Lean Six Sigma Leadership Yellow Belt (online)



Overview

This intensive five-session course offers a hands-on introduction to the core principles of Lean Six Sigma, a globally recognised method for improving business performance through greater efficiency and effectiveness.

It’s an ideal starting point for professionals in leadership, management or project-based roles who want to improve processes, streamline services and drive meaningful change across teams or organisations.

Each session is highly interactive, with opportunities to apply Lean Six Sigma techniques in collaborative group exercises. You’ll explore how these tools work in practice, and how to adapt them for projects involving dispersed or cross-functional teams.

Delivered by experienced practitioners in an accessible way, the course will help you understand:

  • Whether Lean Six Sigma is right for your role or organisation
  • What’s involved in becoming a Lean Six Sigma practitioner
  • What it takes to embed Lean Six Sigma as a business-wide approach

Other Lean Six Sigma courses

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt: An intensive course designed for those ready to lead improvement projects and apply Lean Six Sigma in more depth.

Dates, Times and Delivery

This course will be delivered live, from our purpose-built broadcast studio, with opportunities to ask questions during the sessions, as well as via the online collaboration environment.

The course is delivered over 5 x 90 minute sessions, from 10:00am - 11:30am on:

  • Monday 16 February 2026
  • Tuesday 17 February 2026
  • Wednesday 18 February 2026
  • Thursday 19 February 2026
  • Friday 20 February 2026

Programme details

  • The end result: What will people know at the end of the day?
  • Why should you be interested? (Benefits) 
  • What is ‘Lean’? What is ‘Six Sigma’? And how do they work together? 
  • LSS as a human, practical, team-working method
  • Key ideas of LSS
  • Improvement projects – practice, management and governance 
  • Introduction to the core tools of LSS
  • LSS training and certification
  • Deploying LSS into an organisation
  • Reminder of key benefits
  • References
  • Further resources

Who is this Course for?

You will benefit from this course if: 

  • You have an interest in improving the effectiveness and efficiency in your organisation
  • You want to reduce delivery times and increase the quality of services and products
  • You are a leader in an organisation considering implementing a business improvement activity
  • You are considering becoming a practitioner in Lean Six Sigma and want to fast-track your route into this exciting area.

This course is aimed at leaders and future practitioners who may have little or no experience of business improvement methodologies, such as:

  • Managers and leaders of organisations who may be considering introducing Lean Six Sigma practices, and want a good overview before committing further resources
  • Future practitioners of Lean Six Sigma. This may be from a variety of backgrounds, but are likely to currently be project managers, business analysts, staff involved in service redesign in the NHS, and functional managers within organisations
  • Business consultants who want to extend their work into the area of Lean Six Sigma
  • Senior staff who are new to organisations employing Lean Six Sigma and need to ‘get up to speed’ quickly and efficiently

No knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or other business process improvement methodologies is required or assumed.

Certification

In order to be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you will need to attend the whole course. Participants who meet this criterion will be emailed after the end of the course with a link, and instructions on how to access their University of Oxford digital certificate.

The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate, as well as share it on social media if you choose to do so.

Fees

Description Costs
Standard course fee £685.00

Payment

Fees include electronic copies of course materials. 

All courses are VAT exempt. 

Register immediately online  

Click the 'Book now' button on this webpage. Payment by credit or debit card is required. 

Request an invoice 

If you require an invoice for your company or organisation, please email us to request an online enrolment form. Payment is then accepted online, by credit/debit card, or by bank transfer. 

Tutor

Dr Rob Collins - Speaker

Visiting Fellow

Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford

Dr Rob Collins is a visiting fellow of Kellogg College, Oxford and regularly teaches courses at the University. Dr Collins has taught on the MSc in Software Engineering through Oxford University’s Computing Laboratory for over 20 years. He currently teaches modules on Classical Machine Learning, Software Testing and Safety Critical Systems.

Dr Collins also teaches courses in Artificial Intelligence, Systems Thinking, Agile, Machine Learning, Design Thinking and Business Process Improvement. He regularly provides consultancy to industry in the area of Business Process Excellence, Artificial Intelligence and Systems Engineering. He gained his Black Belt Certification in Lean Six Sigma from Lockheed Martin, the world's largest Systems Engineering company and a world-leader in advanced technology.

As well as his undergraduate degree in Physics and Computing, Dr Collins holds a PhD focussed on training, psychology and processes for introducing complex technology into learning environments. He completed an MBA in 2012 at Henley Business School, and so has a strategic business view as well as deep understanding and practical experience of hands-on process improvement in technology and service.

Application

If you would like to discuss your application or any part of the application process before applying, please click 'Ask a question' at the top of this page.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online using Microsoft Teams. You will be required to follow and implement the instructions we send you to fully access Microsoft Teams on the University of Oxford's secure IT network.

To participate you must be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.
It is advised to use headphones with working speakers and microphone.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support