Process optimization with lean, kaizen and CIP and artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting for managers and project managers

The course first explains AI technologies and effective applications, but also the limits of AI. The course then introduces the topic of KAIZEN (Japanese: KAI for "change" and ZEN for "for the better"), focusing on process optimization with the help of customer requirements. The concept of lean management with its evaluation models within quality management and the topic of CIP - continuous improvement process in product, process and service quality - are then presented.
  • Certificates: Certificate "Process optimization with Lean, Kaizen and CIP"
    Certificate "Artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting for managers and project managers"
  • Examination: Praxisbezogene Projektarbeiten mit Abschlusspräsentationen
  • Teaching Times: Full-time
    Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m. (in weeks with public holidays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m.)
  • Language of Instruction: German
  • Duration: 5 Weeks

Artificial intelligence (AI) and prompting for managers and project managers

Basics of artificial intelligence (AI) (approx. 0.5 days)

What is AI?

How AI works and areas of application

Importance and relevance for managers and project managers


Prompting - Effective collaboration with AI systems (approx. 1 day)

Introduction to prompting and AI dialogs

Prompting strategies: Zero-Shot, Few-Shot, Chain-of-Thought, Multi-Prompting

Key components for effective prompting

Application in a management and project context

Recognizing pitfalls (bias, hallucination)


Use cases and possible applications of AI in companies (approx. 0.5 days)

Practical examples and tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot Chat and Gamma

Management perspective - personnel development, communication, decision support

Project perspective - project planning, resource deployment, monitoring and reporting


Legal basics (approx. 0.5 days)

EU AI Act and implications for companies and projects

Copyright, right of use, data protection, GDPR


Opportunities, risks and ethical issues (approx. 0.5 days)

Bias, hallucination and data quality

Responsible use of AI in the company


Effects of AI on the understanding of leadership (approx. 1 day)

Communication in the age of AI - human-machine collaboration

Preparing employees for the use of AI

Making management tasks more efficient with AI

AI-supported control, change management in hybrid teams


Project work (approx. 1 day)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results

Process optimization with Lean, Kaizen and CIP

What is CIP/Kaizen/Lean? (approx. 0.5 days)

Definition, goals, benefits (CIP vs. Kaizen vs. Lean)

Principle of small steps


Historical development of the CIP (approx. 1 day)

Supply/demand orientation

Japanese corporate culture

Toyota Production System

Development of modern quality and management systems (e.g. TQM)

Overview of maturity level and assessment models (EFQM)


Framework conditions for successful CIP (approx. 0.5 days)

Role of management

Communication and transparency

Employee participation

Corporate culture and motivation

Interface and team management

Quality management principles (e.g. ISO 9001)


Philosophy of CIP/Kaizen (approx. 1 day)

The five central principles

Internal customer/supplier principle

Interaction of innovation, standard and kaizen

Tasks of management and employees


Customer requirements and satisfaction (approx. 1.5 days)

Market and stakeholder analysis

Kano model

Requirements and wishes

CTQ methods (Translation Matrix, CTQ Tree)

Vuca and agility

Integrated management systems


Process optimization: Efficiency for the benefit of customers - Lean management: Value and waste (approx. 1 day)

Philosophy: Focus on customer requirements

Productivity - Quality - Availability - Flexibility

Value creation and non-value creation

The 7 types of waste (TIMWOOD)

3 MU: Muda, Mura, Muri


Implementation of Kaizen and CIP (approx. 1 day)

Prerequisites for Kaizen in the company

Development of a continuous improvement culture

5S method/5A campaign

Kaizen as a management system

Kaizen roadmap


Synchronize processes (approx. 0.5 days)

Production in the customer cycle

Cycle time, cycle time, throughput time

Cell logic

One-piece flow

Pull principle (supermarket) and push principle

Just-in-time logistics [JIT]


Value stream analysis (approx. 0.5 days)

Value stream mapping (actual and target value stream)

Value added quotient [WQ]

Visualization: benefits, symbols, data box


Level production/Heijunka (approx. 0.5 days)

Heijunka vs. series

Heijunka box

Batch size 1

Application example

Increasing the number of cycles

Kanban flow system (material and information flow)


Improve production facilities (approx. 0.5 days)

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) incl. autonomous maintenance

Key process indicators (KPIs, OEE)

Minimization of set-up times (SMED)


Standardize processes (approx. 1 day)

Quality policy standardization

Advantages of standards

Standards in the company

Questions about the standard

Defining processes, from the process landscape to the process description

Visualization

3 process states

Worker self-check


Controlling processes (approx. 2.5 days)

