Lean Master Certification | 2027

Lean Master Certification is delivered by MRC and Mike Hoseus, former General Manager at Toyota.  The program features blended learning through a mix of classroom instruction, instructor-led exercises at host companies, and one-on-one coaching for each participant.

MRC’s Lean Master Certification is earned through the successful completion of a Standardization or PDCA project.

In Lean Master Certification, participants will learn how:

• Value stream mapping can help visualize improvement opportunities

• The Scientific Method of Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) can proactively and reactively eliminate the root cause of problems

• Lean Daily Management Systems can share performance information and prioritize improvement work at all levels

• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can create a shared ownership of equipment to maximize the operation by reducing downtime

• Understanding the Yellow Belt Six Sigma problem-solving approach of Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) can help your collaboration with Green and Black Belt Improvement Leaders

• Lead and sustain change management by proactively minimizing resistance, building readiness, and equipping individuals to embrace and adopt Lean-driven improvements

Price: $4,750 Early registration discount price $4,250 by February 16, 2027

• 12 days (2-3-day sessions every 3 weeks)
• All sessions run 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
• Includes course materials, light breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages
• Includes offsite session(s) hosted at local manufacturers as available*
• Prerequisite: Foundations of Lean Certification

*Contact Nicole Pierce if interested in hosting opportunities at your manufacturing facility.

*Subject to change

• Week 1: April 13-14, 2027
• Week 2: April 28-29, 2027
• Week 3: May 12-13, 2027
• Week 4: May 24-26, 2027
• Week 5: June 2-3, 2027
• Week 6: June 8, 2027

Gene Kaschak, VP, Continuous Improvement & Leadership Development Strategy

Gene Kaschak brings a hands-on, people-first approach to Lean manufacturing and workforce development at MRC. He leads MRC’s Lean Manufacturing Programs, helping manufacturers build practical, lasting capability in Lean, not just theory. At the core of his work is a strong belief that sustainable improvement comes from valuing and developing the people doing the work.

He is the driving force behind the Foundations of Lean Factory Experience, an immersive training environment that simulates a real factory floor. Participants gain hands-on experience and leave with skills they can apply immediately.

Gene partners with manufacturers across the region to deliver customized Lean solutions, including process improvement, workforce training, and problem-solving. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and is a certified TWI Job Instruction and Toyota Kata trainer.

Janelle Rabenold, MSHRM, SHRM-SCP, Director, Leadership Development and Training Strategy

Janelle Rabenold is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience in Organizational Development, specializing in leadership and talent development. She helps individuals and teams achieve personal and business goals and is a trusted coach, facilitator, and strategic partner.

Her expertise includes situational leadership, team dynamics, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and strategic initiatives such as succession planning, change management, strategy development, and performance optimization.

Janelle holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management & Learning and Performance Management from Moravian University and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Albright College. She is SHRM-SCP certified and trained in tools including DiSC, MBTI, TKI, FIRO-B, Watson Glaser, Belbin, OCI, Prosci, DDI, Phillips ROI, and Caliper. She brings a strong commitment to continuous improvement, helping organizations and individuals drive meaningful growth and lasting results.

Mike Hoseus, Author, Executive Director Center for Quality People & Organizations (CQPO), Lexington, Kentucky

Mike is Executive Director for the Center for Quality People & Organizations (CQPO), an organization developed in 1999 as a vision of Toyota Motor Manufacturing to share Lean Quality philosophy and human resource practices with education, business, and community organizations.

Mike is an adjunct professor with the University of Kentucky’s  Center for Manufacturing, and a member of the faculty of Lean Enterprise Institute. Prior to CQPO, Mike was a corporate leader for 13 years at Toyota Motor Manufacturing’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant both in Human Resources and Manufacturing. Mike currently supports organizations with Lean Culture transformations focusing on the roles of Executive Management and Human Resources and how the quality people value stream connects to the production value stream.

Richard Titus, Jr., Ph.D. Titus Consulting

Richard Titus, PhD, is a Master Black Belt who spent nearly 20 years at Ingersoll-Rand in a variety of positions including operations management, IS, materials management, and manufacturing and design engineering among others.  Dr. Titus is certified as a Black Belt and Master Black Belt by Six Sigma Qualtec where he also received his Lean training.

Rich received his BS in industrial engineering and MS in manufacturing systems engineering from Lehigh University where he has been a lecturer and adjunct faculty member since 2000.  In 2019, he earned his PhD in industrial engineering from Penn State University focusing his research on supplier selection.  Dr. Titus has supported over 350 Lean Six Sigma projects in over 60+ companies resulting in over $50 million dollars of real savings.

Contact Nicole Pierce at (484) 655-4873 or nicole.pierce@mrcpa.org