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The Postgraduate Diploma in Business in Lean Enterprise Excellence is an executive/practitioner programme providing participants with the required knowledge, know-how, know-why, and skills to advance as Lean and Continuous Improvement leaders in organisations.
The programme is fully delivered Online in part-time mode across a 1-year period. Classes are synchronous and delivered in block-release format on assigned mid-week evenings.
This Lean Black Belt standard was co-designed in collaboration with leading Lean practice organisations from across services, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction sectors. A graduate of this programme will be considered a “Black Belt in Lean”. The School of Business equates the concept of Black Belt to Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) Ireland. Graduates will receive a letter from the School of Business stating that their capability equates to Black Belt in Lean standard upon completion of the associated project modules/assignments to the required level.
The programme is founded on seminal theories and thinking from scientific management, quality management, world-class manufacturing, change management, the Toyota Production System (TPS), The Toyota Way, and the Shingo Model. Building on that foundation, we synthesise the principles, systems, culture, and behaviours that are integral to contemporary Lean enterprise and operational excellence.
Participants attain in-depth understanding of wider organisational contexts, cross-sectoral applications, and both manufacturing and service orientations. The programme is distinctive in its focus on the critical, but less understood and invariably challenging, “soft” elements integral to effective Lean leadership and management. Thus, participants explore Lean philosophy and thinking; Lean leadership; Lean strategy deployment and hoshin kanri; organisational culture and employee engagement; Lean transformation and change management; and organisational learning, knowledge management, systems thinking, and the learning organisation.
Additionally, participants examine the "hard" Lean tools and techniques elements like, for example, Process Mapping, Value Stream Mapping, A3 Problem-Solving, and 5S. Participants also attain Black Belt level competency in key elements of statistical process control and business analytics, as well as completion of a live-laboratory continuous improvement project (CIP).
The programme provides a balanced approach between the academic and the practical, and includes real-world application via the live-laboratory continuous improvement project plus industry contributions from guest speakers. Our approach enables extensive and deep peer learning amongst and between participants who come from a wide variety of sectors and from both public and private organisations that are at various stages of their respective Lean journeys.
Upon successfully attaining the requisite 60 Credits, participants will be conferred with the qualification of “Postgraduate Diploma in Business in Lean Enterprise Excellence” from SETU, and receive their “Lean Black Belt” letter.
Graduates have advanced to key positions as Site Leads/Managers in Lean/Operational Excellence/CI. Many have been headhunted by other organisations, and others have become Lean Service Providers offering consultancy and training in Ireland and abroad.
The Academy of Lean Enterprise Excellence and Faculty Members are co-founders, leaders, and strategic advisors to a number of regional and national entities, and have been integral in the development of the national Lean ecosystem. Our programme participants and alumni become part of the regional, national, and global communities of learning and practice in Lean.
|
Semester 1 (Sep - Dec) |
Semester 2 (Jan - Apr) |
Semester 3 (May - Sep) |
|---|---|---|
|
Lean Enterprise Excellence |
Lean Engagement |
Continuous Improvement Project (CIP) (20 Credits) |
|
Lean Strategy & Sustainability |
Lean Transformation |
|
|
Lean Tools & Techniques 1 |
Lean Tools & Techniques 2 |
|
|
Lean Business Analytics 1 |
Lean Business Analytics 2 |
(All of the Semester 1 and 2 modules are worth 5 Credits each.)
DELIVERY & SCHEDULE
The programme is fully delivered Online and in Synchronous mode. Participants are provided with the full programme schedule for their academic year at the commencement and orientation session in mid-September. Classes are in block-release format on assigned mid-week evenings. Live conference classes take place via Zoom or MS Teams, with participants accessing the SETU Zoom and MS Teams accounts as registered students.
All modules must be passed and each module is assessed by assignment, incorporating continuous assessment (graded) and formative assessment (un-graded). There are no end-of-term summative examinations.
Semester 1 and Semester 2 modules are worth 5 Credits each. The CIP is worth 20 Credits, and is an organisation-based project wherein participants develop and deliver a real-world improvement initiative within their organisations. The CIP is worked on across the entirety of the first year, and represents the Year 1 capstone project with final deliverables at the end of Semester 3.
When officially registered as students, programme participants attain full access to SETU online resources, including Moodle – our virtual learning environment (VLE) – as well as academic databases and other online library facilities, and SETU Zoom and MS Teams accounts. Any recommended books and other readings will be indicated by each Lecturer for their respective modules.
To be considered for entry onto the Postgraduate Diploma in Business in Lean Enterprise Excellence, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Details on how to apply will be made available later in 2023. Subject to satisfying the aforementioned entry criteria, applicants will be offered places on a first-come-first-served basis per their registrations.
INDUSTRY DEMAND
Ireland is a recognised global leader in Lean Enterprise and Operational Excellence, and there thus exists a high demand nationally and internationally for graduates with Lean knowledge, know-how, know-why, and skills. Graduates of the Postgraduate Diploma in Business in Lean Enterprise Excellence from SETU (Waterford) are highly valued within their organisations and highly sought-after in general.
In addition to the extensive knowledge and learning acquired, the applied nature of the programme and real-world individual and group problem-solving provide participants with invaluable experience and skills that enable their workplace-readiness and capability to implement Lean in any sector, organisation type and scale. The vast majority of participants are employer-funded, and this further affirms the importance that organisations increasingly place on Lean capacity and capability development.
CAREER PROGRESSION
Graduates have advanced to key positions as Site Leads/Managers in Lean/Operational Excellence/CI. Many have been headhunted by other organisations, and others have become Lean Service Providers offering consultancy and training in Ireland and abroad.
DOCTORAL RESEARCH
Several graduates have gone on to pursue Level 10 Doctoral Research whilst continuing to work and/or as part of an industry reserach partnership. Interested parties can undertake the structured Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or the Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at SETU (Waterford).
COMMUNITIES OF LEARNING & PRACTICE
The Academy of Lean Enterprise Excellence and Faculty Members are co-founders, leaders, and strategic advisors to a number of regional and national entities, and have been integral in the development of the national Lean ecosystem. Our programme participants and alumni become part of the regional, national, and global communities of learning and practice in Lean.
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