Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we get asked the most about LCS accreditation and certification
Certificates
From where can I get a replacement LCS personal certificate?
Who issues personal LCS certificates?
The accredited organisation issues certificates to individuals (not the central LCS organisation, except for SME accreditation). A standard certificate template is provided to accredited organisations for this purpose.
For how long are personal LCS certificates valid?
LCS personal qualification certificates do not have an expiry date and are therefore permanently valid.
What is the LCS organisation certificate?
An organisation receives a certificate when it becomes accredited indicating that it is an Accredited Certifier of Lean Competency. It is valid for two years, renewable after successfully completing the re-accreditation process.
How can I verify the authenticity of a personal LCS certificate?
The LCS does not hold records of individuals’ LCS qualifications and cannot verify them. This task can be undertaken by the accredited organisation that originally issued the certifcate.
How can I tell which organisation issued my personal LCS certificate?
An LCS personal certificate usually contains the logo of the issuing organisation in the bottom right corner, above the University logo. If there is no logo, then the certificate will have been issued by the university or the LCS.
Accreditation Philosophy
Accreditation Suitability
What sort of organisations can become accredited?
Is it suitable for all sectors?
Yes, it is suitable for private and public sectors and any size of organisation.
Can consultants and training companies be accredited?
Yes. Visit this page.
Can organisations outside the UK become accredited?
Yes, the LCS can be used in any country.
Does LCS apply to online, web based courses?
Yes, the LCS can apply to online courses.
The LCS Company & Licence
Lean Competency Services Ltd (LCS Ltd), is controlled by Reinvigoration Group.
How long is the LCS University licence?
LCS Ltd has been granted the licence for 10 years (from Jan 2014)
With which organisation do LCS customers contract?
LCS customers have a contractual relationship with LCS Ltd and not the University.
Is the University logo used on LCS certificates, etc?
Yes; the University logo is used on all LCS certificates, as well as on some administrative and promotional material.
What the relationship between LCS Ltd and Cardiff Business School?
A close working relationship is maintained, especially regarding lean research, education and executive short course LCS assessments.
Accreditation Structure
There is Standard accreditation, suitable for large organisations and Small Business Accreditation for small organisations.
How long does the standard accrediting process take?
This normally takes between 1 and 3 months, though it is largely dependent on the resources committed to the process by the applicant, plus whether a lean training system already exists in some form.
Does a training system have to accredit to all levels at once?
No, it can be accredited initially to one LCS level and then apply to be accredited to a higher level at a later date (at no additional cost).
What are the benefits of accreditation?
Some of the key benefits of LCS accreditation for organisations include:
- The qualifications underpin employee motivation to engage in improvement.
- The accrediting process helps improve the design, integration and professionalism of your training.
- Your training receives external endorsement from a recognized institution.
- The framework helps promote employees’ professional development.
- It links your training with practical application to directly benefit business performance.
- It gives you a standard that you can apply throughout the organisation.
- It provides you with a flexible framework that can be adapted to suit the organisation’s improvement approach.
- LCS Certificates provide reward and recognition to employees.
What exactly is accredited?
An organisation’s ‘lean training system’ is accredited – not its overall lean management system or continuous improvement architecture.
Definitions
What is a 'lean training system'?
All the interconnected components that enable effective training to be delivered.
The system could comprise of just one training course or an integrated programme with several courses encompassed in a ‘centre of excellence’ or ‘lean academy’.
What is the difference between 'accreditation' and 'certification'?
In LCS language, organisations become accredited, while individuals become certified – that is, receive a certificate. So, an accredited organisation certifies the people it trains.
How does the LCS define 'lean thinking'?
The LCS promotes a holistic, systems approach to continuous improvement.
Does the word 'lean' have to feature explicitly in an organisation's training system?
No. ‘Lean’ is the umbrella word the LCS uses for continuous improvement, which encompasses a wide variety of schools of thinking. Other terms commonly used by organisations include operational excellence, process excellence, business excellence, Lean Six Sigma, service improvement and lean manufacturing.
