Meet Your Instructors:

Annemiek van Boeijen

Jaap J.J. Daalhuizen
Learner testimonials
About This Course:
Learn about Lean Management, a customer-centric methodology that improves processes by eliminating waste and focusing on value-added tasks.
This course will introduce the main tenets of the Toyota Production System, which includes Just-in-Time manufacturing, quality management tools, and the critical concept of Kaizen, the Japanese practice of continuous improvement. You will also learn about the key organization and managerial approaches that are used in Lean.
You will learn how to analyze process flows in order to establish process capacity and identify the process bottleneck. You will then calculate resource utilization and cycle time to evaluate the impact of set up times, batching, defects and reworks on key process performance measures, including inventory, flow rate and flow time.
We will also discuss the impact of key concepts of Lean, including Heijunka, Kanban, Jidoka, Andon, Poka Yoke, and 5S, which help achieve increased productivity and quality.
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What You’ll Learn:
- The history and background of Lean production and the complementing elements of quantity and quality control.
- To measure production performance and how defects and waste degrade performance.
- To understand the importance and role in Lean Production of the customer “Takt.”
- To improve process performance through the application of Lean principles, including setup time reduction, batch optimization, and defect elimination.
- To explain the importance of Total Productive Maintenance and the widely-used metric Overall Equipment Effectiveness.
- To understand the difference between push- and pull-systems and how the implementation of pull-systems reduces waste.
- To apply elements of Lean production including Heijunka, Kanban, Jidoka, and Poka Yoke.
- To apply the 5S methodology for establishing and sustaining a productive work environment.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity
Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate ProgramSix Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production
Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequentially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure, we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.
Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate forCourse3 QPLS3x – Lean Production.
What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both theedX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.
Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.
How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.
How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.
When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB.
Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Holly Ott
Learner Testimonials
About This Course:
Learn how to statistically analyze data with the Six Sigma methodology using inferential statistical techniques to determine confidence intervals and to test hypotheses based on sample data. You will also review cause and effect techniques for root cause analysis.
You will learn how to perform correlation and regression analyses in order to confirm the root cause and understand how to improve your process and plan designed experiments.
You will learn how to implement statistical process control using control charts and quality management tools, including the 8 Disciplines and the 5 Whys to reduce risk and manage process deviations.
To complement the lectures, learners are provided with interactive exercises, which allow learners to see the statistics “in action.” Learners then master statistical concepts by completing practice problems. These are then reinforced using interactive case studies, which illustrate the application of the statistics in quality improvement situations.
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What You’ll Learn:
- To identify process problems and perform a root cause analysis using cause and effect diagrams and regression analysis.
- To analyze data using inferential statistical techniques, including confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.
- To test and quantitatively assess the impact of different improvement options using the design of an experiment.
- To test for the significance of effects using an Analysis of Variance.
- To implement control mechanisms for long-term monitoring using control charts for both quantitative and qualitative measurements.
- To apply the Six Sigma methodology for the Analyze, Improve and Control phases in your work or research.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity
Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate Program Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production
Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequen tially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure, we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.
Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate forCourse2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control.
What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both the edX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.
Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.
How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.
How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.
When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB .
Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Holly Ott
Learner Testimonials
About This Course:
Understand the background and meaning of Six Sigma and the five steps of the DMAIC process improvement flow: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. Discuss what “Quality” means and how to identify the Voice of the Customer.
You will learn how to set an improvement project goal, calculate process yield, and identify Critical-to-Quality parameters.
You will learn how to map a process and to use the necessary statistical techniques to establish the baseline performance of a process and to calculate the process capability.
To complement the lectures, we provide interactive exercises, which allow learners to see the statistics “in action.” Learners then master the statistical concepts by completing practice problems. These are then reinforced using interactive case studies, which illustrate the application of the statistics in quality improvement situations.
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn the TUM Lean and Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, confirming mastery of Lean Six Sigma fundamentals to a Green Belt level. The material is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What You’ll Learn:
- To understand the background and meaning of the Six Sigma methodology and the role of the DMAIC process improvement cycle.
- To identify the Voice of the Customer and translate into Critical-to-Quality parameters.
- To understand the concept of random variables, probability mass functions, and probability density functions.
- To calculate probabilities using the Normal distribution.
- To understand how the Central Limit Theorem applies to sampling and how to set up sampling plans.
- To understand the importance of a Measurement System Analysis in a Six Sigma project.
- To calculate Process Yield and Process Capability.
- To perform a risk assessment using a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.
- How to apply the Define and Measure phases of the DMAIC cycle in your work or research, in order to identify problems and quantitatively assess the impact of process changes using statistical analysis.

