Liquid Lean Certificate
Modular Continuous Improvement for the Process Industries Delivered by HFL CI The Liquid Lean Certificate provides a structured, practical route to building Lean capability in the process industries. It is designed to help companies translate proven methods into measurable gains in capacity, cost, service and working capital. The programme is built from the established HFL CI courses already delivered through the CIA. As a result, many delegates may find they are already part-way towards achieving the qualification.

Why Liquid Lean?

Process manufacturing faces increasing pressure to do more with existing assets, improve responsiveness, and compete across complex supply chains.

Tools such as Business Diagnostics, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping and SMED have consistently demonstrated their ability to:

• release capacity without capital investment
• reduce inventory and working capital
• shorten manufacturing and supply lead times
• improve OTIF and customer responsiveness
• expose constraints in operational design
• create a culture of structured, repeatable problem solving

Liquid Lean brings these capabilities together into one coherent development pathway.

How the Certificate Works

To achieve the certificate, delegates complete seven modules which are delivered through a mix of in-person and virtual:

• Four core courses (mandatory)
• Plus three selections from five optional modules

Delegates:

• may start anywhere and anytime in the programme
• can complete modules in any order
• can build credits over multiple years
• receive recognition for relevant courses previously attended

For 2026, the courses begin in March, run approximately monthly, and the full programme cycle repeats on a ten-month rolling basis.

Attendance is free for Full CIA member companies for up to three delegates. For non-members, the fee is as advertised for each individual course.

Upon completion a formal certificate will include a transcript to confirm achievement.

Core Modules (4)

• Lean for Chemicals – Applying Lean in the Process Industries
• Business Diagnostics and Analysis – Finding the Opportunities
• Chemical Kaizen – Running Improvement Workshops
• Value Stream Mapping in the Process Industries – Creating Flow in Chemicals

Optional Modules (choose a minimum of 3 from 5)

• Visual Factory – Understanding Your Plant at a Glance
• Writing Procedures – Current Best Practices
• Problem Solving in Production – Structured Tools for Daily Issues
• Changeover Reduction for Chemicals (SMED)
• Lean Supply Chains – Exploring the Bigger Picture

Focus on Implementation & Results

Liquid Lean is not simply about attending courses.

Participants are expected to apply the methods within their own areas and deliver tangible business improvements.

To support this, the programme includes:

• Two in-person implementation workshops per year
• Additional virtual support sessions
• Peer discussion of challenges and progress
• Guidance on overcoming organisational barriers
• Shared learning from other sites

This structure helps ensure that training converts into real projects and measurable outcomes, not just knowledge.

Active involvement from a delegate’s management sponsor is strongly encouraged to maximise impact.

Who Should Attend?

The pathway is particularly relevant for:

• production and operations managers
• CI and improvement practitioners
• engineers and technical specialists
• future operational leaders

How to Sign Up

We request that delegates register their interest by contacting the CIA so we know the demand.  Email to events@cia.org.uk

Attendance is simply by signing up to the relevant courses through the CIA’s events page as the individual courses are released for booking. Delegates who have registered their interest will also be directly contacted about upcoming courses and workshops.

Start Building Capability

With modules running throughout the year and previous attendance counting towards the award, your team may already be closer than you think.