Description
This Green to Black Belt in Lean Upgrade Program is designed for professionals who passed our Green Belt in Leantheory exam and want to progress to Black Belt in Lean level of the broadest and most in-depth Lean formation and certification programme in Europe, with content staying as close as possible to the Toyota Production System (TPS) and the Toyota Way.
It focuses exclusively on the (advanced) Black Belt in Lean modules 2 to 4. Les les participants deepen their expertise in advanced Lean techniques, Lean organisational design and Six Sigma tools supporting Lean.
The programme assumes a solid understandig of our Green Belt in Lean knowledge and immediately starts with more in depth knowledge for complex and realistic value stream design in manufacturing/supply chain/office/service.
Objective: develop Green Belt in Lean les participants into Lean leaders capable of designing, leading and sustaining complex improvement initiatives.
Prerequis
It is Mandatory having a solid foundation in Lean at the Green Belt in Lean level.
Les les participants from our Lean Academy Green Belt in Lean programme must have passed the GB in Lean theory exam.
Les les participants from other Green Belt in Lean programmes must first pass the Lean Academy Green Belt in Lean theory exam (cost 250€ including one retry) before they get access to the Lean Academy Black Belt in Lean modulesBasic statistical knowledge is recommended for the supporting Six Sigma module
Resultats
After completing this upgrade programme, les participants are able to support the implementation of Lean as a business strategy at all levels and in all environments. Not just as a set of tools, but also implementing essential buidling blocks to support the transformation towards a Lean organisation.
You will:
✓ Upgrade your Green Belt in Lean knowlegde expertise to Black Belt in Lean level
✓ Analyze and redesign complex value streams in all environments
✓ Lead cross-functional Lean transformations at all levels for delivering more value to the customer (external but also internal), with higher quality, in a shorter lead time and at a lower cost.
✓ Understand what is needed to support the transformation towards a true continuous improvement (Kaizen) culture
✓ Work with real-life cases, seasoned trainers with lots of practical experience (some even as Master trainer within Toyota) and peer learning
✓ Obtain an official Black Belt in Lean certification (ISO 9001:2015)
Agenda
Ce programmeme includes the Lean Academy Black Belt in Lean modules 2 to 4
Module 2Advanced Lean Techniques
Jours 1-3 — Mixed Model Value Stream Design
- Mixed Model Value Stream Design: product families typically consist of a wide range of products with different work content, setup times, and processing requirements
- How to improve flow in complex value streams with high product variety
- Managing shared resources (people, workstations, lines) that are used across multiple value streams
- Designing improved flow despite complexity, resulting in:
- shorter lead times
- lower operational cost
- more predictable performance
Jour 4 — Internal Logistics & Lean Material Handling
- Why well-designed value streams fail when internal logistics are not aligned
- Typical internal logistics “flow stoppers” and how to eliminate them
- Designing internal logistics to support and protect the main value stream
- Guest lecture by a practitioner from TE Connectivity, where these principles are deeply implemented in practice
Jour 4 — Lean Supply Chain Design
- Understanding the value stream beyond a single organisation: from suppliers to end customers
- Connecting suppliers, producers, customers, and consumers into one integrated value stream
- Applying Lean principles at supply chain level to achieve flow breakthroughs
- Using Macro / Extended Value Stream Mapping to design improved material and information flows across the supply chain
Jour 5 — Lean Tools for Office & Service Environments
- Expanding the Lean toolbox for more effective implementation in office and service environments
- Techniques covered include:
- Overhead Value Analysis
- Contactograms
- Written communication analysis
- Meeting structure analysis
- Variable Factor Programming (VFP) for value streams with high variability
- Multi Moment Observations (MMO / Work Sampling)
- Quantifying waste and improvement potential in environments with variable tasks and work content
Jour 6 — Service & Office Lean Simulation
- Hands-on simulation game illustrating Lean principles in a service and office environment
- Multiple value streams and shared resources within one system
- Applying Business Process Value Stream Mapping and Lean Design for Flow principles
