Lean Manufacturing Certification
Reduce waste in operations.
Create value through everyday improvement.
GIC Vietnam independently assesses how businesses implement and sustain Lean against defined criteria, based on workplace practices and actual data. Certification helps businesses demonstrate implementation results, identify improvement priorities and strengthen responsibility for sustaining results.
Lean creates value through workflow improvement
Lean Management is an approach that focuses on value-added activities for customers, reducing waste and improving workflows. In manufacturing, this approach is commonly known as Lean Manufacturing. Lean principles also apply to services and support activities.
Shorter response times
Identify and address bottlenecks, reduce waiting and unnecessary handovers, and help work move smoothly between process steps.
Efficient use of resources
Reduce overproduction, excess inventory, unnecessary transport and motion; organise work to match actual demand and capacity.
Sustained quality and improvement
Standardise working methods, detect and address defects early, and encourage employees to participate in problem-solving and everyday work improvement.
Where Lean applies: Production lines, workshops, warehouses, service delivery processes and support activities. Businesses may apply for certification within a defined scope. GIC Vietnam reviews the scope and related activities to determine their suitability for the applicable certification scheme.
From Lean practice to evidence of improvement
The assessment combines observation of workflows, discussions with personnel and a review of records and data to determine how the business identifies problems, implements improvements and sustains results.
| Focus area | Business practices | Examples of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Value and objectives | Identify customer requirements, intended outputs and priority issues for improvement within the implementation scope. | Quality and response time requirements; improvement objectives; performance indicators and baseline data. |
| Workflows and waste | Review process steps and material and information flows; identify bottlenecks, waste and non-value-added activities that remain necessary. | Value stream maps or workflow diagrams; data on waiting, inventory and handovers; a list of issues to address. |
| Organising workflow | Connect process steps and coordinate work according to demand; control work in progress (WIP) and inventory between steps. | Work arrangements and material supply rules; demand-driven replenishment signals such as Kanban where appropriate; data before and after improvement. |
| Standardisation and defect control | Establish consistent working methods, detect and address abnormalities promptly, and update instructions following improvements. | Work instructions and visual management; records of defects and rework; mistake-proofing measures (Poka-Yoke) and inspection results. |
| Measurement and sustainment | Monitor indicators, review results, assign responsibilities and encourage personnel to participate in continual improvement. | Data over successive periods; problem-solving records; assigned follow-up responsibilities and evidence that improved working methods are sustained. |
Ensuring comparability: Before-and-after data should have a consistent scope and calculation methods, with comparable measurement periods. Changes in output volume, product or service mix and operating conditions should be clarified. Improvement results are considered alongside conformity with quality requirements, customer needs and the ability to sustain results.
Certification outcomes reflect the implementation scope
Before the assessment, GIC Vietnam agrees with the business on the sites, processes, activities and certification criteria, and clarifies the conditions for certification, validity period and ongoing requirements under the applicable scheme.
What will your business receive?
- Assessment report: Sets out the level of conformity, the evidence and data supporting the assessment, and issues requiring corrective action or improvement within the assessed scope.
- A basis for prioritising improvements: Helps the business select issues to address, assign responsibilities and track results.
- Lean certificate upon meeting the requirements: Specifies the scope, basis for certification and validity period.
Steps to certification
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Agree on the scope and plan
GIC Vietnam receives the application, reviews the implementation status and agrees with the business on the scope, criteria, data to prepare, assessment duration, fees and schedule.
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Assess practices and data
The assessment team observes operations, interviews personnel and cross-checks records and improvement data, then consolidates the results and discusses the findings with the business.
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Address nonconformities
The business identifies the causes, takes corrective action and provides evidence. GIC Vietnam reviews the results and conducts additional checks where needed.
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Review and certification decision
The assessment documentation is reviewed and the certification decision is made by personnel who were not involved in the assessment. A certificate is issued when the business meets all requirements.
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Maintain Lean and undergo subsequent assessments
The business maintains Lean practices, monitors results and reports changes affecting the scope and conditions of certification, and cooperates in surveillance and reassessment under the applicable scheme.
Preparing for an assessment of actual operations
Businesses should review information and records and make assessment arrangements in the following four areas:
- Scope and contact personIdentify the sites, processes and product or service groups proposed for certification, the start and end points of each process, relevant departments, working shifts and the person responsible for Lean.
- Current practicesPrepare workflow diagrams, instructions, assigned responsibilities and information on the improvement tools and measures currently in use.
- Data and improvement recordsCompile objectives, baseline data, monitoring results over successive periods and indicator calculation methods, along with problem-solving records and evidence of sustained improvement results.
- On-site assessment arrangementsArrange observation during appropriate operating hours; ensure relevant personnel are available for discussions and source data is ready for cross-checking.
Frequently asked questions
How far should Lean implementation progress before an assessment?
Businesses should have Lean practices in place within the scope proposed for certification, with clear objectives, monitoring data and evidence of sustained implementation. When applying, provide information on the implementation status and improvements made so GIC Vietnam can review it and agree on a suitable assessment plan.
Can a single production line or service process be certified?
Businesses may apply for certification of a specific production line or service process. GIC Vietnam reviews the scope, related activities and their suitability for the applicable scheme. Any claims about certification and use of the certificate must be consistent with the scope stated on the certificate.
Is implementing 5S sufficient for Lean certification?
5S can provide a foundation for Lean, but implementing 5S alone is not sufficient to conclude that Lean certification requirements are met. The assessment also considers workflow organisation, waste reduction, use of data and sustained improvement against the applicable criteria. Lean tools are selected to suit the operations and problems to be addressed.
What level of improvement is required, and how long is the certificate valid?
The conditions for certification, methods for assessing results, validity period and ongoing requirements are defined by the applicable Lean certification scheme. GIC Vietnam provides specific information before the assessment. The level of improvement is assessed based on the data, scope and operating conditions established.
How are fees and timelines determined?
Fees and timelines depend on the number of sites, the scale and complexity of processes, working shifts, implementation status and data to be reviewed. GIC Vietnam proposes a plan and quotation based on the application information. Certificate issuance depends on the assessment results, completion of corrective action and the certification decision.
Discuss your Lean certification needs
Please provide information on the sites and processes proposed for certification, the scale of operations and current Lean implementation status. GIC Vietnam will guide you through the application and propose a suitable plan and quotation.
