⚠️ This apprenticeship standard is being withdrawn from September 2026. New starts can still be enrolled until 17 December 2026, after which no new funded starts will be possible. Existing learners on programme will continue to be levy-funded to completion.
Improvement Technician Level 3
Master Lean Six Sigma foundations and transform your workplace through continuous improvement. Eliminate waste, optimise processes, and develop practical CI skills.
Who Is This For?
Manufacturing & Production
Lean tools to reduce cycle times, eliminate bottlenecks, and improve throughput. Drive measurable quality and efficiency gains.
Operations & Logistics
Streamline workflows, reduce waste in supply chains, and optimise warehouse operations. Make every process count.
Quality Assurance
Root cause analysis, defect prevention, and statistical process control. Build systems that catch problems before customers.
Healthcare & NHS
Apply Lean to patient pathways, theatre scheduling, and clinical workflows. Improve care quality whilst freeing up time.
Financial Services
Eliminate process waste in transaction handling, customer onboarding, and back-office operations.
Public Sector & Services
Lean principles adapted for service delivery. Improve citizen/customer experience whilst managing resources effectively.
Your Professional Qualification
ST0193 Improvement Technician
Level 3 Apprenticeship
DfE-approved standard covering continuous improvement, change management, data analysis, lean tools, and workplace problem-solving.
What You'll Learn
Lean Principles & Six Sigma
Lean fundamentals, Six Sigma basics, 8 wastes, PDCA cycle, and Kaizen thinking.
Process Mapping & Analysis
SIPOC, Value Stream Mapping, Voice of Customer, and root cause analysis.
5S & Standard Work
5S methodology, standard work procedures, and visual management techniques.
Statistical Process Control
SPC concepts, Pareto analysis, data-driven decisions, and quality control.
PDCA & Experimentation
PDCA cycles, Design of Experiments, hypothesis testing, and validation.
Business Case Development
Build business cases for improvement, change management, and sustainability.
Coaching & Mentoring
CMI coaching skills: mentor colleagues, support team development, and embed CI culture.
Safeguarding & Prevent
NCFE safeguarding knowledge, duty of care, and Prevent duty awareness.
Portfolio & EPA Preparation
Knowledge consolidation, mock assessments, and Gateway readiness.
Your 12-Month Learning Journey
Foundations
Lean principles, Six Sigma, 8 wastes, PDCA cycle, Kaizen thinking. Building the mindset and language of CI.
Process Mapping & Problem Solving
SIPOC, Value Stream Mapping, Voice of Customer, root cause analysis. See where problems hide.
Lean Tools & Data Analysis
5S, standard work, Statistical Process Control, Pareto analysis. Practical tools for waste reduction.
Experimentation & Implementation
PDCA cycles, Design of Experiments, business case development, change management. Implement sustainable solutions.
EPA
Knowledge test, improvement project report with presentation. Graded Distinction / Pass / Fail. ST0193 standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aged 18+ with Level 2 qualifications or equivalent. Suits frontline staff, technicians, and junior supervisors across all sectors. No prior Lean experience required.
12 months including weekly webinars (2-3 hours), study tasks (4-6 hours/week), on-the-job project work, and fortnightly 1-to-1 coaching. 8-12 hours per week total.
£4,000 funded through the Apprentice Levy. Government co-investment available for smaller employers.
Lean Six Sigma foundations with real workplace projects, 326 hours on-the-job learning, 1-to-1 coaching, and Ofsted Good with 4.9/5 ratings.
Strong success rates through structured mock assessments. Re-assessment support provided at no additional cost if needed.
Transform Your Operational Performance
Master Lean Six Sigma foundations and drive continuous improvement. 12 months, levy-funded.