ISO 18404 – Competency Alignment Statement & Capability Policy

Greece Lean Six Sigma
Competencies for Lean & Six Sigma – Individual and Organizational Requirements

1. Purpose

Greece Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) formally affirms its alignment with the international standard ISO 18404:2015, which defines the competency requirements for individuals and organizations applying Lean, Six Sigma, or an integrated Lean Six Sigma approach.

This policy establishes how ISO 18404 competency requirements are embedded into:

  • curriculum design and learning outcomes,
  • assessment and certification criteria,
  • instructor qualification standards,
  • capability development for individuals and organizations.

As an Accredited Training Organization (ATO), GLSS ensures that its training and certification practices are competency-based, transparent, and aligned with internationally recognized professional profiles.

2. Scope of Application

This policy applies to:

  • Lean Six Sigma Yellow, Green, and Black Belt programs,
  • Lean and Six Sigma professional development pathways,
  • instructors, coaches, mentors, and assessors,
  • assessment tools, project requirements, and certification documentation.

Where applicable, the policy also supports organizational capability development in line with ISO 18404 requirements for Lean and Six Sigma adoption.

3. Key Commitments under ISO 18404

3.1 Competency-Based Certification

All certifications issued by Greece Lean Six Sigma are competency-based, not attendance-based.

Candidates must demonstrate, at a level appropriate to their certification:

  • Theoretical knowledge of Lean / Six Sigma principles, tools, and methods
  • Practical application through real or structured simulated projects
  • Analytical capability and structured problem-solving
  • Behavioural and interpersonal skills, including communication, teamwork, and leadership

Certification decisions are based on evidence of competence, not solely on examination scores.

3.2 Individual Competency Frameworks

GLSS structures its learning pathways and assessments according to the professional profiles defined in ISO 18404, including:

  • Lean Practitioner / Lean Leader
  • Six Sigma Green Belt / Six Sigma Black Belt
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt / Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Each profile is mapped to ISO-defined competencies across three domains:

  • Technical competence (methods, tools, data analysis)
  • Analytical competence (problem definition, root cause analysis, decision-making)
  • Interpersonal and leadership competence (communication, facilitation, influence)

Expected learning outcomes, project requirements, and assessment criteria are explicitly aligned to these profiles.

3.3 Instructor Qualifications and Governance

All instructors, coaches, and assessors delivering ISO 18404-aligned programs:

  • meet or exceed the Lean Expert or Six Sigma Master Black Belt competency level as defined by ISO 18404,
  • possess demonstrated project and teaching experience,
  • operate under the GLSS Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Instructors are responsible for:

  • mentoring candidates throughout project execution,
  • objectively reviewing project work and evidence of competence,
  • ensuring alignment with ISO standards and certification integrity.

3.4 Curriculum Alignment and Periodic Review

All curricula, learning materials, project templates, case studies, and assessment instruments are:

  • designed in alignment with ISO 18404 competency requirements,
  • reviewed at least annually or upon material changes in standards or market needs,
  • version-controlled and approved through GLSS academic governance processes.

Particular attention is given to alignment with:

  • Annex A – Requirements for Individuals, and
  • Annex B – Requirements for Organizations (where applicable).

3.5 Recognition, Documentation, and Transparency

GLSS ensures full transparency regarding achieved competencies.

Learners receive clear documentation specifying:

  • certification level and role profile (e.g. ISO 18404-aligned Lean Six Sigma Green Belt),
  • domains of demonstrated competence,
  • training hours, project scope and duration,
  • tools, methods, and frameworks applied.

This enables employers, partners, and institutions to objectively understand the certified individual’s capability level.

4. Why ISO 18404 Alignment Matters

Alignment with ISO 18404 ensures that:

  • Lean Six Sigma competencies are benchmarked against an international reference standard,
  • certifications reflect real capability, not nominal titles,
  • professionals enhance employability and career credibility,
  • organizations develop structured, sustainable improvement capability,
  • trust is built through objective, measurable, and comparable outcomes.

