Lean Leader Certification Program
Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University is offering a program unlike any other. It is called the Lean Leader Certification Program (LLCP). It’s designed for middle and top-level executives at any company who seek the essential knowledge necessary to drive Lean throughout their entire organization.
This highly interactive and fully accredited program teaches a carefully sequenced arrangement of Lean concepts and tools.
Over four non-consecutive weeks, each participant will experience a series of learning modules focusing on the four key phases of Lean implementation: Plan, Pilot, Deploy and Integrate. In between the weeks of training, students need to apply the methods that they have learned in operations at their own companies and present their results to the class.
It is required that each participant in the program have a corporate sponsor to attest to the participant´s qualification for the program and to the results achieved through the homework assignments.
Participants who successfully complete the four-week training and mentoring program, pass the two-hour certification exam and demonstrate successful implementation in their own facility are then certified by Fisher College of Business as Lean Leaders.
Program Details
| WHO: | Middle and top-level executives at any company who seek the essential knowledge necessary to drive Lean throughout their entire organization. |
|---|---|
| LOCATION: | Fisher College of Business, Pfahl Hall |
| DATES: | April 13–17, 2026 May 18–22, 2026 June 15–19, 2026 July 20–24, 2026 |
| COST: | $20,000 *Group and other discounts may apply. |
| PREREQUISITES: | Each participant must have a corporate sponsor to attest to the participant’s qualification and to the results achieved through the homework assignments. |
| CECS: | 16 CEU (Continuing Education Unit) 160 CPE (Ohio CPA) |
| REGISTER: | Registration Deadline: March 16, 2026 |
Program Components
- Lead an organizational Lean implementation
- Create a detailed deployment plan based on baseline analysis
- Perform as a principal change agent
- Lead site teams to deploy plant-wide Lean methodologies
- Mentor project leaders, area managers and supervisors
Program Faculty
David Veech teaches operational excellence, lean systems, and lean leadership at the Fisher College of Business at the Ohio State University. He is a retired Army officer having served over 20 years in uniform as an infantry officer and a member of the Army Acquisition Workforce.
David has written two best-selling books, taught at four universities, founded 2 successful international consulting firms that transformed organizations in dozens of industries and government agencies, co-founded a non-profit, owned a professional Ultimate Disk team, and founded a luxury travel agency (Clandestine Travel Ltd).
When he is not teaching or creating new content, you can find him on the road, traveling and creating exceptional memories with his wife Mary, kids and grandkids, and dogs. David loves orienteering, hiking, and photography. David is working hard toward walking a half-marathon in every US state and territory and on every continent.
Ellis New is a Guest Lecturer at Fisher College of Business teaching for over 20 years in the Total Productive Maintenance Certification, Lean Manager Certification, and Manager Maintenance Improvement Certificate programs. He has spent over 25 years as a Senior Management Consultant, advancing the principles of Total Productive Maintenance and Lean through ongoing client engagement with companies found throughout the Fortune 500 and Global 1000.
Ellis started his career with Pirelli Corporation where he played a key role in the company’s process improvement initiatives. Both at the plant, site, and corporate level.
He served 8 years in the United States Marine Corps (Aviation) and earned his degree in Industrial Technology with an emphasis in Engineering (ME), Management, and Psychology.