Lean Green Belt Certification

In 2019, the management team at Rivermist Excavating engaged in a comprehensive six-month program focused on the principles of Lean Operations and 5S – Sort, Set-in-Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. This experience provided the team with a deeper understanding of the significance of maintaining an organized work environment and the importance of continuous improvement. The team recognized the positive impact these practices have on both productivity and client satisfaction. Upon completing the program, each participant earned the Lean Green Belt Certification. This commitment to Lean principles is one of the key initiatives Rivermist focuses on to differentiate itself from other civil contractors.

More recently, in February 2024, the entire Rivermist team participated in a two-day Lean and 5S boot camp. Brandt Tractor generously provided both their classroom and a portion of their shop space for the program, with lunch graciously catered by Caffe Motivo. During the classroom sessions, the team engaged in activities designed to highlight the value of 5S and continuous improvement. Following this, they applied their newly acquired skills in the shop, utilizing Rivermist equipment for hands-on learning experiences. To conclude the training, a detailed implementation plan was developed to ensure the ongoing integration of these skills into our daily operations.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Rivermist since 2019 when they participated in a LeanU program focused on arming team members with the ability to implement Lean process improvements. Some of the tools covered included value stream mapping, kaizen events, and the Last Planner System, all of which enable Rivermist to deliver outstanding customer value in the most efficient way possible. Due to the level of engagement displayed by the Rivermist team during the training, participants received certification as Lean Green Belts.

Their commitment to continuous improvement was further solidified in 2024 when they engaged LeanU to train the Rivermist team on the 5S system for workplace organization. The program included a detailed implementation plan, which Rivermist has successfully executed and sustained in the months since.

Rivermist is a dynamic company with great expertise, customer focus, and employee dedication. I look forward to their future continuous improvement efforts and am excited to see what they will accomplish in the years to come.”

Christy Nikel, Master Lean Black Belt

President, LeanU Consulting Inc.