5. Integration into the GLSS Management System

This policy forms part of the integrated Educational, Quality, and Governance Management System of Greece Lean Six Sigma and is aligned with:

  • ISO 13053 – DMAIC methodology and statistical rigor
  • ISO 21001 – Educational Organizations Management System
  • ISO 29993 – Non-formal Learning Services
  • ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems

Approval & Governance

Greece Lean Six Sigma
Approved by: Victoria Tsolidou
Founder & Managing Director

Version: 1.1
Date of Issue: 02.05.2024
Last Review: 2025

Annex A – Requirements for Individuals

(ISO 18404:2015 – Annex A)

This Annex defines the competency requirements for individuals applying Lean, Six Sigma, or Lean Six Sigma methodologies, in accordance with ISO 18404:2015. Greece Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) uses these requirements as the foundation for curriculum design, assessment, certification, and professional development.

A.1 General Principles

Individual competence is defined as the integrated combination of:

  • knowledge,
  • skills,
  • experience, and
  • professional behaviours

that enable effective and ethical application of Lean and Six Sigma in real operational environments.

Competence is assessed holistically, not through isolated knowledge testing alone.

A.2 Technical and Methodological Competence

Certified professionals must demonstrate, according to their role and level:

  • understanding of Lean, Six Sigma, and DMAIC principles,
  • correct selection and application of improvement tools,
  • appropriate use of data and statistical methods,
  • capability to design, implement, and control improvement interventions.

Indicative tools include:

  • SIPOC, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), CTQ Trees
  • Measurement System Analysis (MSA)
  • Statistical Process Control (SPC)
  • Hypothesis Testing and Regression Analysis
  • Process Capability Analysis
  • Control Plans and Visual Management

A.3 Analytical and Cognitive Competence

Individuals are expected to:

  • define problems using data and evidence,
  • analyse variation and root causes,
  • evaluate alternative solutions,
  • make structured, data-driven decisions,
  • manage risk and uncertainty appropriately.

A.4 Interpersonal and Leadership Competence

ISO 18404 recognises that technical proficiency alone is insufficient.

Professionals must also demonstrate:

  • effective communication,
  • facilitation of teams and workshops,
  • stakeholder collaboration,
  • change leadership and resistance management,
  • ethical conduct and professional accountability.

A.5 Demonstration and Evidence of Competence

GLSS requires competence to be demonstrated through a combination of:

  • written examinations,
  • project documentation (DMAIC reports),
  • practical or simulated improvement projects,
  • presentations or structured reviews,
  • behavioural assessment where applicable.

Annex B – Requirements for Organizations

(ISO 18404:2015 – Annex B – where applicable)

This Annex defines the organizational capability requirements for the sustainable application of Lean, Six Sigma, or Lean Six Sigma, in accordance with ISO 18404:2015.

GLSS applies these requirements within:

  • organizational diagnostics and assessments,
  • transformation and improvement projects,
  • capability maturity evaluations,
  • executive and leadership coaching engagements.

B.1 Leadership and Governance

Organizations are expected to:

  • demonstrate clear leadership commitment,
  • define roles, responsibilities, and accountability,
  • integrate Lean Six Sigma into strategy and governance,
  • support evidence-based decision-making.

B.2 Structured Capability Development

Organizations should establish:

  • defined improvement roles (Yellow / Green / Black Belt),
  • structured development and mentoring mechanisms,
  • alignment between training initiatives and business objectives,
  • systems for knowledge retention and dissemination.

B.3 Project and Performance Management

Organizations are required to:

  • select improvement projects based on strategic value,
  • apply a standardized methodology (DMAIC),
  • track performance indicators and benefits realization,
  • ensure sustainability of achieved results.

B.4 Culture and Behaviour

ISO 18404 emphasises that success depends on:

  • a culture of continuous improvement,
  • respect for people,
  • transparency and trust,
  • acceptance of learning through experimentation and failure.

B.5 System-Level Continuous Improvement

Organizations should:

  • periodically assess Lean Six Sigma maturity,
  • adapt structures, practices, and governance mechanisms,
  • align with evolving international standards,
  • ensure long-term, sustainable value creation.

Relationship of the Annexes to GLSS Services

Greece Lean Six Sigma:

  • applies Annex A to individual training, certification, and professional development,
  • applies Annex B to organizational diagnostics and transformation initiatives,
  • connects individual competence and organizational capability through a unified, standards-based framework.