- Achieving breakthrough improvement in an office/service context based on previously learned techniques
Jour 7 (Part 1) — Lean Design for Flow
- Lean traditionally focuses on improving existing processes by eliminating waste
- Critical reflection: how much waste is actually created during poor initial process design?
- Designing processes right the first time using Lean principles
- The role of Engineering and process design in sustainable Lean implementations
Module 3Six Sigma Tools to Support Lean
This module introduces Six Sigma as a complementary approach to Lean.
The focus is on understanding and reducing variation so that waste is reduced and value streams
perform more reliably and predictably.Jours 7 (Part 2), 8 & 9
Six Sigma Fundamentals & DMAIC
- What is Six Sigma and how can it strengthen Lean implementations
- History, philosophy, and positioning of Six Sigma within operational excellence
- Understanding variation and why it creates waste in processes
- Key performance and quality metrics, including:
- Critical to Quality (CTQ)
- Cost of Non-Quality
- Defects per Unit (DPU)
- Defects per Million Opportunities (DPMO)
- First Time Yield
- Throughput Yield
- Rolled Throughput Yield
Basic Statistical Concepts
- Introduction to basic statistics for process improvement
- Normal distribution and data transformations
- Process distributions and parameters:
- mean
- median
- mode
- Confidence intervals and their interpretation in improvement projects
DMAIC Methodology
- The DMAIC improvement cycle:
- Define
- Measure
- Analyse
- Improve
- Control
- Tools and techniques per DMAIC phase, including:
- Voice of the Customer (VoC)
- SIPOC
- Pareto analysis
- Boxplots and Histograms
- Process Mapping (M-PMAP)
- Gage R&R
- FMEA
- Ishikawa (Fishbone) diagrams
- BOB vs. WOW analysis
- 5W2H analysis
- Multi-Vari analysis
- Hypothesis testing (step-by-step)
- One-sample and two-sample tests
- ANOVA (one-factor)
- Control charts
- Out of Control Action Plans
Practical Application
- Hands-on exercises to apply statistical concepts
- Interpreting data correctly to support fact-based decision making
- Linking Six Sigma analysis directly to Lean improvement initiatives
Module 4Building a Lean Organisation
Jour 10 — Lean & Change, HRD
- Human Resources Development (HRD) at Toyota:
how HR actively steers and supports Lean implementation - Role of leadership development, capability building, and coaching in sustaining Lean
- Lecture by a former Toyota Motor Europe master trainer and Kaizen manager
- Lean and Change Management:
how to design, launch, and guide change in complex organisations - Practical insights
Jours 11-12 — Accounting for Lean & Value Stream Costing
- Why traditional cost accounting and financial reporting fail to show improvements in flow
- How conventional accounting systems can unintentionally stimulate overproduction
— the worst form of waste - Understanding why short-term financial results may appear negative after Lean improvements
- Introduction to Value Stream Costing and Throughput Accounting as alternative management accounting approaches
- Making the financial impact of flow improvements visible and measurable
- Using value stream–driven cost models to support:
- investment decisions
- portfolio management
- engineering and product development choices
- Case Study 1:
Value stream cost model at plant level, including:- comparison of current vs. future state
- financial impact of an investment decision
- introduction of a new product
- Case Study 2:
End-to-end supply chain cost model, analyzing different future-state scenarios related to:- transport modes
- supplier locations
- conversion costs and value stream compression
Jour 14 — Lean Operating Systems & Culture
- Lean Operating Systems & Daily Management,
illustrated with a real-life case at Mars Food Europe - Guest lecture by the Lean Manager of Mars Olen (Belgique)
- Lean Culture at Johnson & Johnson:
how to achieve a sustainable cultural shift through a structured and thoughtful approach - Practical insights into communication, leadership behavior,
and consistency as drivers of cultural change - Guest lecture by the former GM Manufacturing of
Johnson & Johnson Pharma (Janssen) in Belgique
- Human Resources Development (HRD) at Toyota:
Public cible
Ce programmeme is intended for:
- Les les participants with solid Green Belt in Lean knowledge aiming to progress further
- Lean practitioners with responsibility at value stream or organisational level
- Managers, engineers and Lean coaches seeking greater impact
- Professionals in manufacturing, services, offices and healthcare
Not suitable for beginners. Designed for committed practitioners.
Formateurs

