Improvement Technician Apprenticeship (ST0193)

Improvement Technicians are responsible for delivery and coaching of improvement activity within an area of responsibility, often associated with Lean and Six Sigma methodologies. They can be found across all industry sectors and functions including automotive, banking, engineering, food products, IT, property, retail, telecoms Local and County Councils, NHS, Voluntary / Charity, Utilities, Pharmaceuticals, Insurance, Hospitality etc.

Course summary

Course summary

Typically, Technicians work as a member of an operational team to resolve problems – preventing re-occurrence, engaging others in issues affecting them and to support the improvement of performance. Typical activities include:

Engaging team members in the identification of improvement opportunities and relevant countermeasures and controls
Initiating and facilitating improvement activities through to confirmed resolution
Providing local expertise in business improvement methods and basic tools to team

There are a variety of job titles associated with the occupation, these include, but are not limited to: Business Improvement Co-ordinator, Continuous Improvement Executive, Process Technician, Operational Excellence/Lean Engineer, Lean Six Sigma Yellow belt and Quality Control Analyst, Environmental Compliance Technician, Environmental Construction Oversight, Environmental Health and Safety Inspector, and Transportation Planner.

Green job titles: Transportation sustainability improvement planner, Environmental improvement compliance technician and Environmental improvement health and safety inspector

Improvement Technicians have the Knowledge of:

Compliance: Legislative and customer compliance requirements including environment and health and safety
Team formation & leadership: Improvement team roles and responsibilities in a change environment
Self-development: Different sources for knowledge development
Project management: Project charter, Gantt chart, reporting documentation, Red Amber Green (RAG) status, communication (verbal and non-verbal channels) and implementation plans
Change management: Roles of the manager and leader within change. Influencing, reinforcement and coaching principles
Principles & methods: Six Sigma principles per ISO13053 (International Organisation for Standardisation), interim containment actions, Lean principles
Project selection & scope: Selection matrix, scoping tree
Problem definition: Exploratory data analysis, data collection planning, problem and goal statements
Process mapping & analysis: Supplier Input Process Output Customer (SIPOC), process mapping, value and waste analysis, performance metrics – discrete data
Data acquisition for analysis: Data stratification, sampling theory, data types, variation types and sources, data collection tools, operational definition and principles of measurement error
Basic statistics & measures: Control charts – discrete data
Process capability & performance: Capability analysis – continuous data
Root cause analysis: Histograms
Experimentation: Active analysis versus one factor at a time, Plan Do Check Act
Identification & prioritisation: Brainstorming, selection criteria
Sustainability & control: Process

Improvement Technicians have the following Skills within the context of their own organisation to:

Compliance: Work in accordance with organisational controls and statutory regulations
Communication: Share improvement progress through appropriate reporting
Project management: Plan, manage and implement improvement activities. Identify and support management of risks. Develop the business case for improvement activity and implementation
Change management: Engage through communications. Reinforce – positively and negatively. Effectively coach peers
Principles and methods: Use a structured method and appropriate improvement tools engaging with subject matter experts to deliver business benefits
Project selection and Scoping: Identify and scope improvement projects and establish clear measurable objectives
Problem definition: Develop a problem/opportunity statement supported by validated data
Voice of the customer: Apply techniques to identify customers, their requirements and translate these to metrics
Process mapping & analysis: Apply process mapping tools to visualise processes, analyse process performance establishing key insights for performance improvement
Lean tools: Apply techniques such as identification and removal of 8 wastes, 5S (Sort, Shine, Set, Standardise, Sustain), standard work, kaizen, visual displays and controls, error proofing, preventative maintenance
Data acquisition for analysis: Develop data collection plan and validated measurement processes to understand performance
Basic statistics & measures: Establish patterns and trends in data over time using tally, pie, run/trend and pareto charts
Data analysis-statistical methods: Identify common and special cause variation
Process capability & performance: Analyse product/process performance using good quality data
Root cause analysis: Use cause and effect diagrams, technique of 5 whys and graphical analysis to understand and verify root causes
Identification & prioritisation: Identify and prioritise improvement solutions
Benchmarking: Recognise the value of sharing best practice
Sustainability & control: Create control and reaction plans with detection measures, identify opportunities to embed changes to leverage benefit to the business.

Improvement Technicians demonstrate the following Behaviours:

Drive for results: Clear commitment for identifying opportunities and delivering improvements, pays attention to detail
Team-working: Helps when asked, works effectively in a diverse team, considers impact of own actions on others, motivates peers
Professionalism: Acts in a moral, legal and socially appropriate manner, aligns behaviours to the organisations values, trusted to working on own when appropriate
Continuous development: Acts upon feedback, reflects on performance and has a desire for learning
Safe working: Ensures safety of self and others, challenges safety

Why choose Leicestershire County Council as your provider?

Leicestershire County Council is an established main provider of apprenticeships, we offer a range of Apprenticeship Standards to employers including Education, Care, Management and Business.

From our base in Leicestershire we offer flexible delivery methods including face to face at the workplace, utilising communication technology and via our learning centres across the county.
We work collaboratively with each employer and new apprentice to develop an individual learning plan that fits around business need.
Our experienced Trainer Assessors deliver taught sessions and complete regular review session with each apprentice to support the learning journey and keep employers fully involved and informed.
Our learning materials are available at all times within our dedicated online learning platform, enabling additional self-study, revision and portfolio building throughout the programme.
Our Trainer Assessors are back up by administrators, coordinators and managers who are also here to support employers with all aspects of the programmes we offer.

Key information about the standard:

Level: Level 3
Typical duration to gateway: 14 months
Maximum funding: £4000
Route: Business and administration
Date updated: 13/12/2022
EQA provider: Ofqual

Full details of the specification can be found on the Institute for Apprenticeships website.

How to contact us:

To get in contact with us for an initial conversation about the learning opportunities we can offer you and your staff:

Call our central team on freephone 0800 988 0308 and ask to speak to a member of the ‘Work Based Learning Team’.
Email us directly at WorkBasedLearningTeam@leics.gov.uk with your enquiry.

Our service is accredited by the Matrix Standard, which underpins the quality of the information, advice and guidance we provide to our learners and employers. Initial conversations with our team aren’t binding and if we are unable to meet your needs; then we will advise you on the best alternative options.

**If you are interested in becoming an apprentice:**

Apprenticeship qualifications are directly linked to work and employment roles and, as such, are for those who are currently in work or are being recruited to a specific apprenticeship vacancy.

If you are in work and interested in using an apprenticeship qualification to enhance your existing skills and knowledge, or progress in your career, speak to your line manager about apprenticeship opportunities that your employer may have.

If you are looking for work and need support to find an apprenticeship role, you can call 0800 988 0308 or use the link to book an appointment with one of our Learning and Work Advisors who can provide free, 1:1, impartial advice. Alternatively you can search national apprenticeship vacancies in your area via the GOV.uk ‘Find an apprenticeship’ site.

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