ISE's inaugural international Lean Six Sigma program gives students global, real-world experience
Published: Jul 1, 2026 2:45 PM
By Carla Nelson
Auburn University engineering and business students returned from Germany this summer with more than an internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. They returned with firsthand experience solving real manufacturing challenges alongside global industry professionals.
The inaugural International Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification Program partnered Auburn with the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) and Schaeffler, a global automotive and industrial supplier headquartered in Schweinfurt, Germany. During the three-week program, students completed Lean Systems coursework before traveling abroad to study Six Sigma methodologies and apply those principles to improvement projects inside Schaeffler's manufacturing facility.
For Tom Devall, professor and director of automotive manufacturing initiatives in Auburn's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, the program exceeded expectations.
"We knew the experience would be positive and memorable, but what ultimately measured its success was the quality of the students' projects,” Devall said. “Both the students and advisors rose to the occasion, and the quality of the projects was exceptional."
Working in teams, students partnered with Schaeffler engineers to address real operational challenges using the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control) methodology. Unlike classroom exercises, the projects required students to navigate uncertainty, collaborate with professionals from another culture and develop practical solutions to complex business problems.
Courtney Arnold, professional experience program specialist in Supply Chain Management for Auburn's Harbert College of Business, participated in the program and said the international focus made it unlike any other Lean Six Sigma opportunity she had considered.
"I had always wanted to earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, but the international component made this program stand out," Arnold said. "The opportunity to work on a real project with an international company offered practical experience that went far beyond a traditional certification course."
Arnold's team worked with Schaeffler to improve demand-and-supply alignment and component-based planning for a high-pressure roller-bearing product line.
"Working on a real company project was completely different from classroom learning," Arnold said. "Walking through the DMAIC process in an operational setting strengthened my confidence as a problem solver and showed me how Lean Six Sigma tools create value in the real world."
Devall said that experience is what distinguishes the program from a traditional classroom course.
"In a traditional classroom, there's always a solution," Devall said. "In a company, there may not be a clear solution. Students learned to define the real problem, work through uncertainty and navigate differing perspectives while respecting the viewpoints of industry professionals."
For Arnold, the experience also changed her perspective on where Lean Six Sigma principles can be applied.
"One of the biggest lessons I learned is that Lean Six Sigma isn't limited to manufacturing," Arnold said. "It's a problem-solving methodology that creates value across industries. The program reinforced the importance of process improvement, data-driven decision-making and collaboration, skills I'll continue using throughout my career."
In addition to completing coursework and industry projects, students experienced Germany through cultural experiences such as a guided tour of Würzburg, a barbecue at a German professor’s home, a baseball game with locals, and more.
Based on feedback from the inaugural cohort, Devall said the program will expand from three weeks to four beginning next summer, giving students additional time to prepare before departure and more opportunities to experience Europe while maintaining the program's rigorous academic standards.
"The primary objective was to provide a legitimate international Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification, but students had to do more than earn a credential," Devall said. "They had to learn and transform how they think as engineers. The program accomplished that."
Media Contact: , carla@auburn.edu, 334-844-1404
