Hire the Best Lean Consultants

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Timothy S.

Quezon City, Philippines

$20/hr
5.0
6 jobs

I am a lean six-sigma green belt practitioner (Training for my Black Belt), and I've been working with data professionally since 2016. I can communicate proficiently and provide feedback and recommendations when heading my projects. I am goal-oriented and a very focused worker who can help you resolve your analytical needs fast.

  • Data Analysis
  • Presentation Design
  • Business Process Management
  • Data Mining
  • Data Cleaning
  • Tableau
  • Data Visualization
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Visual Basic for Applications
Mary Katherine T.

O'Fallon, Missouri

$175/hr
5.0
4 jobs

Most organizations aren't struggling because of a lack of effort. They're struggling because their priorities are misaligned, their strategy isn't translating to execution, and their people are working hard on the wrong things; often while going through change they were never fully prepared for. That is exactly where I come in. I'm Dr. Mary Kay Taylor, an organizational transformation, change management, and AI strategy consultant, and former Chief of Staff, with 20+ years of experience helping leaders and organizations cut through complexity and build the structures, clarity, and accountability systems that produce real results. My background spans Chief of Staff and enterprise change leadership roles, organizational development, and learning & development so I don't just design the strategy; I know how to build the readiness, governance, and capability systems that make it stick. What I do differently: Most consultants wait for you to define the problem. I diagnose what is actually wrong, often something you can't see from inside your own system. I identify the misalignment hiding underneath all the activity. I name the priorities that are pulling in the wrong direction. And then I build the strategic, operational, and change framework to fix it and make sure your people actually adopt it. I work with leaders who are ready to be challenged, because real clarity almost always requires it. WHO I WORK WITH: • Organizations and leadership teams at strategic inflection points: growth, leadership transition, AI adoption, operational transformation • Leaders who have a strategy on paper but can't translate it to execution • Teams that are misaligned: competing priorities, disconnected initiatives, activity without results • Organizations navigating major change (technology, restructuring, M&A) who need structured change management and readiness planning to protect adoption • Leaders who need an outside perspective that tells them the truth, not what they want to hear • Industries: Healthcare | Technology | Consulting | Operations | Professional Services | Financial Services | Academic & Research Institutions WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH: • Strategic clarity — priorities aligned to what actually matters • Governance and accountability structures that hold without micromanaging • AI roadmaps tied to your business strategy, not to trends or vendor promises • Change readiness and adoption plans (ADKAR-based) that keep initiatives from stalling after go-live • Execution frameworks your team can sustain without me in the room • The confidence that you are pointed in the right direction and equipped to get there ENGAGEMENTS I OFFER: • Strategic Alignment Assessments (diagnostic + written recommendations) • AI Readiness Assessment & Roadmap • Executive Strategy Advisory (ongoing hourly) / Chief of Staff Support • Change Management & Organizational Readiness (ADKAR-based — impact assessments, readiness assessments, stakeholder engagement, adoption planning) • Learning & Development / Capability Building Strategy • Workshop Facilitation (half-day and full-day) • PMO / Portfolio Strategy & Governance • Organizational Transformation Planning A NOTE ON HOW I WORK: I do not do the work for you. I make you capable of doing it yourself, and I hold you to the standard you set for your organization. If you are looking for someone to validate what you already believe, I am probably not your consultant. If you are ready to get honest about what is not working and build something better — let's talk. CREDENTIALS: • Dr. Mary Kay Taylor, MBA, GTML, CSSMBB • Certified Change Management Practitioner (APMG) • 20+ years: Organizational Transformation | Change Management | Operational Excellence | AI Strategy | Talent & Leadership Development • Industries: Healthcare | Technology | Consulting | Operations | Financial Services | Academic & Research • Upwork: 5.0 Rating | Rising Talent Ready to get clear on what's actually holding your organization back? Schedule a Discovery Call and let's find out.

  • Lean Consulting
  • Change Management
  • Organizational Design & Effectiveness
  • Process Improvement
  • Strategic Planning
  • Organizational Plan
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Business Strategy
  • Corporate Strategy
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Project Portfolio Management
  • Strategy
  • Business Transformation
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Management Consulting
  • Leadership Development
  • AI Governance
  • AI Consulting
  • Executive Coaching
  • Training & Development
Sona M.