Professional Certificate in Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity
Earn a TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate
Frequently Asked Questions:
Who offers this program?
The Professional Certificate Program Six Sigma and Lean: Quantitative Tools for Quality and Productivity is offered by edX and the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
How many courses are in the program?
There are three courses in this program:
Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure
Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control
Course3 QPLS3x – Lean Production
Do I need to take the courses in order?
The courses should be completed sequentially, but it is not required that they are completed in any particular order. However, as Course2 QPLS2x – Six Sigma: Analyze, Improve, Control builds on the material in Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure , we strongly recommend that you take QPLS1x before you take QPLS2x.
Which certification do I earn for this course?
You will earn the Verified Certificate for Course1 QPLS1x – Six Sigma: Define and Measure.
What certificates do I earn with this program?
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will earn both the edX Professional Certificate for the program and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification. In order to achieve the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification it is mandatory to complete all 3 courses in the program and achieve a Verified Certificate in each. Then, automatically, you will earn the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification.
The TUM LSSYB is based on the American Society for Quality (www.asq.org) Body of Knowledge up to a Green Belt Level. The Professional Certificate is designed as preparation for a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt exam.
What is the passing grade for the course?
An overall average for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70% is required to pass the course.
Do I need to achieve 70% on each homework?
No, you need an average grade for all homework sets and peer-review assignments of 70%. This means you can do poorly or miss a homework set as long as you do well enough on other homework sets to achieve 70% overall.
How do I receive the edX Professional Certificate for this program?
The Professional Certificate will be available from your dashboard after the end of the course.
How do I receive the TUM Lean SixSigma Yellow Belt Certification for this program?
If you have earned the Verified Certificate for all three courses in the program, then you will receive the edX Professional Certificate and the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt. These will be sent to you by email.
— For those finishing all courses by October 31, you will receive your certificate before November 31.
— For those finishing all courses by February 28, you will receive your certificate before March 31.
— For those finishing all courses by June 30, you will receive your certificate before July 31.
When you have passed all three courses with a verified certificate and received the edX Professional Certificate, you can also include in your CV that you have achieved the TUM Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, TUMLSSYB.
Meet Your Instructors:

Martin Grunow

Holly Ott
Learner Testimonials
Overview
Python is a great, beginner-friendly programming language because it was originally designed with learners in mind. It is also used by professional developers in a wide range of applications, like web programming, data science, artificial intelligence, and DevOps. It is estimated that there are about 3 million Python programmers in the world, and by some accounts, it is the fastest growing, most widely used language, especially in high-GDP countries. Out of dozens of programming languages, Python is the third most loved language and is the number one language that current and aspiring developers want to learn.
As an instructor who regularly teaches people who are completely new to programming, Arianne has found that students are often looking for more context than is provided in most introductory courses. Specifically, students want to know how various languages fit into the programming landscape, as well as what next steps they should take after the course. Introduction to Python LiveLessons attempts to fill these gaps by providing “extra context” lessons, in addition to teaching fundamental programming concepts, answering questions like, “Why are there so many languages?”, “How is Python different from other languages?”, and “What concepts should I learn next?” Afterwards, the lessons end with a crash-course on data analysis and web development, the two primary uses of Python.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lesson 1: Introduction to Programming and Python
Lesson 2: Python and Programming Basics
Lesson 3: Control Flow with Conditionals
Lesson 4: Lists and Loops
Lesson 5: Advanced Language Topics
Lesson 6: Introduction to Data Analysis in Python
Lesson 7: Introduction to Web Development in Python
Summary
Description
This 7+ hour LiveLesson video helps absolute beginners get started in Python, which is one of the most popular and in-demand languages in use today. Python was created with beginners in mind, but don’t let its simple nature fool you. It is used by professional developers in a wide range of applications, such as web programming, data analysis, machine learning, and DevOps. While most introductory courses focus on the basics of the language, this course goes one step further to explain how Python is used in practice in the fields of data analysis and web development.
Students learn fundamental programming concepts–for example, variables and functions. They are given hands-on, modular problems to solve so they can progress as they go. Finally, students tie it all together and experiment with some real programming in the form of text-based games.
The overall goal of this course is to help absolute beginners learn from scratch, navigate the esoteric world of software development, and then kick-start their programming journey with introductions to two of the more common uses of Python: data analysis and web development.
What You Will Learn
Students will learn how to
- Think like a programmer
- Solve mini practice problems in Python
- Use common libraries like “math” and “random”
- Build three small games to practice their learning
- Use PyCharm, a code editor for Python
- Clean up code so it is easy to understand
Once the basics are down, Arianne will provide
- A brief introduction to data analysis
- A brief introduction to web development
- An overview of classes, external libraries, and virtual environments in Python
Who Should Take This Course
- Primary: People who are curious about programming and have little to no experience in it
- Secondary: Beginner/novice programmers who already know one language and want to learn Python
Course Requirements
- General computer skills are an asset–for example, moving, copying, renaming, and deleting files on the computer they will be using
- Experience using text-editors and/or spreadsheet applications
- Comfort using web browsers and search engines
Meet your instructor

