Courses and Registration

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.

We've redesigned our classes to align with our new certification program!

Description: Full Immersion (includes LMS Lean Foundations, LMS Continuous Improvement and LMS Strategic Planning or LMS Deep Dive: Lean Leadership)

Session Dates: Mar 17-21 (w/Strategic Planning), Jun 16-20 (w/Lean Leadership)
Fee: 5 days, $3800
Description: 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 LMS Deep Dive: Lean Leadership (formerly Coaching for Continuous Improvement) and LMS Strategic Planning and Deployment (the third level of the Denver Health Lean management system). The Lean Leadership course will be offered virtually for some sessions.

LMS Lean Foundations

Session Dates: Jan 13-14, Feb 18-19, Mar 17-18, Apr 14-15, May 20-21, Jun 16-17
Fee: 2 days, $1650
Description: 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 "firefighting" 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

LMS Continuous Improvement

Session Dates: Jan 15, Mar 19, Jun 18
Fee: 1 day, $825
Description: 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

LMS Deep Dive: Lean Leadership

Session Dates: Feb 20-21 (virtual), Jun 19-20 (in-person)
Fee: 2 days, $1650
Description: This course orients participants to foundational theory and engages learners to utilize standard Lean Leadership 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 rotates between virtual and in-person.
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 LMS Lean Foundations and LMS Continuous Improvement prior to taking Lean Leadership

LMS Strategic Planning and Deployment

Session Dates: Mar 20-21, Nov 20-21
Fee: 2 days, $1650
Description: 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

Lean Site Visit for Executive/Senior Leaders

Session Dates: Contact us for scheduling options
Fee: 1 day, $950
Description: 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

Session Dates: Mar 11 & 13, Aug 12 & 14
Fee: 2 morning sessions, $950
Description: 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

Session Dates: Contact us for scheduling options
Fee: 1 full & 2 half-day sessions, $1800
Description: 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.

LMS Deep Dives and Workshops

Introduction to Lean Workshop, Virtual

Session Dates: Jan 27 1:00p-3:00p, Mar 4 9:00a-11:00a, Jul 10:00a-12:00p MDT
Fee: $200
Description: 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.

LMS Deep Dive: A3 Problem Solving Workshop, In-Person

Session Dates: Jan 17 8:30a-12:30p, Apr 1 12:30p-4:30p MDT
Fee: $400
Description: The Problem Solving A3 is an essential Lean tool providing an effective approach to structured problem solving. This 4-hour, interactive, and hands-on deep dive will guide participants through the structure and methodology of the problem solving A3 and will allow participants an opportunity to practice the A3 with the support of a Lean Facilitator and their peers. This course aims to support participants in recognizing the advantage of thinking critically about a problem to ensure sustainable solutions that address root cause.
Key Concepts: Lean Principles, Problem Solving A3 tool, Problem Solving A3 Application, Problem Statements, Current State, Root Cause Analysis, Target State, Countermeasures, Experimentation, Plan Do Study Act (PDSA)

LMS Deep Dive: Process Mapping Workshop, Virtual

Session Dates: Jan 30 9:00a-11:00a, Apr 16 1:30p-3:30p MDT
Fee: $200
Description: Process mapping, also known as flowcharting, is a technique for visually depicting the steps of a process to build shared understanding of the overall process flow. It helps clarify sequence of work, roles and responsibilities, and handoffs within a process. This 2-hour virtual workshop will enable you to walk away with the ability to develop process maps to support process improvement work. This class rotates between virtual and in-person.
Key Concept: Process map basics including level of detail or altitude, audience, altitude, scope, as well as using process maps to support improvement work

LMS Deep Dive: Gemba Walk, In-Person

Session Dates: Jan 16 1:00p-4:00p, Apr 17 8:30a-11:30a MDT
Fee: $300
Description: Gemba is a Japanese term that means real place, where the work gets done. Gemba Walks create opportunities for leaders to go where the work is done to observe actual processes, engage with workers, ask questions, and discuss continuous improvement. During this 3-hour, in-person class, you will learn the key elements of a gemba walk, engage in best practices for planning, and utilize the Coaching Kata questions that support the activity of going to the gemba. Participants will practice leading and participating in a gemba walk.
Key Concept: Gemba Walks, Lean leader behaviors, aligning and advancing improvement work, supporting the success of organizational strategic initiatives, go see, ask why, show respect.

LMS Deep Dive: Performance Metrics, In-Person

Session Dates: Feb 26 8:30a-12:30p, Apr 15 8:30a-12:30p MDT
Fee: $400
Description: This 4-hour, in-person course focuses on the concepts and practices of using performance data to understand and manage processes. Participants will take a closer look at the five steps involved in the effective use of performance metrics (understand the process, collect and select metrics, establish a baseline and set a target, make the metrics visible and transparent, establish a routine of reviewing the metrics and taking action) and practice skills beneficial in each step.
Key Concepts: value diamond and scorecards, leading and lagging indicators, targets and baselines, types of data, data quality, PDSA, introduction to data visualization, transparency, culture of improvement.

