Lean Excellence Project Showcase

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A New Addition to the N.E.W. Lean Conference

The Lean Excellence Project Showcase is an exciting new event that shines a spotlight on teams bringing Lean Six Sigma to life. This pre‑conference experience gives project teams a dynamic platform to share breakthrough improvements, highlight measurable results, and celebrate the power of Lean thinking within their organizations. By participating, teams also earn the chance to compete for the Lean Excellence Award—recognizing standout projects that embody lean leadership, continuous improvement, customer focus, data‑driven decision-making, and long-term sustainability.


During the showcase, participating teams will:

  • Present a recent DMAIC or DMADV project 
  • Share measurable results, lessons learned, and key takeaways 
  • Contribute to advancing Lean culture across the region


This pre-conference experience is held on September 29.  Winners will be selected through a structured evaluation process and announced the following day at the N.E.W. Lean Conference.

Person placing colorful sticky notes on a glass wall during a planning or brainstorming session.

Participation & Award Criteria

Participation Requirements

Organizations and teams are encouraged to participate if they have:

  • Completed a Lean Six Sigma project within the past 24 months
  • Achieved measurable improvement tied to customer or business value
  • Demonstrated effective use of Lean tools and problem‑solving
  • Strengthened processes, culture, or operational performance

Projects of all sizes, industries, and experience levels are welcome.

Project Format

To help ensure consistency, we will provide detailed project expectations, and each team will follow the structure outlined below:

  • DMAIC or DMADV format - The template for these formats will be provided to you once you register to compete.  
  • One‑page A3 project summary submitted in advance
  • 10–20‑minute project presentation during the showcase

Award Criteria

During judging, projects will be evaluated on:

  • Lean Leadership: Evidence of coaching, engagement, and empowerment
  • Cultural Change or Enhancement: Behavioral shifts, sustainability, and team adoption
  • Lean Tools: Appropriate use of methods such as VSM, 5S, Visual Management, Standard Work, A3, Mistake Proofing, etc.
  • DMAIC/DMADV Rigor: Clear Define–Measure–Analyze–Improve–Control (or DMADV) structure used to validate findings and implement sustainable solutions

How to Participate

Teams interested in presenting should submit the project interest form.
 After submission, you will receive instructions for preparing your A3, presentation guidelines, and scheduling details.

Complete the Project Interest Form