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

$70/hr
5.0
17 jobs

Inefficient processes cost you time, money, and customers. I find where — and fix it — with 12+ years of Lean Six Sigma discipline. I'm Sona Murgai, Founder & Principal Advisor of Process Velocity Advisors LLC, a business process consulting firm serving small businesses, mid-market companies, and healthcare organizations. I'm also the author of Lean Management Essentials (Vibrant Publishers). Before founding the firm, I spent 12+ years in process excellence at GE and Genpact — as a functional Master Black Belt, Black Belt trainer, and Master Coach — where I mentored 200+ Green Belt and Black Belt projects, designed Black Belt training and certification assessments, and led the Process Excellence function for the Consumer Goods, Pharma, and Life Sciences business units of a global outsourcing firm. I've helped process owners cut costs, reduce errors, and grow revenue across Healthcare, Pharma, Life Sciences, Retail, Retail Lending, Credit Cards, and Consumer Goods. HOW I WORK: ● Define the process and success metrics up front ● Map the current state — how work actually flows, including the exception paths ● Analyze root causes with data, not opinions ● Improve: design and implement changes your team can sustain ● Control: measure results against the baseline, then standardize with SOPs, controls, and dashboards ENGAGEMENTS I TAKE ON: ● Business process mapping, analysis, and redesign ● Operational efficiency audits with a prioritized improvement roadmap ● SOP development and process documentation ● Workflow automation readiness — requirements, tool selection, and (for healthcare) HIPAA/BAA compliance validation before you build; for technology builds I work with an established technology delivery partner, with design and accountability staying with me ● Lean Six Sigma training and coaching — Green Belt/Black Belt mentoring, Black Belt curriculum design, Advanced Lean programs ● Project management and change management for improvement initiatives CERTIFICATIONS: Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (functional) · Certified Six Sigma Black Belt · Certified Advanced Lean Trainer · MBA Most engagements start with a fixed-fee Operations Diagnostic — a structured assessment delivering a process map, findings, and a roadmap you can act on with or without me. Message me with the operational problem you're facing — I'll respond with specific questions, not boilerplate. Sona Murgai Founder & Principal Advisor, Process Velocity Advisors LLC Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt

  • Lean Consulting
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Minitab
  • Six Sigma
  • Process Improvement
  • Project Management
  • Change Management
  • DMAIC
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Business Process Management
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Business Process Modeling
  • Process Optimization
Jay J.

Adelaide, Australia

$28/hr
5.0
2 jobs

🏡 Australian Council Approval Drawings & 3D Architectural Visualizations Need professional architectural drawings for Development Approval (DA), Planning Approval, Building Approval, or high-quality 3D visualizations for your project? I help homeowners, builders, developers, and designers transform concepts into council-ready documentation and realistic architectural presentations. Services Include: ✔ Council Approval Drawings (Australia) • Site Plans • Floor Plans • Elevations • Sections • Roof Plans • Development Application (DA) Drawings • Planning Submission Drawings • Building Approval Documentation • Existing & Proposed Drawings ✔ 3D Architectural Services • Revit 3D Modelling • Photorealistic Exterior Renderings • Interior Visualizations • Concept Design Presentations • Architectural Animations • Massing Studies & Development Visualizations ✔ Residential & Small Commercial Projects • New Homes • Extensions & Renovations • Granny Flats • Townhouses • Multi-Unit Developments • Commercial Fit-Outs Why Work With Me? • Master of Architecture Graduate (Australia) • Over 8 Years of Industry Experience • Worked with 250+ Clients Across 25+ Countries • Advanced Revit, AutoCAD & Architectural Visualization Skills • Strong Understanding of Australian Planning and Documentation Requirements • Clear Communication and Fast Turnaround Please note: I provide professional architectural drafting, design support, and visualization services. Final submissions, certifications, engineering design, and council lodgements remain the responsibility of the client and relevant licensed consultants where required. Contact me before ordering so we can discuss your project requirements and determine the best solution for your development.

  • 2D Drafting
  • CAD Drafting
  • Planning Permission Preparation
  • 3D Modeling
  • Autodesk Revit
Kate P.

