Integrate your lean knowledge with leadership experience.

Lean Silver Certification represents your career progression in knowledge and responsibility as you become a senior employee and team leader. At this level, mentoring/coaching is required which confirms your ability to lead and mentor a team in the preparation, design, and execution of value stream transformations.

Process to Earn Your Certification

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

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

HELPFUL LINKS

• Body of Knowledge (PDF)
• Lean Silver Essential Body of Work (PDF)
• Lean Silver Blueprint (PDF)
• Lean 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 Silver Certification book package, which includes:

• Practical Lean Accounting: A Proven System for Measuring and Managing the Lean Enterprise
• The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles From the World's Greatest Manufacturer
• Toyota Production System: Beyond Large-Scale Production
• Purchase Core Reference Material Package

Real Numbers: Management Accounting in a Lean Organization, The Lean Design Guidebook, and Office Kaizen: Transforming Office Operations into a Strategic Competitive Advantage are also recommended reading titles and can be purchased at Amazon.com.

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

Apply Here

The Lean Silver 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 Silver Certification, candidates should have two or more years of professional experience that includes leading improvement teams; successfully applying lean thinking, processes, and techniques to value stream improvements; and nurturing lean behaviors in others.

The Lean Silver 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

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 Silver Certification Accomplishment Record

After passing your exam, to receive your Lean Silver 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 Silver Certification Accomplishment Record will ask you to provide a narrative of your accomplishments for each competency needed by a Lean Silver 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:

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

HELPFUL LINKS

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

6: Plan your next step

Upon passing your Accomplishment Record you will earn your Lean Silver Certification (LSC). During this time you may choose to pursue recertification or another certification rank. Your Lean Silver Certification is valid for three years.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Lean Recertification

Have questions or need additional information?

certification@sme.org
Online Inquiry Form