About This Course
In today's intensely competitive global marketplace, supply chain efficiency is a strategic imperative. Organisations that fail to continuously improve their procurement, warehousing, logistics, and fulfilment processes risk higher costs, longer cycle times, and declining service levels. Lean Six Sigma offers a proven, data-driven framework for identifying and eliminating the root causes of inefficiency and defects — and the supply chain is one of its most powerful application domains.
This five-day intensive programme from TrainingComplex integrates the waste-reduction philosophy of Lean with the rigorous statistical rigour of Six Sigma, giving participants a unified toolkit that addresses both process speed and process quality. Drawing on the globally recognised DMAIC methodology — Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control — the course walks participants through every stage of a supply chain improvement project, from problem scoping and data collection to root cause analysis, solution design, and sustained control.
Beyond theory, the programme is built around practical application. Participants work through real supply chain scenarios — covering supplier performance, inventory optimisation, order fulfilment accuracy, transportation reliability, and demand variability management — to build the confidence and competence to lead improvement projects immediately upon returning to their organisations. By the end of the course, delegates will have developed a personal improvement project charter aligned to their own supply chain context, ready for executive sponsorship and implementation.
TrainingComplex's Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain Training is suitable for professionals at the operational and mid-management level who are ready to move beyond firefighting and embrace a structured, evidence-based approach to supply chain excellence.
Who Should Attend
- Supply chain managers and analysts seeking structured process improvement skills
- Procurement officers responsible for supplier quality and contract performance
- Logistics and distribution managers aiming to reduce lead times and delivery errors
- Warehouse and inventory control supervisors working to eliminate excess stock and waste
- Operations managers overseeing end-to-end fulfilment and production scheduling
- Quality assurance professionals working within supply chain or manufacturing environments
- Continuous improvement champions and internal change agents in supply-intensive organisations
- Project managers leading supply chain transformation or ERP implementation programmes
Learning Objectives
- Explain the core principles of Lean thinking and Six Sigma and how they complement each other in a supply chain context
- Apply the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Improve, Control) framework to real supply chain improvement projects
- Construct value stream maps to identify waste, bottlenecks, and non-value-adding activities across procurement and logistics processes
- Select and apply appropriate statistical tools — including process capability analysis, control charts, and hypothesis testing — to supply chain data
- Conduct root cause analysis using fishbone diagrams, 5-Why analysis, and Pareto charts within supply chain problem scenarios
- Design and evaluate Lean solutions including pull systems, kanban, 5S, and error-proofing for warehouse and distribution operations
- Develop supplier performance metrics, scorecards, and feedback loops aligned to Six Sigma quality standards
- Calculate and communicate the financial impact of improvement projects in terms of cost savings, waste reduction, and service level gains
- Build a sustainable control plan using standardised work, visual management, and process audits to maintain improvements over time
- Draft a personal improvement project charter scoped to the participant's own supply chain environment
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain
- The origins and evolution of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies
- How Lean and Six Sigma complement each other in supply chain improvement
- Key supply chain performance dimensions: cost, quality, speed, and reliability
- Introduction to DMAIC and the project-based improvement approach
- The business case for Lean Six Sigma: typical financial and operational returns in supply chain contexts
- Roles and responsibilities in a Lean Six Sigma programme: Champions, Black Belts, Green Belts, and process owners
Module 2: Understanding Waste and Value in Supply Chains
- The eight types of waste (TIMWOODS) applied to procurement and logistics
- Distinguishing value-adding from non-value-adding activities in supply chain flows
- Customer value identification and the voice of the customer (VOC) in supply contexts
- Waste identification exercises using real supply chain process examples
- Quantifying the cost of waste: translating identified waste into financial and service impact
- Using gemba walks to observe and surface hidden waste at the point of activity in supply chain operations
Module 3: Value Stream Mapping for Supply Chain Analysis
- Principles and symbols of value stream mapping (VSM)
- Mapping current-state supply chain flows from supplier to end customer
- Identifying bottlenecks, delays, and inventory accumulation points on the VSM
- Designing a future-state value stream map with targeted improvement opportunities
- Calculating total lead time and process cycle efficiency from current-state VSM data
- Engaging cross-functional teams in VSM workshops to build shared understanding and prioritise actions
Module 4: The Define Phase — Scoping Supply Chain Improvement Projects
- Writing a project charter: problem statement, scope, goals, and business case
- Identifying stakeholders and securing executive sponsorship for improvement projects
- Defining critical-to-quality (CTQ) characteristics for supply chain processes
- Using SIPOC diagrams to map process boundaries and key inputs and outputs
- Applying a project prioritisation matrix to select and sequence supply chain improvement initiatives
- Establishing measurable project goals and defining what success looks like before entering the Measure phase
Module 5: The Measure Phase — Data Collection and Process Baselining
- Identifying key supply chain metrics: lead time, defect rate, fill rate, and OTD
- Data collection planning: sampling strategies and measurement system analysis
- Calculating process capability (Cp, Cpk) for supply chain performance variables
- Baselining current performance to quantify the size and cost of the problem
- Conducting a Gauge R&R study to assess measurement system accuracy and repeatability in supply chain data collection
- Converting baseline performance data into a Sigma level to establish a consistent benchmark for improvement progress
Module 6: The Analyse Phase — Root Cause Identification
- Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams applied to supply chain defects and delays
- 5-Why analysis for drilling into the root causes of recurring supply chain failures
- Pareto chart construction to prioritise the most significant causes for action
- Hypothesis testing basics: using data to confirm or reject assumed root causes
- Correlation and regression analysis for identifying relationships between supply chain input variables and performance outcomes
- Affinity diagrams and multi-voting techniques for synthesising qualitative root cause data from cross-functional teams
Module 7: Statistical Process Control in Supply Chain Operations