Cheyenne, Wyoming

$45/hr
4.9
146 jobs

With over 18 years of experience across industries as far-ranging and disparate as aircraft maintenance, ecommerce fulfillment, oil and gas, immigration law, healthcare, and education, among others, am proud to be entering a fifth year as a one-hundred-percent, location-independent consultant. I endeavor to continue to LEARN HARD and WORK HARDER! I have led multiple global organizations that range in size from 50 to 300 personnel and specialize in e-tail, e-commerce, and retail migration. I also have a 'traditional' logistics skillset, especially when it comes to aircraft operations, airframe logistics, project management, inventory control, and continuous process improvement. Bottom-line is that I produce high-quality work on time, on cost, and on spec and which is backed by not one, but TWO Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certifications (USAF and GE). I have a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Area Studies with a minor in Russian and general engineering as well as a Master of Science in Logistics Management. I completed all coursework for my MBA at Strathclyde Business School in Scotland in September 2019. I am a bibliophile and runner that is passionate about leadership, learning, management, think tanks, writing, politics, and current events. Thank you in advance for your time.

  • Microsoft Office
  • Total Quality Management
  • Report Writing
  • Microsoft Word
  • Six Sigma
  • Economics
  • Business Operations
  • Statistics
Jenny C.

Atlanta, Georgia

$195/hr
5.0
3 jobs

Most AI trainers teach tools. I teach people how to think differently so the tools actually work. I am Dr. Jenny Cotton. A Claude AI expert, educator, business strategist, people operations consultant and the person your team has been waiting for. As a strategist and educator, I understands people, operations, and business at a level most AI consultants never will. For the last six years I ran and managed a $100 million operation at Georgia Tech. That includes leading through COVID recovery, rebuilding teams, redesigning systems, and keeping a complex organization moving when everything around it was falling apart. I know what it means to operate under pressure and come out stronger. I hold a doctorate in leadership, an MBA, a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and a DiSC certification. DiSC is a behavioral assessment tool that helps me understand how people are wired, how they communicate, how they process change, and what they need to perform at their best. That matters in AI training because the technology is never the hard part. The people are. I have also taught at the college level, which means I know how to take complex concepts and make them land for any audience. I know how organizations actually run. I know where the friction lives. And I know exactly how to fix it. Here is what makes me different from every other AI consultant in this space. I start with strategy. Most people skip this step and wonder why their automation does not work. I do not let that happen. We get clear on where you are, where you are going, and what is slowing you down. Then we automate to accelerate, building Claude workflows, AI employees, and systems that eliminate the repetitive so your people can do the work only humans can do. AND we make sure to take care of the human as well. AI adoption is overstimulating. Change is hard. I pace this work with intention so your team walks away confident and capable, not burned out and overwhelmed. I am a people person. I love people and I want to see them win. This is not a transaction. It is a coaching relationship. The framework is simple: Strategy. Automate. Elevate. What I bring to your team: Business strategy and operational assessment Live Claude training sessions and executive workshops Advanced prompting techniques and reusable templates Claude Skills, Projects, and custom AI employee builds Workflow automation for emails, content, scheduling, reporting, and dashboards Custom playbooks and training materials your team keeps forever Ongoing coaching and office hours If you are ready to stop managing chaos and start building a business that runs smarter, let's talk.

  • Leadership Training
  • Leadership Development
  • AI Agent Development
  • Claude
  • Business Strategy
  • Team Training
  • Automated Workflow
  • Change Management
  • Streamline

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Don't just take our word for it

What does a Lean consultant do?

A lean consultant guides organizations to eliminate waste and improve workflow by applying lean principles directly to daily operations. This role focuses on coaching managers and line workers to adopt lean thinking rather than just prescribing theoretical solutions. You partner with clients to identify specific challenges and build internal capability through hands-on practice. The work centers on practical transformation support that helps teams take ownership of continuous improvement.

  • Map current and future value streams using pencil-and-paper or digital tools to visualize workflow bottlenecks and design implementation plans. You analyze each step in a process to identify non-value-added activities and create a clear direction for operational changes. These maps serve as the foundation for strategic decisions and help teams understand where to focus their improvement efforts.
  • Coach teams through the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle to solve problems and build lasting lean capability within the organization. You work shoulder-to-shoulder with staff on the shop floor or in office settings to apply these principles to real business objectives. This approach ensures that workers learn how to use lean tools themselves rather than relying on external experts for every adjustment.
  • Design and lead customized workshops and Kaizen events that address the client’s specific operational goals and daily work realities. You facilitate these sessions to help participants discover effective approaches to lean transformation while solving immediate production or service issues. These interactive learning activities accelerate the adoption of new methods and align leadership with frontline execution strategies.

How to hire a Lean consultant on Upwork

Step 1: Post a job

Define your process improvement goals and required lean methodologies in the job description. The Job Post Generator powered by Uma™, Upwork's Mindful AI drafts a complete post from a few sentences about your needs. You can write a new post, update a saved draft, or reuse an existing post to start hiring.

