October 3, 2024

Join us at the 2024 LCI Congress, October 22-25, in San Diego! Register today.

Get more tips and takeaways in the blog post: 2024 LCI Congress Program Walk-Through

Some quick reminders:

• Register for the Core Program (Wednesday/Thursday), then you’ll have the option to add on the Golf Tournament (Monday) and Learning Day (Tuesday).
• Already registered? Make sure you book your room, choose your add-ons and sessions, and invite your friends. Use #LCICongress24 when posting on LinkedIn!

Contact Joan Piccariello with questions on the Congress program.

Register for Congress

Games included:

• Mr. Potato Head – a Plan, Do, Check, Act simulation where teams built a potato head family to match the family picture.
• Standard Pig – individuals drew pigs, starting with limited direction, and adapted the process with clearer guidelines to improve and standardize outcomes.
• The Penny Game – teams performed the work of flipping and passing pennies in different batch sizes to demonstrate how single piece flow reduces overall schedule.
• Tennis Ball Pass – team members passed tennis balls as quickly as possible, with the goal of maximizing the number of circuits in a given time to promote innovative thought and breakthrough moments.
• 5S – individuals searched for numbers on a page, with each version of the game improving the organization of these numbers for a more efficient and faster process.

Attendees fortunate enough to pick the right duck also left the event with a prize – candy, a Lean book, or a stuffed ELMO; and everyone enjoyed cotton candy, popcorn, snacks and drinks.

The carnival was a great event with a fantastic group of forward-thinking change-markers, drawing attendees from Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton and Chicago. In the spirit of Lean, the planning team is already looking forward to making the next evening under the big top even better!

LCI would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to Zimmerman Architectural Studios for hosting such a creative event to support understanding several Lean processes, as well as the CoP’s core group members and all those involved in bringing this event to life!

Have you joined your local Community of Practice for an event? Find out what’s happening and join in the fun!

Advice for Future Applicants
When asked what advice she’d give to others considering certification, Michelle emphasized the importance of starting early. “Don’t procrastinate!” she said. The process may seem overwhelming at first, but once you dive in, it becomes manageable. She also suggests documenting Lean tools and processes along the way. Keeping photos and examples organized makes it easier to build the portfolio later.

Why Pursue Certification?
For Michelle, the decision to pursue certification was rooted in a desire to help establish a recognized standard for Lean practitioners. “This certification helps advance the goals of the Lean community by acknowledging the significant efforts and achievements of its practitioners,” she shared. It’s a meaningful way to showcase the impact of Lean professionals across the industry.

To learn more about LCI’s Certification, check out our Certification Homepage.