Arianne Dee
About this course:
Photovoltaic systems are often placed into a microgrid, a local electricity distribution system that is operated in a controlled way and includes both electricity users and renewable electricity generation. This course deals with DC and AC microgrids and covers a wide range of topics, from basic definitions, through modelling and control of AC and DC microgrids to the application of adaptive protection in microgrids. You will master various concepts related to microgrid technology and implementation, such as smart grid and virtual power plant, types of distribution network, markets, control strategies and components. Among the components special attention is given to operation and control of power electronics interfaces.
What You Will Learn:
- Difference between a microgrid, a passive distribution grid and a virtual power plant
- Ancillary services provided by microgrids and PV
- Operation of centralized and decentralized control, forecasting, and evaluation of different market policies through a case study
- Operation of active power control and voltage regulation
- Different layouts and topologies of microgrids and power electronic components, and the role of power electronics converters in microgrids
- Microgrid protection, adaptive protection, and the consequences of using a fault current source and fault current limitation
- Main motivations and challenges for the implementation of DC microgrids
- Verified learners will have the added benefit of evaluating different strategies to control multiple inverters and to analyze local control to improve stability.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering and/or the successful completion of PV1xPV2xand PV3x (or firm grasp of their content).
- In order to carry out the assignments in the course, you will need to install a free software which requires a 64-bit computer, 4 GB ram and 5-6 GB of hard-drive space.
- Operating systems supported: Window 7 or newer, OSX 10.10 (Yosemite) or newer, Ubuntu 14.04 or 16.04.

MicroMasters® Program in Solar Energy Engineering
Master the technical knowledge needed for a career in solar energy
Meet Your Instructors:

Seyedmahdi Izadkhast

Laura Ramirez

Pavol Bauer
About this course:
In this course you will learn how to turn solar cells into full modules; and how to apply full modules to full photovoltaic systems.
The course will widely cover the design of photovoltaic systems, such as utility scale solar farms or residential scale systems (both on and off the grid). You will learn about the function and operation of various components including inverters, batteries, DC-DC converters and their interaction with both the modules and the grid.
What You Will Learn:
- How to design a PV system ranging from a residential rooftop system to a utility scale solar farm taking in to account:
- The effects of the position of the sun and solar irradiance on PV module performance Components of a PV system:
- PV modules, inverters, DC-DC converters, batteries, charge controllers and cables
- The economics and impact on the grid of PV systems
- Audit learners can develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the above learning objectives by having access to the video lectures, a limited number of practice exercises and discussion forums.
- Verified learners are offered a number of study tools to demonstrate they have mastered the learning objectives. They will have access to all exercises: practice, graded and exams.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering and/or the successful completion of PV1x and PV2x (or firm grasp of their content).

