OU Lean Institute

Exciting opportunity! Register for the December 10th White Belt class & save $150 on your next Green or Black Belt training. This exclusive offer is valid until midnight on November 30, 2023, and cannot be combined with other discounts. Invest in your education and enhance your skills today! https://conta.cc/3XThiC9

Limited Time: Grab Your $150 Discount Now! Email from University of Oklahoma Your Chance to Save is Here! Register before Midnight November 30!     IT'S HERE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY     ENDS Midnight November 30!   SAVE $$ your next Belt Train

Lean Institute's Virtual Book Club – Help Us Choose the Best Meeting Time!

We’re excited to kick off our next book club discussion with Joy, Inc. by Richard Sheridan! To ensure as many members can participate, we’d love your input on the best date and time to meet.

Please take a moment to fill out this quick survey: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tMD6MPqrzHXss6

This virtual session will be moderated by Brian deFonteny, who will guide the discussion and share his own insights.

We look forward to a great conversation! Stay tuned for the final date announcement.

Spaces are limited, so don't wait! Register for one of the two offered time slots on the right and reserve your spot on this literary journey. Let's read, reflect, and dive into the heart of an unforgettable story together!
Purchase the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/6DDBQHG
(It is available as an e-book, audiobook, or hardcover and can also be rented from your local or online library.)

Please register for the session that best suits your schedule by clicking on one of the timeslots below. A Zoom invitation link will be sent automatically upon registration.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2025 at 12:00 pm CST: https://oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYqcumupzsoGdfoYDgetG70yn9K3LLI677y

Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 at 7:30 pm CST: https://oklahoma.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIudu-prz0tHd1jqOyKVKIlIcq9psve-bp0

*INSTRUCTOR HIGHLIGHT*

Joyce Hinton

Joyce has extensive experience in Lean Six Sigma, having begun her journey with the OU Lean Institute in 2005. With a background in administrative processes at companies like Western Electric, Lucent, and Celestica, she first became intrigued by Lean Six Sigma concepts while collaborating with engineers trained in these methodologies. After being laid off, she transitioned to Lean Six Sigma training at Rose State College for Tinker Air Force Base, where she provided on-site coaching and support for students pursuing Lean certifications. Over time, Joyce earned her Green Belt and later her Black Belt, leading to teaching role at the University of Oklahoma, where she now focuses on Green Belt and White Belt courses.

Joyce is deeply committed to providing her students with an exceptional learning experience. She regularly updates her curriculum by researching industry trends, benchmarking with other organizations, and refining her materials to stay relevant. She believes Lean Six Sigma's simple yet powerful concepts can greatly improve both professional growth and quality of life. The most rewarding aspect of her teaching is witnessing the "light bulb" moments when students grasp the concepts.

Although Joyce doesn’t actively track her students' progress after certification, she often hears from them through emails or public encounters, affirming the long-term impact of her teachings. Her philosophy is centered on viewing students as customers and ensuring they receive the best effort and support possible. She is passionate about making Lean Six Sigma accessible to all, even those with minimal educational backgrounds, and uses real-world examples to help her students relate to and apply the material. Joyce's teaching style is rooted in knowledge transfer, student engagement, and practical application, shaped by her mentors and years of hands-on experience in the field.

Also, don't miss our EXCLUSIVE, ONE DAY ONLY, FLASH SALE: 50% Off Our Online White Belt Class taught by Joyce. (Sign up this Monday, December 2nd and SAVE BIG: https://oupacsrcc.ungerboeck.net/prod/emc00/PublicSignIn.aspx?&aat=452b4c2f384b2f5a4f39655a444a4358562f397475514d74675842726956657055774351594e696646786f3d )

