Faculty Spotlight: Marv Meissner

For Marv Meissner, becoming an expert in Lean Six Sigma and process improvement flowed naturally from his career in engineering and business. It eventually led to his current position as a professor at Villanova University, a recognized leader in Lean Six Sigma education and certification, most notably the online Lean Six Sigma program.

In a recent interview, Meissner said he started working with the methodology in the 1980s, when the predecessor to Six Sigma methodology was known as Total Quality Management.

“I became involved with quality and continuous process improvement relatively early in my career and developed a lifelong passion for it,” Meissner said. Meissner now is a professor of practice for a variety of Six Sigma courses, including White Belt, Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt and Lean in Villanova University’s College of Professional Studies.

For those considering earning certification in Lean Six Sigma, Meissner offers a unique perspective on the power of implementing the methodology.

Asked about what advice he would give for someone on the fence about enrolling in Villanova’s Certificate in Lean Six Sigma program, Meissner took a practical, analytical Lean Six Sigma-style approach to his answer.

“It’s like anything else. There is a recognized value in quality,” he said. “All of the Lean Six Sigma instructors have extensive knowledge and practical experience in the course topics. Lean Six Sigma is one of the skill sets that most differentiates a resume and Villanova University’s courses and programs are some of the most widely recognized available.”

The Value of Lean Six Sigma Certification

In a wide-ranging interview, Meissner talked about Lean Six Sigma applications that he finds the most useful, the ongoing impact of Lean Six Sigma across many industries, the Lean Six Sigma certification program at Villanova and other topics related to the methodology.

After a long career in manufacturing, leading teams at the SUNY Polytechnic Institute and working as a process improvement consultant, what were the most important factors in your decision to choose Villanova University?

Villanova University has earned an excellent reputation in the field of Lean Six Sigma and is one of the top training and education providers for Lean Six Sigma, both online and on campus. Villanova University has given me the opportunity to impart my decades of Lean Six Sigma knowledge and experience to a new and large audience of students.

What does it mean to be a “Professor of Practice” at Villanova?

In general, “Professor of Practice” is reserved for a faculty member who may not have a PhD or JD but brings extensive “industry” experience to Villanova University. The title recognizes the value of making practitioner experience available to students.

What intrigues you about the concepts and tools of Lean Six Sigma?

The Lean Six Sigma methodology encompasses the world’s best concepts and tools with respect to process improvement and it is continuously evolving. With nearly 30 years of ongoing development, the methodology is virtually foolproof when implemented properly.

Talk about the value of earning a Lean Six Sigma education through Villanova.

Villanova University’s Lean Six Sigma education has earned a premier reputation and is one of the most popular set of courses and programs available on the market. Additionally, it is highly recognized by the industry. Several courses are offered in a 100% online, instructor-led medium and others are offered on campus, giving students the flexibility to learn in accordance with their personal and professional schedule under the guidance of a very seasoned Lean Six Sigma practitioner.

The biggest value differentiators for the students are Villanova University’s reputation of academic excellence and the quality and experience of the instructors.

Who are the ideal students for this program?

Most Villanova University Lean Six Sigma students are in mid-career and are looking to either increase their value to their organization or prepare themselves for a new career and/or position. On average, we have roughly 150 Green Belt students, 150 Lean Six Sigma students and 100 Black Belt students start classes monthly.

What key takeaways do you expect students to gain from the Certificate in Lean Six Sigma program?

Students in the program will have the opportunity to gain a practical understanding of cutting edge concepts and tools and have the opportunity to practice the tools. Successful completion of the course and/or program also prepares students for the certification exams.

How do you keep students engaged in a 100% online program?

There are several ways to keep students engaged including required, weekly instructor-led, virtual “live lectures,” a discussion board for students to interact with their peers and instructor and, in the case of the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course, projects with professor feedback.

How do you incorporate your professional experience into your teaching?

I always supplement the course materials with examples from experiences I’ve had during my career. It tends to tie the course materials to real life.

What do you enjoy about teaching Lean Six Sigma?

It is gratifying to see a student progress from having no experience and knowledge in Lean Six Sigma to becoming proficient with the concepts and tools. Frequently I get student feedback that they are immediately able to apply their new training and education effectively in their organization.

In addition to the certificate program, Villanova is a certifying body for Lean Six Sigma certification. What are the benefits of earning a Lean Six Sigma certification as a complement to the certificate program?

Having a certification is recognized as being a level above a certificate. Not only has the student been trained but they have proven their proficiency by successfully passing a recognized exam.

An additional advantage of earning the certifications through Villanova University is that the student is getting trained and certified to the same Body of Knowledge (BOK) – and experiences a seamless process instead of getting trained at one organization and getting certified at another where the BOK’s may not be consistent.

Some people claim Six Sigma and Lean are industry fads or that they are only used by manufacturers. What do you say to Lean Six Sigma’s critics?

Lean Six Sigma has been around since 1986. Thirty-plus years of success cannot be labeled as a fad. Although Six Sigma and Lean started out in manufacturing, they are now recognized as being equally effective in non-manufacturing environments. In fact, the highest growth rate for Lean Six Sigma is currently in banking, insurance and healthcare and other transactional and/or administrative processes and industries.

Can you talk about Lean Six Sigma’s real-world application across multiple industries?

The concepts and tools of Lean Six Sigma are general in nature and can be applied to any industry. Lean Six Sigma will not fail in any industry if implemented properly.

Twelve of the largest insurance companies, nine of the largest pharmaceutical companies and eighteen of the largest retailers are now using Lean Six Sigma. Some hospitals have seen a 20% to 50% financial return while one hospital reported a decrease of 41 minutes getting a patient from the ER to Cardiac Care.

Bank of America has realized a $2 billion financial impact while increasing customer satisfaction by 25%. CIGNA insurance has seen claim processing time decrease by 50%.

What are some practical Lean Six Sigma tools you find yourself using?

I use the Lean Six Sigma tools both professionally and personally. A few of my favorite tools are process mapping, problem solving tools, potential problem analysis and decision analysis.