Directeur de programme et propriétaire de Lean Academy
Dirk Van Goubergen
Prof. dr. ir. Dirk Van Goubergen possède plus de 30 ans d'expérience pratique et académique en industrial engineering, operations management, Lean/operational excellence et value stream design. Il a accompagné des dirigeants et des équipes dans le monde entier, notamment chez Toyota Motor Europe, Volvo, Mars, Philips, Amazon, Daikin, TE Connectivity, Johnson & Johnson et Delphi Technologies.

Vice President Manufacturing Engineering chez Volvo Cars
Luc Semeese
Luc a construit une large carrière chez Volvo Cars, avec une expérience en logistics, engineering, global supplier quality et comme Plant Manager à Chengdu, en Chine. Il apporte des exemples pratiques d'amélioration du flow dans les processus de support et les flux de matières.

Senior expert en durabilité et qualité
Dirk Inghels
Dirk associe profondeur scientifique et expérience pratique de l'entreprise. Grâce à son parcours en engineering, qualité, EHS et opérations durables, il aide les organisations à traduire des défis complexes en solutions concrètes et durables.

Senior trainer/coach chez Van Goubergen P&M - Lean Academy
Raf Mues
Raf est master trainer certifié pour les programmes Toyota Global Content et TPS, dont TBP, Hoshin Kanri et A3/PDCA Thinking. Avant Lean Academy, il a travaillé pendant presque 30 ans avec TPS et Toyota Way chez Toyota Motor Europe dans plusieurs fonctions de management opérationnel.

Head of EMEA CAR T Operations chez Johnson & Johnson
Bart Van Waeyenberge
Bart est membre du Beerse Campus Management Committee et des conseils d'administration de Janssen Pharmaceutica NV et d'ETiON. Il a occupé des fonctions locales et internationales en Europe et aux États-Unis dans la process industry, l'automation, les operations, la supply chain et la business excellence.
Lean Manager chez Mars Food Europe
Patrick Wilms
Patrick possède presque 30 ans d'expérience Lean chez Mars, anciennement Masterfoods. Il apporte une expertise pratique en standards, daily management et développement du leadership.
Certification
Examen theorique
✓ Black Belt in Lean – 50 multiple choice questions (90 minutes)
✓ Includes 1 re-examination
Examen pratique
✓ Implementation and defense of a Lean improvement initiative at value stream level
✓ Defense before a jury of Lean leaders and experts
✓ Includes 1 re-examination
Administrative fee for additional exams: €250 per exam.
Pratique et subsides
Reductions
Organisations registering multiple les participants for the same formations sessions on the same dates benefit from the following reductions:
Second participant: 5%
Third participant: 10%
Fourth and subsequent les participants: 15%
Subsides
Pour les les participants de Flandre (Belgique):
KMO Portefeuille Registration Number Van Goubergen P&M : DV.O100454 (‘Personeelsmanagement’)
Number of Training Hours : 84 Hours – Maximum subsidy amount : 5.695 euro
Cliquez ici pour plus d'informations
Pour les les participants de l'industrie alimentaire (Belgique):
Cette formation is also supported by Alimento/IPV for organisations in food industry in Belgique.
Veuillez indiquer sur le formulaire d'inscription les subsides demandes.
Boissons et repas
Cold and hot drinks are included in the formation fee.
A light meal is served around 16:45.
Sessions typically run from 13:30 to 20:30, unless otherwise stated.
Lieu
The formation takes place at Roosenberg, Patotterijstraat 1, 9250 Waasmunster, where free parking is available, unless otherwise stated.
Optionnel
Individual Coaching (optional)
€400 excl. VAT for 4 sessions of 30 minutes
On-site or online
During or after the formation
Contact
Vous avez une question sur cette formation ou vous souhaitez savoir quel parcours vous convient le mieux ? Contactez Lean Academy.
Vous recherchez une formation intra-entreprise ? Écrivez-nous à academy@vangoubergen.com et nous vous recontacterons.



