Lean Series
Help Your Business Work Smarter with Lean Training
Every business has hidden time-wasters: extra steps, unclear processes, repeated mistakes, delays, and workarounds that quietly drain productivity.
Lean training helps employees at any level find them - and fix them - which saves time, improves quality, lowers costs, and creates a culture where they are empowered to make meaningful improvements.
Smarter work starts here. Choose a pathway and stack skills and credentials as you go.
How to Register
If you are 18+ and enrolling only yourself, you can register over the phone or online. Full payment is due at the time of registration.
Phone: 319-398-1022 opt. 5
Online: Find the online registration link in the class descriptions below.
Want to enroll your employee or team? We offer registration options for businesses and organizations!
Workforce Funding
Eligible employers may have access to WTED funding for these courses. Early registration is highly encouraged. To determine if you are eligible, please click the link to view WTED funding information.
Sponsorship Billing
To sponsor an employee's enrollment, please fill out our Sponsorship Billing Form by clicking the link below, selecting the "Sponsors" option, and following the instructions.
Please Read: Important Information
- Interested in WTED Funding? Click here to access the online application.
- If pursuing WTED funding, the funding application must be submitted before submitting a Sponsorship Billing Form.
- Not interested in funding or know you are not eligible? No funding application is required - simply complete the Sponsorship Billing Form.
Lean Continuous Improvement (CI)
These five classes are perfect for individuals and teams starting, or advancing, their Lean CI knowledge, focusing on making small, incremental changes to processes and systems in order to continuously improve them.Join this interactive introduction to Lean thinking and CI for leaders and professionals alike, focusing on workflow, communication, inefficiencies, and immediately usable tools.
Date: 9/17/26
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Cost: $169
Instructor: Kara Hinzie
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161333
Workplace problems often feel repetitive, frustrating, or harder to solve than they should be. This course introduces practical CI tools to identify inefficiencies, find root causes, reduce workplace friction, and improve day-to-day systems.
Date: 10/1/26
Time: 1 - 5 p.m.
Cost: $199
Instructor: Kara Hinzie
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161341
Tired of solving the same problem over and over again? This course moves beyond continuous improvement buzzwords and helps participants actually improve the process. Identify workflow breakdowns, reduce frustration, and apply Lean tools to real workplace issues.
Date: 10/15/26
Time: 1 - 5 p.m.
Cost: $199
Instructor: Kara Hinzie
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161339
This advanced course is for leaders, supervisors, and improvement champions focused on facilitation, coaching without blame, accountability, and sustainable change.
Date: 10/22/26
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Cost: $169
Instructor: Kara Hinzie
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161340
Conclude with this highly interactive session that combines key Lean mindsets and practices to help participants build mindsets and habits to stay confident, adaptable, and effective in a rapidly changing environment.
Date: 10/27/26
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Cost: $169
Instructor: Robert Rathje
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161342
Training Within Industry (TWI)
These three workshops are designed for frontline leaders and supervisors to build the practical skills needed to confidently manage people, teach work effectively, and improve everyday processes.Get the full, comprehensive curriculum of TWI training by enrolling for the full series! Save 10% compared to registering for each class individually.
Equips new and experienced supervisors to build positive employee relations, increase collaboration and motivation, improve engagement, and resolve conflict fairly. Organizations benefit when leaders have a consistent approach to employee relations, resulting in fewer misunderstandings, better retention, and less time spent managing avoidable workplace problems.
Date: 8/25/26
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: $799
Instructor: Steve Wilson
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Teaches supervisors and front-line trainers a four-step method to train employees quickly, safely, correctly, and consistently the first time. Ideal for anyone responsible for onboarding, cross-training, quality, safety, or process consistency.
Date: 9/15/26
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: $799
Instructor: Steve Wilson
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161336
Improve the way work gets done - one method at a time. This course teaches supervisors and team leads to analyze work, question each detail, improve methods, increase output, and reduce waste through a structured process.
Date: 10/20/26
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cost: $799
Instructor: Steve Wilson
Location: Kirkwood Regional Center at U of I, Coralville
Class ID: 161337
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification (Hybrid)
This hybrid training is designed to help professionals build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to pursue the globally-recognized Green Belt certification.This hybrid course begins Sept. 14, 2026. Participants must complete all online learning modules and coaching sessions by Dec. 21, 2026.
This hybrid Six Sigma Green Belt training includes:
- Self-paced online curriculum
- Seven live virtual coaching sessions* with instructor Steve Wilson
- Practice exams
- Green Belt Certification exam
*Participants must bring a project to the course that they can develop and refine during the coaching sessions.
Self-Paced Online Learning
Participants will complete structured Green Belt and Black Belt modules aligned to the DMAIC framework - Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control. Each learning block is designed to take no more than three hours, with topics including:
- SIPOC
- Voice of the Customer
- CTQs
- Data Collection & Statistical Analysis
- Solution Design
- Risk & Control Planning
Live Virtual Coaching Sessions
Seven facilitated coaching sessions will reinforce key concepts, review participant project progress, and provide guided discussion and instructor feedback. Sessions are conducted in a cohort environment for collaboration. Focus areas include:
- Project Selection & Charter Development
- Process Definition & Stakeholder Alignment
- VOC Translation & Measurement Strategy
- Data Analysis & Baseline Performance
- Root Cause Validation & Analytical Rigor
- Solution Selection, Risk Mitigation, & Implementation Planning
- Control Planning, Sustainability, & Project Closure
Yes. Participants will be able to sit for the Six Sigma Green Belt Certification exam, and upon successful completion, will obtain this industry-recognized certification.
Program cost: $2,499
Includes online curriculum, live coaching, practice exams, and certification exam fee.
Use the link below to register for the program. Full payment is due at the time of enrollment.
Optional exams are available at an additional cost:
ASQ: $483
IASSC: $301
Meet Your Instructors
Kara Hinzie is a leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations improve processes, develop leaders, and navigate change. Throughout her career in transportation, supply chain, and operations, she has led Lean initiatives that increased efficiency, reduced waste, strengthened teams, and created cultures of continuous improvement.
Kara believes Lean is most successful when it empowers people, not just processes, to solve problems and improve the way work gets done. A true operator at heart, she is passionate about making Lean practical, realistic, and accessible, equipping people at every level with tools they can confidently apply in their daily work.
Robert Rathje is a purpose-driven, results-focused professional who is passionate about helping organizations, teams, and individuals actualize their full potential. Robert has an MBA from the University of Iowa, Master Trainer certification from the Association for Talent Development (ATD), SHRM-CP certification from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Change Management certification from Kotter International, Extended DISC Authorized Partner, and is a certified Mental Performance Mastery Coach.
Steve Wilson is a sought-after advisor, coach, consultant, and speaker, passionate about helping individuals and organizations reach their full potential. An ASQ Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and trainer of 1,000+ practitioners, Steve brings deep expertise in process improvement alongside his work as a Certified Working Genius Facilitator — with a rich background in leadership across executive, operational, and strategic roles in corporate, nonprofit, and faith-based sectors.
With over 25 years of experience, Steve is frequently engaged by teams seeking expert guidance in leadership development, team dynamics, organizational health, and continuous improvement.
Questions?
Kirkwood Continuing Education
Phone: 319-398-1022 opt. 5
Email: contactce@kirkwood.edu