LMS Deep Dive: Visual Management & 6S, In-Person

Session Dates: Jan 16 9:00a-12:00p, Apr 2 1:00p-4:00p MDT
Fee: $300
Description: Visual Management refers to an approach to make the current condition of processes and organizational performance readily visible and understandable to all. Visual management creates line-of-sight to the work, creates accountability, prioritizes work efforts, and helps quickly correct course when performance isn’t up to standard. 6S is a form of visual management used to organize workspaces, improve management of inventory, improve flow, and reduce waste. During this 3 hour, in-person class, you will gain the knowledge and skills to apply visual management and 6S to your work and area, including hands-on activities.
Key Concept: visual workplace, performance, prioritizing work, safety, accountability, organization, cleanliness, reduce waste

LMS Deep Dive: Obeya, In-Person

Session Dates: Feb 3 12:30p-4:30p, May 7 8:30a-12:30p MDT
Fee: $400
Description: Obeya is a Lean tool to deploy a strategic plan in a way that is visible, accountable and adaptive. This 4-hour, in-person Working Session is an opportunity for those looking to use an Obeya to draft, develop or refine their proposed Obeya with the input of other learners and a Lean Facilitator.  The Obeya as a concept is covered in the Strategic Planning and Deployment course, so it is recommended that participants attend that course for orientation to Obeya as this course will primarily be a working session.  Participants should have an active strategic plan that they need to deploy to bring to the working session (if not a first draft), and it is ideal for a few partners to attend to build their Obeya together.
Key Concept: Obeya

MS Deep Dive: Value Stream Mapping, In-Person

Session Dates: Jan 30 12:30p-4:30p, Apr 17 12:30p-4:30p MDT
Fee: $400
Description: Struggling with complex systems that are difficult to fix?  Use observation and value stream mapping!  Value stream mapping can help teams better understand the big picture of how that system is functioning today for customers and how to target improvements without breaking other pieces of the system.  This 4-hour, in-person course expands on the Value Stream Mapping topic covered in the LMS Continuous Improvement course.
Key Concept: Value Stream Mapping, Value & Value Diamond, Observation, Performance Metrics

LMS Deep Dive: Hoshin Kanri, In-Person or Virtual

Session Dates: Feb 5 8:30a-12:30p (in-person), May 6 12:30p-4:30p (virtual) MDT
Fee: $400
Description: Join us for this 4-hour in-person or virtual course to learn about the fundamentals of Hoshin Kanri, a key component of the Lean Management System at the enterprise activity level. In Japanese, Hoshin translated to “direction” or “compass” and Kanri to “Administration” or “Management”. Coming away from this course, participants will gain an understanding of the systematic method that organizations use to set long-term strategic direction and align its functions, activities and people to achieve goals consistently and intentionally.
Key Concept: Hoshin Kanri, Mission, Vision, Values, Cascading Goals, Catchball, X-Matrix

LMS Deep Dive: Leader Standard Work, In-Person

Session Dates: Mar 3 1:00p-4:00p (in-person), May 22 1:00p-4:00p (virtual) MDT
Fee: $300
Description: The heartbeat of any management system, come join us for an interactive session on Leader Standard Work (LSW). This 3-hour, in person class will deepen learning about what LSW is, allow for practicing of the skills and the creation of a personal LSW for each participant when they leave class to practice with. What gets reviewed gets done!
Key Concept: Leader Standard Work, visual controls, management of daily work, improvement work, gemba walks, behaviors of leaders

LMS Deep Dive: Daily Management & Help Chain, In-Person

Session Dates: Mar 6 8:30a-12:30p, Jun 4 12:30p-4:30p MDT
Fee: $400
Description: This 4-hour, in-person course expands on the daily management and help chain topics covered in the LMS Lean Foundations course. Daily management is a system that helps translate business goals into successfully maintained, monitored, and improved daily activities. Participants will simulate using daily management and help chains as well as create a plan for applying the system and tools in their real-world jobs.
Key Concepts: Daily management as a system and philosophy, daily management board elements (business expectation, performance tracking, problem-solving); help chain system and philosophy; help chain elements (problem definition, signaling, assessment and diagnosis, problem-solving)

LMS Deep Dive: Standardized Work, In-Person or Virtual

Session Dates: Jan 28 12:30p-4:30p (in-person), May 5 12:30p-4:30p (virtual) MDT
Fee: $400
Description: Standardized work is our playbook - the safest, easiest, and most effective way of doing the job that we currently know. Operations where a high level of standardized work is performed and maintained typically have strong results around efficiency, quality, cost, and safety.  It is the basis for all continuous improvement activities. This 4-hour, in-person or virtual course expands on the standardized work topic covered in the LMS Lean Foundations course.
Key Concepts: Standards vs. standardized work, key elements of the standardized work, importance of the standardized work, primary documents used to develop standardized work