MicroMasters® Program in Solar Energy Engineering
Master the technical knowledge needed for a career in solar energy
Meet Your Instructors:

Olindo Isabella

Ravi Vasudevan
About this course:
The technologies used to produce solar cells and photovoltaic modules are advancing to deliver highly efficient and flexible solar panels. In this course you will explore the main PV technologies in the current market. You will gain in-depth knowledge about crystalline silicon based solar cells (90% market share) as well as other emerging technologies including CdTe, CIGS and Perovskites. This courseprovides answers to the questions: How are solar cells made from raw materials? Which technologies have the potential to be the major players for different applications in the future?
What You Will Learn:
- Design concepts and fabrication processes of various photovoltaic technologies, In-depth knowledge on the entire crystalline silicon solar cell landscape including, Market-leading polycrystalline based cells
- High efficiency/cutting edge monocrystalline based solar cells
- Application of thin film solar cells, like CIGS, CdTe, thin-film silicon, Perovskites, Concentrated PV and space applications for III/V semiconductor based solar cells.
- Audit learners can develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the above learning objectives by having access to the video lectures, a limited number of practice exercises and discussion forum.
- Verified learners are offered a number of study tools to demonstrate they have mastered the learning objectives. They will have access to all exercises: practice, graded and exam questions.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering and/or the successful completion of PV1x (or firm grasp of its content).

MicroMasters® Program in Solar Energy Engineering
Master the technical knowledge needed for a career in solar energy
Meet Your Instructors:

Arno Smets

Miro Zeman

René van Swaaij
About this course:
The key factor in getting more efficient and cheaper solar energy panels is the advance in the development of photovoltaic cells. In this course you will learn how photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into useable electricity. You will also discover how to tackle potential loss mechanisms in solar cells. By understanding the semiconductor physics and optics involved, you will develop in-depth knowledge of how a photovoltaic cell works under different conditions. You will learn how to model all aspects of a working solar cell. For engineers and scientists working in the photovoltaic industry, this course is an absolute must to understand the opportunities for solar cell innovation.
What You Will Learn:
- The principles behind the potential loss mechanisms in photovoltaic devices
- The semiconductor physics necessary to understand solar cell performance and engineering
- The optics and light management tools necessary for optimal solar cell design
- To model all aspects of a working solar cell, understanding the efficiency limits and design rules
- Audit learners can develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the above learning objectives by having access to the video lectures, a limited number of practice exercises and discussion forums.
- Verified learners are offered a number of study tools to demonstrate they have mastered the learning objectives. They will have access to all exercises: practice, graded and exam questions.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering or the successful completion of TU Delft’s MOOC Solar Energy

MicroMasters® Program in Solar Energy Engineering
Master the technical knowledge needed for a career in solar energy
Meet Your Instructors:

Arno Smets

Miro Zeman

René van Swaaij
Program overview
Solar energy technology use is expanding rapidly. The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) sector is the largest and fastest growing renewable energy employer worldwide with an increasing need for experts that can support this growth.
In this MicroMasters program you will gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue a career in the solar energy field and become a successful solar energy professional. This program will teach you what is expected from solar experts, and will prepare you for employment in various capacities including:
- Systems design and engineering
- Solar systems installation
- Device fabrication and characterization
- QA and reliability testing
- Project management and consultancy as well as (technical) sales
What will you learn
- The physics of and how to model all aspects of a working solar cell: performance, efficiency limits and design rules.
- Design concepts and fabrication processes of various photovoltaic (PV) technologies and applications.
- How to evaluate components of a PV system: PV modules, inverters, DC-DC converters, batteries, charge controllers and cables.
- Application techniques for designing a PV system ranging from a residential rooftop system to a utility scale solar farm.
- Design concepts of microgrids that include PV systems.
- How to assess the economics and ecology of PV systems and communicate these accordingly.
Program Class List
1Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion
Course Details
2Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies
Course Details
3Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Systems
Course Details
4Solar Energy: Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Microgrids
Course Details
5Solar Energy Engineering: Comprehensive Exams
Course Details
Meet Your Instructors

Arno Smets

Miro Zeman

René van Swaaij

Olindo Isabella

Ravi Vasudevan

Seyedmahdi Izadkhast

Laura Ramirez
