Lean Competency System (LCS)

The Lean Competency System is a continuous improvement qualifications framework launched in 2005 by the Lean Enterprise Research Centre at Cardiff University and run as a licensed service of the university. It defines a seven-level competency ladder from fundamental awareness to strategic leadership, accredits training providers and in-house academies as partner organizations, and issues certificates to practitioners, including through a recognition route for prior learning and experience. The LCS also runs community events and annual awards. It reports more than 160 accredited organizations, over 750,000 certificates issued, courses in more than 10 languages and activity in over 50 countries, with users such as Boeing, DP World, HSBC and the NHS.