ISO 9001 requirements (4.4, 8.1, 8.5.1): Customer key figures (Cpk/Sigma level)

Process management

Process analysis

Standard tools: Q7 and M7

Process efficiency analysis

AI-supported data analysis, statistical process control [SPC]

SPC in series production: interpreting quality control charts [QRK], automation (Jidoka)


Evaluation models (approx. 1 day)

PDCA: Improvement of improvement

Self-assessment maturity level ISO 9004 and EFQM

Management assessment according to ISO 9001

6-W questioning technique

4-M/7-M checklists

Benchmarking and best practice

Balanced Scorecard (BSC)

Hoshin Kanri, X-Matrix

AI-supported evaluation of trends, key figures and assessments

Measurement of customer and employee satisfaction


Error prevention and systematic problem solving (approx. 2 days)

Development according to customer requirements

Risk management: risk landscape, matrix [FMEA]

Poka Yoke, error classification, error culture/Hansei

Internal audits

Customer communication: complaint management, 8D report

10 steps to problem solving with tools (Q7, M7)

Root cause analysis: 5 Why, 6 W (Root Causes)

A3 problem solution sheet

AI-based pattern recognition for error and quality data


Empowering employees (approx. 1 day)

Ownership and entrepreneurship

Roles of managers and employees

Change management

Promoting employees (TWI)

Employee satisfaction

Competence and awareness, knowledge management (ISO 9001)

Idea management (BVW)

Teamwork in a lean context

Quality Circle [QC]

Agile methods

Community of Practice (CoP)

Coaching Kata and Improvement Kata


Visual Management and Shopfloor (approx. 0.5 days)

Principles of visual control

Visual process control, Andon (traffic light)

Store floor management

Digital dashboards and AI-supported process visualization


Quality controlling - finances (approx. 0.5 days)

Quality cost model, conformity/defect costs, rule of 10 (as a mental model)


Project work (approx. 3 days)

To consolidate the content learned

Presentation of the project results



Changes are possible, the course content is updated regularly.

After the course, you will be able to systematically analyze processes, identify potential for improvement and optimize them efficiently and purposefully using lean, kaizen and CIP methods.

In addition, you will have basic knowledge and practical skills for the use of AI technologies in a corporate and project context. You are proficient in using tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot Chat and Gamma and can develop strategies to understand, evaluate and select AI systems. You will also be able to take legal and ethical aspects into account and successfully support employees and project teams in the use of AI.

The course is aimed at specialists and managers from the areas of quality and process management as well as those responsible for change processes.

Process optimization specialists are in high demand across all industries and are among the most important specialists in modern companies.

Additional know-how in artificial intelligence (AI) helps you as a specialist and manager to advance companies in the digital transformation and to use AI as a tool to improve efficiency, decision-making and innovative strength.

Your meaningful certificate provides a detailed insight into the qualifications you have acquired and improves your career prospects.

Didactic concept

Your lecturers are highly qualified both professionally and didactically and will teach you from the first to the last day (no self-study system).

You will learn in effective small groups. The courses usually consist of 6 to 25 participants. The general lessons are supplemented by numerous practical exercises in all course modules. The practice phase is an important part of the course, as it is during this time that you process what you have just learned and gain confidence and routine in its application. The final section of the course involves a project, a case study or a final exam.

 

Virtual classroom alfaview®

Lessons take place using modern alfaview® video technology - either from the comfort of your own home or at our premises at Bildungszentrum. The entire course can see each other face-to-face via alfaview®, communicate with each other in lip-sync voice quality and work on joint projects. Of course, you can also see and talk to your connected trainers live at any time and you will be taught by your lecturers in real time for the entire duration of the course. The lessons are not e-learning, but real live face-to-face lessons via video technology.

 

The courses at alfatraining are funded by Agentur für Arbeit and are certified in accordance with the AZAV approval regulation. When submitting a Bildungsgutscheinor Aktivierungs- und Vermittlungsgutschein, the entire course costs are usually covered by your funding body.
Funding is also possible via Europäischen Sozialfonds (ESF), Deutsche Rentenversicherung (DRV) or regional funding programs. As a regular soldier, you have the option of attending further training courses via Berufsförderungsdienst (BFD). Companies can also have their employees qualified via funding from Agentur für Arbeit (Qualifizierungschancengesetz).

We will gladly advise you free of charge.

0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm
free of charge from all German networks.

Contact

We will gladly advise you free of charge. 0800 3456-500 Mon. - Fri. from 8 am to 5 pm free of charge from all German networks.