Entitlement
What does accreditation entitle an organisation to do?
Who issues LCS certificates?
The accredited organisation (not the central LCS organisation, except for SME accreditation). A special certificate template is provided for this purpose.
Are individuals who deliver training for the organisation also personally accredited?
No, the overall system is accredited, not individuals. Implicit in system accreditation is that it has suitably qualified people delivering training.
Can an organisation be accredited to all seven levels of competency?
Yes.
How long does the LCS licence last?
A licence is granted for two years and can be renewed thereafter.
External
How does LCS relate to other qualifications?
How do you check a certificate's authenticity?
LCS certificates are issued by accredited training organisations (company in house training departments or consultancies) following the successful completion of one of their training programmes and these companies are the prime holder of candidate records. Visit this page for further details
How do the LCS Levels compare to Six Sigma belts?
Coloured belts are often used as descriptors for the different levels in some continuous improvement qualification systems, such as in Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma.
While there is no universal standard definition for each of the belts, the following can be used as a guide for comparison with LCS levels:
- LCS 1a: white, yellow
- LCS 1b: yellow, green
- LCS 1c: green, orange
- LCS 2a: brown, black
- LCS 2b: master black
- LCS 3a: n/a
- LCS 3b: n/a
Other Services
What other services does the LCS organisation provide?
Does the LCS deliver training?
No, the LCS organisation does not deliver accredited LCS training.
Accreditation Fees
What determines the accreditation fee?
Standard accreditation fees are based on the volume of certificates issued. There are six fee bands, starting at 200 L1b and higher certificates over the two accreditation period.
Note that a free allocation of L1a certificates comes with each band. For example, with Band A the accredited organisation gets 200 L1a certificates.
The applicant forecasts certificates to be issued at the start of the period and may make an adjustment at any time.
Additional L1a certificates can also be purchased on a per unit basis.
When are accreditation fees payable?
For new standard accreditation 100% of fees are payable at the start of the accrediting process. For re-accreditation, 100% of the fee is due at the end of the re-accrediting process.
Are there any concessions for public service organisations?
Yes, there is a separate fee schedule for public service organisations, which pay a lower fee than commercial organisations.
Are the different LCS Levels treated equally in the fee schedule?
No. Fee bands relate to Level 1b and above. Each band has a ‘free’ allowance of Level 1a certificates. For example, an organisation that opts for the 200 1b and above certificates pa band, can also issue 200 1a certificates pa at no additional cost.
Can an accredited organisation issue more certificates that it originally opted for at the start of the accreditation period?
Yes, it can do this is two ways:
- it can move up to the next fee band, paying a pro rata fee (new fee lessfee initially paid multiplied by time left on licence)
- if it just wants to issue more 1a certificates, it can pay per certificate issued over its allowance.
APLE Level 2 & 3
What does APLE stand for?
Approved Prior Learning and Experience.
This allows individuals to gain an LCS qualification by virtue of their knowledge gained from past learning through courses and experience and through their achievements in implementing lean thinking in organisations.
What are the benefits of Level 3?
- Recognition as a senior improvement professional.
- One-on-one supervision focusing on reflection and development.
- Access to the LCS Level 3 Network, offering:
- Networking events and discussions.
- Opportunities to showcase work and initiatives.
The Level 3 competency focuses on an individual’s depth of experience in applying lean thinking at many levels and the criteria for gaining level 3 is exclusively evidence based, so there is not a course to follow in the traditional sense to gain the qualification. Level 3 candidates follow the Level 3 Programme, which involves being guided and mentored in the production of the evidence, the main elements of which are three strategic case studies.
What are the minimum requirements for Level 3?
- 10+ years in improvement, including designing and leading programmes.
- Strategic-level leadership experience and ability to reflect critically.
- Broad knowledge of lean and improvement methods.
- Evidence of coaching, mentoring, or leading others with reflections on these experiences.
- Submissions and discussions must be in English currently.
- Translated materials are allowed, but candidates must discuss them in English currently.