Improvement Practitioner Apprenticeship Level 4

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Study Mode: Full Time Programme Component Course Level: 4

Improvement Practitioners use a blend of Lean and Six Sigma, project and change management principles and tools to identify and lead the delivery of change across organisational functions and processes and can be found across all sectors and functions including automotive, banking, engineering, food products, IT, property, retail, telecoms etc.

Typically, practitioners lead smaller projects and/or play a key supporting role in a larger programme - tackling issues that may require swift problem solving, or re-occurring challenges that require in-depth analysis and the implementation of a range of effective and sustainable countermeasures. They are the focal point for all stakeholders and responsible for communication throughout a project.

Typical activities include identifying potential opportunities, diagnosing issues, proposing solutions and implementing changes and controls; coaching teams and sharing best practice; leading projects they may manage small teams ensuring motivation and momentum, and be responsible for the successful

Job titles include business improvement practitioner, continuous improvement manager, process excellence manager, Lean Six Sigma green belt and quality control senior analyst.

Entry criteria will be set by individual employers.

Apprentices without Level 2 (or equivalent) in maths and/or English must ensure that they achieve this level and take the test for Level 2 prior to taking the end-point assessment.

For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement the minimum math's and English requirement is Entry Level 3.

A British Sign Language qualification is an alternative to English qualifications for those for whom this is their primary language.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS

Apprentices will develop the core knowledge and skills required of an Improvement Technician

KNOWLEDGE

Apprentices will develop knowledge and understanding of:

Compliance: Legislative and customer compliance requirements including health and safety
Team formation & leadership: Decision-making techniques e.g. consensus, authority rule, majority rule
Project management: Business case, risk analysis and management, toll-gate reviews, work breakdown structure, lessons learned, pilot studies, project review, process management and measures, benefits tracking
Presentation & reporting: Reporting templates, message mapping, case for change
Change management: Stakeholder identification, analysis and management (RACI). Change curve, resistance characteristics, change sponsorship, compelling point of view
Principles & methods: Business value of Lean and Six Sigma improvement methods - 8D, practical problem solving, Define Measure Analyse Improve Control, Design for Six Sigma
Project selection & scope: Y=f(x) equation (outputs are the result of inputs), business scorecard cascade
Problem definition: Cost of Poor Quality, problem analysis models such as Is/Is Not
Process mapping & analysis: Swim lane, value stream map, performance metrics - continuous, Parameter diagram, Takt time, Overall Equipment Effectiveness, theory of constraints principles, Kanban
Data analysis - basic tools: Spreadsheets and pivot table analysis, statistical analysis software
Measurement systems: Repeatability and Reproducibility principles
Basic statistics & measures: Control charts - attribute data, principles of normality
Data analysis - statistical methods: Measures of central tendency and spread
Process capability & performance: Capability analysis - continuous data for normal distribution
Root cause analysis: Key principles including symptoms, failure-mode, potential/verified cause, critical inputs, escape point. Graphical representation of data with dot, scatter and box plots
Experimentation: Active versus passive analytics, design of experiments, experiment plan
Identification & prioritisation: Selection and prioritisation matrix, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis

SKILLS

Apprentices will develop skills within context of their own organisation:

Compliance: Work in accordance with organisational controls and statutory regulations
Communication: Speak and write clearly. Influence others, question effectively. Plan and deliver meetings presenting insight to engage audiences
Coaching: Observe, listen, use questioning, provide feedback and spot learning opportunities
Project management: Define, sequence, plan and schedule activities with phases and milestones. Estimate effort and duration. Create and update project charter. Review progress
Change management: Sponsorship contract, surface and manage resistance, build compelling narratives for change, assess change impact
Principals and Methods: Select and apply a structured method and appropriate improvement tools engaging with subject matter experts to deliver business benefits
Project selection and scoping: Support the identification of improvement opportunity and the scoping of these projects
Problem definition: Support development of problem/opportunity statements
Voice of the customer: Support application of techniques to identify and prioritise customers, their requirements and ensure balance against the stated and unstated needs of the business (Voice of the Business)
Process mapping & analysis: Process map to measure and analyse flow and value. Identify interfaces, functional responsibilities and ownership. Use insight to identify potential opportunities and map future state
Lean tools: Seek in-process waste through understanding of value within the value stream
Measurements systems: Plan, carry out and assess results of a measurement system study
Data acquisition for analysis: Develop a sampling strategy
Basic statistics & measures: Use graphical analysis to understand distribution and stability
Data analysis-statistical methods: Identify data-types and select analysis methods and tools. Assess time series data stability and analyse making relevant insight
Process capability & performance: Select methods and metrics for analysis
Root cause analysis: Select and apply the appropriate graphical tool dependent on the data type to identify patterns, trends and signals to establish hypothesis
Experimentation & optimisation: Plan designed experiment with clear objectives, and appropriate levels of Measurement Systems Analysis, analyse experiment data and optimise
Identification & prioritisation: Identify and prioritise factors, ideas and solutions
Data analysis - SPC: Select and apply appropriate tools for ongoing monitoring and control. Analyse and interpret control charts
Benchmarking: Conduct structured benchmarking to support target setting
Sustainability & control: Identify failure modes and embed learning from improvements

BEHAVIOURS

Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviours:

Drive for results: Continuous drive for change and encourages others to deliver results across functional areas capturing and standardising best practice
Team-working: Awareness of own and others' working styles. Creates high performing team
Professionalism: Promotes a moral, legal and socially appropriate working manner, aligns behaviours to the organisations values. Maintains flexibility to needs of project
Continuous development: Proactively seeks and acts on feedback. Reflects on performance and has a desire for development. Adapts quickly to working with new situations/stakeholders/challenges
Safe working: Ensures safety of self and others, speaks out to challenge safety issues

Throughout the programme you will receive expert training from experienced business improvement practitioners.

A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments

Completion of the programme will enable you to gain employment in a relevant role across a broad spectrum of Industries