Take your lean training to a strategic level.

Lean Gold Certification recognizes your education and training in all aspects of lean transformation across an entire enterprise. It represents career progression to a point of influence and authority over assets, processes, and people.

Process to Earn Your Certification

1: Assess your knowledge and experience
To earn the Lean Gold Certification, you must demonstrate your understanding of the Lean Certification Body of Knowledge by passing the Lean Gold Certification exam. To become certified, you must further demonstrate your lean training and development by completing an Accomplishment Record.

Gold Certification candidates will be responsible for an understanding of competencies at the Bronze and Silver levels in addition to competencies at the Gold level.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Body of Knowledge (PDF)
• Lean Gold Essential Body of Work (PDF)
• Lean Gold Blueprint (PDF)
• Lean Certification Competency and Behavior Model (PDF)

2: Read the Core Reference Material
Exam questions are based on specific Core Reference Material selected by knowledgeable and experienced individuals. You can save 10% by purchasing the Lean Gold Certification book package, which includes:

• Creating a Lean Culture: Tools to Sustain Lean Conversions, Third Edition
• Lean Transformation: How to Change Your Business into a Lean Enterprise
• Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
• Today & Tomorrow: Commemorative Edition of Ford's 1926 Classic
• Lean Solutions: How Companies and Customers Can Create Value and Wealth
• Purchase Core Reference Material Package

3: Apply for the exam, schedule and take the exam

Apply Here

The Lean Gold Certification exam is offered in online and paper/pencil formats. You have one year to take the exam from the date you apply.

To apply for Lean Gold Certification, candidates should have five or more years of professional experience that includes overseeing various improvement teams, driving changes that span multiple value streams, leading and coaching other leaders in the transformation process, and a demonstrated success in driving both lean organizational and human development efforts.

The Lean Gold Certification exam is a three hour, open book and open notes exam. It consists of approximately 150 multiple-choice questions mapped to the Body of Knowledge. Exam questions are taken from the Core Reference Materials.

You must submit your Proctor Form and Agreement to SME at least two weeks before your scheduled exam date.

To pass the exam, you need to score 75% or higher. After your exam is scored, you will receive official results by mail, which includes an Examination Analysis Report that provides a breakdown of your results by knowledge area.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Exam Preparation Tips
• Body of Knowledge (PDF)
• Core Reference Material Package
• Proctor Form and Agreement (PDF)
• Examination Analysis Report (PDF)

4: Mentoring
Lean Gold Certification candidates are expected to seek out others in their lean journey to help them grow and develop. This activity must be demonstrated, and measurable outcomes must be included, in your Lean Gold Certification Accomplishment Record.

Look to find a mentor within your own company, through the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) leaders in your area, or, if you are an SME member, your local chapter may be a good resource.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Association for Manufacturing Excellence AME
• SME
• SME Local Chapter

5: Submit your Lean Gold Certification Accomplishment Record
After passing your exam, to receive your Lean Gold Certification you must complete an Accomplishment Record. The Accomplishment Record examines how candidates have applied their lean knowledge and skills to actual real-world situations.

Your Lean Gold Certification Accomplishment Record will ask you to provide a narrative of your accomplishments for each competency needed by a Lean Gold Certification candidate. You will emphasize the quality of your accomplishments and the results you achieved rather than the jobs you have held or the tasks you have completed.

In addition to completing your Accomplishment Record, you will need:

• 240 hours of education and training requirements. If you have previously obtained the Lean Bronze and/or Lean Silver Certification, you can apply the education and training hours you earned toward this requirement.
• Mentoring and/or Coaching activities.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Gold Accomplishment Record (PDF)
• Code of Ethics (PDF)
• Mentoring and/or Coaching Activities (PDF)
• Portfolio/Accomplishment Record Upload Instructions (PDF)

6: Lean Gold Certification Interview

The final step in earning your Lean Gold Certification is an interview with a team of Lean Certified professionals and/or the Certification Oversight and Appeals Committee. Upon passing your Accomplishment Record review and interview, you will earn your Lean Gold Certification (LGC).

HELPFUL LINKS

• Certification Oversight and Appeals Committee

7: Plan your next step

Your Lean Gold Certification (LGC) is valid for three years. To maintain your Lean Gold Certification status, you will need to recertify every three years and participate in ongoing education, training, and development activities related to the Body of Knowledge.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Lean Recertification

Have questions or need additional information?

certification@sme.org
Online Inquiry Form