How To Become A Lean Manufacturing Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a lean manufacturing manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Most people have never heard of the lean manufacturing technique. However, this methodology for increasing efficiency in manufacturing by focusing only on what is of value to the customer is increasingly popular in many industries. A lean manufacturing manager is a manager trained in the lean manufacturing technique that can apply this method to their company's work.

The lean manufacturing manager's day is dedicated to efficiency. They may work with a team to identify everyone's strengths, streamline project management processes, and improve document control. The foundation of a lean manufacturing manager's job are kaizen events, or rapid improvement processes developed in Japanese businesses.

Although lean manufacturing started in the automotive industry, it is being adapted in other sectors as well. A lean manufacturing manager can find work in engineering, tech and more, as long as they have a qualification in lean manufacturing and usually a bachelor's or master's degree.

ScoreLean Manufacturing ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.8

Avg. Salary $106,060

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.9

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

2.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.51%

Asian 9.06%

Black or African American 3.80%

Hispanic or Latino 12.98%

Unknown 3.86%

White 69.80%

Gender

female 11.62%

male 88.38%

Age - 48

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48

Stress level

9.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.3

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a lean manufacturing manager

Explore lean manufacturing manager education requirements

Most common lean manufacturing manager degrees

Bachelor's

68.6 %

Master's

18.6 %

Associate

8.8 %

Start to develop specific lean manufacturing manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Lean Manufacturing	8.76%
Sigma	7.44%
Process Improvement	6.81%
Visual Management	5.93%
Lean Tools	5.73%

Complete relevant lean manufacturing manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lean manufacturing managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lean manufacturing manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lean manufacturing manager resumes.

Gain additional lean manufacturing manager certifications

Lean manufacturing manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific lean manufacturing manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for lean manufacturing managers include Six Sigma Black Belt and Six Sigma Green Belt.

More About Certifications

Research lean manufacturing manager duties and responsibilities

Manage OEM accounts and lead demand generation & proposals.
Manage global, multi-facete, highly visible sales growth and logistics projects.
Implement lead manufacturing principles to achieve continuous improvement processes; hire qualified machinists; ensure division-wide OSHA compliance.
Streamline document control process and work instructions in support of ISO certification.

Prepare your lean manufacturing manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lean manufacturing manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lean manufacturing manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable lean manufacturing manager resume templates

Build a professional lean manufacturing manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your lean manufacturing manager resume.