- Introduction to control charts and when to apply them in supply chain monitoring
- Distinguishing common cause variation from special cause variation in processes
- Applying Xbar-R and p-charts to supplier quality and order accuracy data
- Using SPC outputs to trigger corrective action and prevent process drift
- Setting statistically derived control limits versus specification limits and understanding the difference in supply chain contexts
- Integrating SPC monitoring into daily operational routines and digital supply chain management systems
Module 8: The Improve Phase — Lean Solutions for Supply Chain Excellence
- Pull systems and kanban for inventory and replenishment management
- 5S methodology applied to warehouse organisation and visual management
- Error-proofing (poka-yoke) techniques for order picking, labelling, and fulfilment
- Rapid improvement events (kaizen bursts) for targeting high-impact supply chain waste
- Total productive maintenance (TPM) principles applied to supply chain equipment and material handling reliability
- Piloting and scaling Lean solutions: running controlled trials before full deployment across supply chain operations
Module 9: Supplier Performance Management through Six Sigma
- Developing supplier scorecards aligned to Six Sigma quality standards
- Setting and monitoring supplier KPIs: on-time delivery, quality rate, and responsiveness
- Using data to drive supplier development conversations and corrective action plans
- Integrating supplier performance data into procurement decision-making and sourcing strategy
- Applying DMAIC to collaborative supplier improvement projects: engaging key suppliers as partners in defect and lead time reduction
- Segmenting the supply base by risk and performance level to prioritise Lean Six Sigma development efforts and resource allocation
Module 10: The Control Phase — Sustaining Supply Chain Improvements
- Developing standardised work instructions and process documentation for improved processes
- Visual management systems: dashboards, boards, and real-time performance displays
- Control plans: monitoring parameters, triggers, response protocols, and ownership
- Handover, change management, and embedding a continuous improvement culture in supply chain teams
- Conducting structured process audits and periodic control plan reviews to detect and respond to performance degradation over time
- Building a pipeline of future improvement projects using lessons learned and ongoing waste identification from controlled processes
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least two years of professional experience in a supply chain, procurement, logistics, operations, or quality-related role. A basic familiarity with spreadsheet tools such as Microsoft Excel is recommended, as some data analysis exercises involve working with numerical datasets. No prior knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma is required — the programme is designed to build these competencies from the ground up within a supply chain context.
Training Methodology
- Value stream mapping workshops where participants map their own organisation's supply chain processes to identify waste and improvement opportunities
- DMAIC simulation exercise run across the full five days, progressively applying each phase to a realistic supply chain case study
- Root cause analysis drills using fishbone diagrams, 5-Why questioning, and Pareto chart construction on live supply chain defect data
- Statistical tool walkthroughs using Excel-based data sets drawn from inventory, order accuracy, and supplier lead time scenarios
- Group problem-solving challenges where teams compete to design the most cost-effective Lean improvement for a simulated distribution centre
- Supplier scorecard design exercise where participants build a Six Sigma-aligned KPI framework for a real or hypothetical supplier portfolio
- Facilitated after-action reviews at the close of each day to consolidate learning and draw connections to participants' own workplaces
- Personal project charter workshop where each participant drafts a scoped improvement project for their own supply chain role, with peer and facilitator feedback
Organisational Benefits
- Measurable reduction in supply chain waste, rework, and non-conformance costs
- Improved on-time delivery rates and order fulfilment accuracy across distribution networks
- Stronger supplier relationships underpinned by data-driven performance management
- Reduced inventory holding costs through demand-driven replenishment and pull-system design
- Enhanced capability to identify, scope, and execute continuous improvement projects internally
- A growing internal pool of Lean Six Sigma-literate professionals who can lead change without external consultants
- Improved cross-functional collaboration between procurement, operations, logistics, and quality teams
- Greater organisational agility and resilience in responding to supply chain disruptions and demand fluctuations
Where Is Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Cape Town, Nairobi, Kigali, Accra, Mombasa, Kampala, Naivasha, Riyadh, Lagos, Johannesburg, Dubai, Abuja, Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Kisumu, Arusha, Zanzibar, Nakuru, Pretoria, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Cape Town, South Africa |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Mombasa, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,500 |
| Lagos, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
24 Oct 2026 – 15 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,100 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
+237 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need prior Lean or Six Sigma knowledge to attend this course?
No prior knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma is required. The programme is structured to build these methodologies from the ground up, with all concepts introduced and explained in the context of supply chain operations before being applied practically.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. Participants who attend the full five-day programme will receive a TrainingComplex Certificate of Completion in Lean Six Sigma in Supply Chain Training. This certificate is suitable for inclusion in your professional portfolio and CPD records.
Is this course equivalent to a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Yellow Belt certification?
This course provides comprehensive practical grounding in Lean Six Sigma concepts and the DMAIC methodology as applied to supply chain settings. While it is not a formal belt certification body exam (such as ASQ or IASSC), the knowledge and project skills developed align closely with Green Belt-level competencies and provide an excellent foundation for pursuing formal belt certification.
What software or tools do participants need to bring?
Participants should bring a laptop with Microsoft Excel installed, as several data analysis and statistical exercises are Excel-based. No specialist statistical software such as Minitab is required, though familiarity with it is a bonus. All templates, worksheets, and course materials are provided by TrainingComplex.
Can my organisation send a team to this training?
Absolutely. TrainingComplex welcomes team bookings and can also deliver this course as a closed in-house programme tailored to your organisation's specific supply chain processes and improvement priorities. Please contact us to discuss group rates and customisation options.
