course focuses on core Lean principles and tools. Through active learning and simulation, you will learn to put your customer first, and systematically problem solve to make your processes more efficient and effective. Your Lean foundation will empower you to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in your scope of work.
Key Concepts: Lean Waste, Continuous Improvement, Value Stream and Process Mapping, A3 Problem Solving, Standard Work, Visual Management, Leading and Lagging Metrics.
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LMS Lean Foundations (new!)
Aug 7-8, Oct 9-10
2 days, $1500
Join LMS Foundations to dive deeply into the foundational elements of Lean practice that will allow practitioners to establish the needed bedrock on which to build their Lean management system. This 2-day course is designed for individuals who are looking to stop "fire fighting" and start building "fire-resistant" systems inside of their day-to-day operations so they can reliably deliver to their customers and enhance their work environment while problems are small.
Key Concepts: 6S and Visual Management, Standardized Work, Performance Metrics, Daily Management, Help Chain, Gemba Walk, Leader Standard Work
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LMS Continuous Improvement (new!)
Aug 9, Oct 11
1 day, $750
Have you successfully established the foundations of your Lean management system? Attend LMS Continuous Improvement for an immersive experience that orients practitioners to core continuous improvement practices that improve performance using Lean methodology. This 1-day course helps individuals take the next step in their Lean management system journey to improve daily practices, tackle medium to large problems, and develop a culture of continuous improvement that empowers everyone in the organization to be a problem solver.
Key Concepts: A3 Problem Solving, Process Mapping, Kaizen, Value Steam Mapping
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Lean Coaching for Continuous Improvement
Aug 10-11 (in-person), Oct 26-27 (virtual)
2 days, $1500
This course orients participants to foundational theory and engages learners to standard coaching approaches. Understand your personal behavioral preferences and maximize your strengths to be more effective in coaching your diverse team. The skills acquired in this class will provide you with an array of coaching skills across a 5-step coaching model and set you up for success to drive and sustain continuous improvement. This class is held virtually for some sessions (January, May & July).
Key Concept: Coaching 5-Step Process, Questioning, Active Listening, Controlling your Mental Responses, Giving Feedback, Dealing with Difficult Behaviors, Coaching Lean Improvement
Participant Tip: It is helpful to have taken Lean Foundations and LMS Continuous Improvement prior to taking Lean Coaching
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Lean Analytics
Aug 22, Nov 16
1 day, $750
Lean Analytics is an interactive 1-day course that focuses on the key element of data and metrics in continuous improvement. You will gain knowledge and skills that help you leverage data, use data visuals to effectively tell your story, and select the appropriate data tools to use in a Lean management system.
Key Concepts: Value Diamond, Visual Data Tools, Basic Statistics, Data Analytics, Special/Common Cause Variation, Correlation/Causation, Stratification, Data Collection, Box Plots, Graphs/Charts
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LMS Strategic Planning and Deployment
Oct 12-13
2 days, $1500
Does your organization or department have its own strategic plan? Is it aligned to your organization’s overall strategy? Designed for leaders at all levels, this highly interactive, 2-day course guides participants through the development of a Strategic Plan using simulation. Following the Lean concept of Hoshin Kanri, learners navigate a process to develop a focused plan with breakthrough ideas and shared action plans.
Key Concepts: Hoshin Kanri, cascading A3s, Lean Leadership, Lean Maturity Assessment, Obeya
Participant Tip: It is helpful to have some Lean knowledge prior to taking this course
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Lean Site Visit for Executive/Senior Leaders
Contact us for scheduling options | 1 day, $950
Designed for executives and senior leaders to experience the lean journey and culture at Denver Health, your site visit can be customized to include field trips to operational areas where you can observe lean in action. Come with questions and gain valuable insights through interactive sessions with lean practitioners at the executive, management and front line level.
Sample Agenda: Gemba Walks to Operational Area, Lean Leader Panels, Q & A with Executives, Overview of the Lean Journey at Denver Health
Lean Management Systems for Senior Leaders
Contact us for scheduling options | 2 morning sessions, $750
This workshop is facilitated by Denver Health executives and leaders. You will be inspired and challenged as you learn about lean leadership and the importance of your role in your own self-development. This course has a pre-workshop assignment provided to you upon registration that will enhance your learning. This course is two sessions, 3 hours the first day and 2 hours the second day, that must be attended together.
Key Concepts: Lean Transformation Framework, Lean Leader Behaviors, Leader Standard Work, Coaching and Mentoring, Integration of Improvement into Daily Operations, Alignment of Business to Strategy and Mission.
Lean Executive/Senior Leader Site Visit and Lean Management Systems for Senior Leader Combination
Contact us for scheduling options | 1.5 days, $1500
Executives and leaders that join us for a customized Site Visit combined with the Senior Lean Leader Workshop will get the ultimate Lean learning experience. Spend a day and a half with our leaders and executives and accelerate your organization’s Lean journey through an interactive experience where you get insight into Denver Health's lean culture at all levels of the organization.
Sample Agenda: Gemba Walks to Operational Area, Lean Leader Panels, Q&A with Executives, Lean Journey at Denver Health Overview
Key Concepts: Lean Transformation Framework, Lean Leader Behaviors, Leader Standard Work, Coaching and Mentoring, Integration of Improvement into Daily Operations, Alignment of Business to Strategy and Mission.
Virtual Workshops
Introduction to Lean Virtual Workshop
Sep 13 1:00p-3:00p, Dec 11 1:00p-3:00p MDT
Cost: $125
Introduction to Lean is targeted for those new to Lean or those who have recently joined a Lean organization or team. The course allows learners to gain a basic understanding of what Lean is, how it is applied, and the value it brings to organizations. Through active learning and simulation, students learn to view their work as a process, understand who their customers are and what they value, know how to define problems, identify and quantify waste, identify high value improvements, and gain a basic understanding of the behaviors that support a Lean culture. Having a solid Lean foundation empowers students to continue their education in and application of Lean.
Key Concepts: why Lean matters, what Lean is, what are systems and processes, who are your customers and what do they value, what is waste and what are its impacts, what are problems and how to prioritize them, how to deliver continuous improvements, what Lean behaviors looks like, what practices allow Lean behaviors to thrive.
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A3 Problem Solving Virtual Workshop
Oct 23 1:00p-3:00p MDT
Cost: $125
The A3 is a foundational Lean tool providing an effective approach to problem solving. This 90-minute interactive and hands-on virtual workshop will guide participants through the structure and methodology of the A3 and allow an opportunity to practice using a situation relevant to your work environment.
Key Concepts: A3 use & application, critical problem solving, sustainable solutions
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Process Mapping Virtual Workshop
Aug 21 10:00a-12:00p, Nov 29 1:00p-3:00p MDT
Cost: $125
Process mapping is a powerful tool that illustrates how work is or can be done, enabling teams to improve communication, develop shared understanding, and identify opportunities for process improvement. This 90-minute virtual workshop will enable you to develop process maps effectively to support process improvement work.
Key Concepts: Process maps, basic and swim-lane formats, level of detail or altitude, improvement work support
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Daily Management Virtual Workshop
Sep 28 1:00p-3:00p MDT
Cost: $125
Daily management creates a system that enables participants to deliver customer value through proper support and leadership to those who are closest to the process (frontline staff, process owners, customers). This two-hour workshop will acquaint participants with the power of daily management through a virtual business environment and role play.
Key Concepts: Daily Management Boards aka Visual Management Boards (VMB), Huddles, Leader Standard Work (LSW), Balanced Key Performance Indicator
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