*INSTRUCTOR HIGHLIGHT*

Brian deFonteny

Brian's Philosophy on Business Culture:
"I teach, coach, and write because every employee deserves to be valued, respected, and inspired to contribute to something larger than their assigned job tasks," says Brian, whose journey with Lean Six Sigma began in 2000 when he first encountered the methodology through tool-based training. Recognizing a significant gap, he soon realized the importance of business culture in fostering successful process improvement. His quest to bridge this gap led him to extensive self-study, eventually shifting his focus from tools to the broader business culture over the next 20 years.
Prior to fully dedicating himself to Lean Six Sigma, Brian worked at Tinker Air Force Base for 34 years, with the last 11 years dedicated to process improvement. He then transitioned to the energy sector, where he tirelessly promoted Lean concepts across the enterprise, emphasizing the crucial role of business culture.
Brian's teaching philosophy centers on understanding systemic influences and business culture as fundamental to effective process improvement. He critiques traditional management approaches that focus solely on tools without addressing the broader cultural context, often leading to short-lived improvements.
At the OU Lean Institute, Brian teaches workshops and classes, including Lean Leadership and Gemba Walking. All his teachings are grounded in Dr. W. Edwards Deming's principles of quality improvement, systems thinking, and respectful leadership. Despite challenges, Brian finds tremendous satisfaction in witnessing students transform their leadership and process improvement approaches.
Aa a prolific reader, Brian stays current with industry developments and leverages real-life examples to illustrate Lean principles. He aims to teach a workshop on system thinking, emphasizing a holistic view of organizations rather than focusing on isolated components.
Brian's commitment to fostering a collaborative business culture is evident in his critique of traditional management practices. He underscores the necessity of psychological safety and systemic thinking to drive meaningful and sustainable improvements. Through his work, Brian aspires to transform business leaders' mindsets, guiding them toward a culture that empowers employees and drives continuous improvement.

We are happy to share the following class opportunity!
The Lean Six Sigma Black Belt class is starting on August 26th. Course length is 15 days and the sessions are scheduled as follows: August 26th-30th, September 23rd-27th, October 21st-25th.

Register NOW: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/six-sigma-black-belt

Cost: $5800;

Early Bird Registration: $5700 (Ends August 11th)*

*Contact [email protected] for additional $50 off your Black Belt registration through August 11th by 11:59PM.

New Training Announcement and Upcoming Class Dates!

Introducing a remote Lean White Belt training taught by Joyce Hinton live via Zoom. July 24th, 8:30am-12:30pm
More: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/white-belt

Other upcoming classes:

Lean Six Sigma White Belt (In-person): July 17th, 8:00am-4:00pm More: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/six-sigma-white-belt

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (Remote), includes a bonus Leading with Lean training: August 19th - December 5th, 2024
More: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/remote-six-sigma-green-belt

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (In-person), includes a bonus Leading with Lean training: September 10th - December 12th, 2024
More: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/six-sigma-green-belt-plus

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (In-person): August 26th - October 25th, 2024
More: https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/six-sigma-black-belt

We are happy to share the following class opportunity!

On June 5th, we will be hosting a remote Lean Six Sigma White Belt class. Course length is 4 hours and it will be hosted via Zoom.

More information --> https://pacs.ou.edu/lean/belts-certifications/white-belt

Recommended Books for the Curious Mind
The following is from a list of preferred books from my personal library with specific quotes from each. Please share your thoughts on what you find most useful with your peers to generate their continued interest in learning.
-Brian deFonteny (instructor, OU Lean Institute)
If you'd like more information on this book, please click below:
https://a.co/d/cchYk5u

Recommended Books for the Curious Mind

The following is from a list of preferred books from my personal library with specific quotes from each. Please share your thoughts on what you find most useful with your peers to generate their continued interest in learning.
-Brian deFonteny (instructor, OU Lean Institute)

If you'd like more information on this book, please click below:
https://www.amazon.com/Everybody-Matters-Extraordinary-Caring-People/dp/0241975417/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TABT6HP1YUCG&keywords=everyone+matters&qid=1663340410&sprefix=everyone+matters%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1

Recommended Books for the Curious Mind

The following is from a list of preferred books from my personal library with specific quotes from each. Please share your thoughts on what you find most useful with your peers to generate their continued interest in learning.
-Brian deFonteny (instructor, OU Lean Institute)

If you'd like more information on this book, please click below:
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Ship-Around-Turning-Followers/dp/B08V4TFFCK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19I1A9PQ4XAW0&keywords=turn+this+ship+around+by+l.+david+marquet&qid=1661873890&sprefix=turn+this+%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

Recommended Books for the Curious Mind

The following is from a list of preferred books from my personal library with specific quotes from each. Please share your thoughts on what you find most useful with your peers to generate their continued interest in learning.
-Brian deFonteny

If you'd like more information on this book, please click below:
https://www.amazon.com/Friction-Untapped-Force-Powerful-Advantage/dp/B09BK1NJHJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=friction+the+untapped+force&qid=1661453713&sprefix=friction+the+un%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1