  • Specify whether you need value-stream mapping, Kaizen event facilitation, or PDCA coaching for your team.
  • List the specific business objectives, such as reducing waste in manufacturing or optimizing software development cycles.
  • Include any required industry experience, such as healthcare, automotive, or technology sectors, to attract relevant experts.

Step 2: Evaluate candidates

Review portfolios for evidence of measurable process improvements and successful lean transformations. Uma runs instant video interviews and builds shortlists with side-by-side comparisons to help you identify top performers quickly.

  • Look for current-state and future-state value-stream maps that demonstrate analytical depth and strategic planning skills.
  • Check for case studies showing how the consultant coached managers and line workers to adopt lean thinking independently.
  • Verify experience delivering customized enterprise workshops that align with day-to-day operational realities.

Step 3: Interview your top choices

Discuss their approach to diagnosing workflow bottlenecks and building internal capability within your organization. Schedule and conduct interviews within Upwork Messages, which generates an immediate transcript and summary after each session.

  • Ask how they facilitate Gemba walks to observe actual work processes rather than relying solely on reported data.
  • Request examples of how they tailored lean tools to fit unique cultural or structural challenges in past clients.
  • Evaluate their method for sustaining improvements after the initial consulting engagement ends.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Set clear milestones for deliverables like training sessions, implementation plans, and coaching cycles. Use Upwork Messages and the contract workroom for communication and project management, plus identity verification, payment protection, hourly tracking, and project funds for security.

  • Define the output for value-stream mapping phases, including specific diagrams and actionable implementation roadmaps.
  • Establish a schedule for leadership development coaching sessions to build long-term lean capability in your team.
  • Agree on metrics for success, such as reduced cycle times or lower defect rates, to track progress objectively.

Upwork is not affiliated with and does not sponsor or endorse any of the tools or services discussed in this article. These tools and services are provided only as potential options, and each reader and company should take the time needed to adequately analyze and determine the tools or services that would best fit their specific needs and situation.

The rates and information provided in this article are based on current data and industry sources available at the time of publication. Freelance rates can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, project scope, and market conditions. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research to confirm current rates and trends, as this information may change over time.

How much does hiring a Lean consultant cost?

Hiring a Lean consultant typically costs $800-$2,500 per project, depending on scope and experience. Final pricing reflects the complexity of your value streams, the depth of coaching required, and whether you need basic mapping or full enterprise transformation support.

Value-stream mapping

$800-$1,500/project

Entry-level to mid-level
  • Visual diagram of existing process flows and waste points
  • Proposed workflow design with identified improvements
  • Summary of steps needed to reach the future state

Kaizen event facilitation

$1,500-$3,000/project

Mid-level
  • Agenda and objectives for the improvement workshop
  • Guided team sessions to identify and solve problems
  • Prioritized tasks assigned to team members for implementation

Lean training workshops

$3,000-$5,500/project

Mid-level to senior-level
  • Training materials tailored to your specific industry challenges
  • Live sessions teaching lean tools and PDCA cycles
  • Reference documents for ongoing team application

Leadership coaching

$5,500-$9,000/project

Senior-level
  • Evaluation of current management lean maturity levels
  • One-on-one guidance for managers on lean thinking
  • Roadmap for building internal lean leadership capability

Enterprise transformation strategy

$9,000-$15,000/project

Expert-level
  • Multi-phase plan for organization-wide lean adoption
  • Standardized processes for sustaining improvements
  • Key performance indicators to track progress and ROI

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a Lean consultant worth it?

For most businesses, yes: hiring a Lean consultant is worthwhile. These experts coach your team to identify waste and apply lean principles directly to your daily work. They build internal capability so improvements continue after the engagement ends.

How do I evaluate Lean consultant candidates?

Look for consultants who demonstrate hands-on coaching experience rather than just theoretical knowledge. Ask them to describe how they used value-stream mapping or PDCA cycles to solve a specific process bottleneck in a past project.

What deliverables should I expect from a Lean consultant?

A Lean consultant typically produces current-state and future-state value-stream maps to guide your implementation plan. They also conduct custom workshops and provide leadership coaching to support your transformation journey.

How does a Lean consultant help my team adopt new processes?

They partner with managers and line workers to apply lean tools shoulder-to-shoulder in real work situations. This practical approach helps your team take ownership of improvements and sustain changes over time.