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Don’t start with a solution. Trust the process."

Angela Scammell’s passion for Lean Six Sigma began during one of the most challenging periods in the aviation industry.

In 2001, Angela was leading Training and Organizational Development for a national airline when the events of 9/11 brought the aviation industry to a standstill. As airlines around the world struggled to survive, General Electric — an aircraft engine manufacturer and leasing partner — supported airlines by sharing the Lean Six Sigma approach it had used to dramatically improve quality, speed and cost performance.

Angela was fortunate to receive Black Belt training directly from GE, an experience that fundamentally changed how she approached problem-solving.

“What’s kept me passionate is simple: it works,” she says.

For Angela, Lean Six Sigma brings together data and frontline insight to create solutions that improve both customer and employee experiences while delivering meaningful business results. And seeing learners take those tools back to their workplaces and apply them successfully is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

Starting with the basics

One of the biggest misconceptions Angela encounters is that Lean Six Sigma requires an advanced background in mathematics or statistics.

Her approach is designed to make the concepts accessible to everyone.

“Many people assume Lean Six Sigma is highly technical because it uses statistics — but you don’t need an advanced math background to succeed,” she says.

Rather than assuming learners have recently studied math or statistics, Angela starts from the ground up. Concepts are explained in plain language and supported with illustrations, building the knowledge learners need step by step.

The bigger challenge, she says, is often a shift in mindset.

“Don’t start with a solution. Trust the process.”

By following the Lean Six Sigma tools and involving the right people, learners can uncover solutions that are often better than the ones they might have assumed at the beginning.

Learning by doing

Angela’s teaching philosophy is rooted in application rather than theory.

During the first four courses of , learners work online, at their own pace, and apply each concept to a running case study, allowing them to see how the tools work in practice. These four courses should be taken in order as each builds on the previous course.  Live instructor support is available throughout the online portion, and if there is interest from two or more learners, a weekly live online tutorial can be offered.

The hands-on learning continues with an immersive, three-day, in-person project simulation.

During the simulation, participants work through a full Lean Six Sigma project from start to finish, using the DMAIC methodology to improve a “broken” business process. Most of the tools introduced throughout the program are put into practice in a realistic project environment.

“It’s the most hands-on way possible,” Angela says.

For Angela, that practical experience is key. By the end of the program, learners have not only learned Lean Six Sigma tools — they have used them in a setting that mirrors the challenges they may encounter in their own workplaces.

“That builds both skill and confidence, so they’re ready to apply Lean Six Sigma in their own workplace.”