Foundations is now a face of OS. See the LCS heritage on Academy.
OpX Foundations · LCS-accredited
Learn the discipline. Earn the credentials.
OpX Foundations is the LCS-accredited continuous-improvement learning programme — built into the platform your team already uses to do the work.
Where Foundations is being adopted
Founding cohorts across defence, FMCG, telecoms and public services are pairing Foundations with live improvement work.
Rheinmetall Defence
Innocent Drinks
AGAS
Hotwire Communications
Omran Oman
Veygo
Admiral PioneerRheinmetall DefenceInnocent DrinksAGASHotwire CommunicationsOmran OmanVeygoAdmiral PioneerThe problem this solves
Improvement training usually lives in three places. None of them work.
A generic e-learning platform. A one-off classroom course. A PDF that nobody reads. Three ways to deliver "training" — none of which connect to the actual improvement work happening on the floor.
OpX Foundations puts the learning where the work is. Modules sit alongside live projects in OpX OS. Capability tracks against real outcomes. Accreditation reflects what a person has actually delivered, not just what they've watched.
The four LCS levels
From "what is CI?" to "I coach others". One curriculum, four steps.
Awareness
What is continuous improvement, and why does it matter to my team?
- Time
- ~6 hrs
- Projects
- 0 projects
Foundations
Tools, methods, and the discipline of structured improvement.
- Time
- ~14 hrs
- Projects
- 1 applied project
Practitioner
Run real improvement projects, end-to-end, with confidence.
- Time
- ~30 hrs
- Projects
- 2 supervised projects
Coach
Mentor others. Build capability across your function.
- Time
- ~40 hrs
- Projects
- Ongoing coaching evidence
How Foundations works
Three steps. One loop. No PDFs nobody reads.
Step 01Learn
Bite-sized modules in OpX OS. 10–20 minutes each. Read, watch, or listen.
Step 02Apply
Each module pairs with a live project in OpX OS. Capability is observed, not just claimed.
Step 03Earn
LCS-accredited credentials at each level. Verifiable on a public capability profile.
Accreditation partner
Backed by Cardiff University's Lean Competency System.
The LCS is the most widely recognised Continuous Improvement accreditation in the UK, governed by the Lean Enterprise Research Centre at Cardiff Business School. Foundations is built directly against its competency framework — every module maps to an LCS level, every credential is independently recognised.
In practice: when a Foundations learner completes Level 2A, the credential on their CV is the same credential a Cardiff-trained practitioner earns. It travels with them.
Who it's for
Three audiences. One programme. Different reasons to take it.
CI Practitioner
You run improvement projects. You need credentials that travel with you when you change roles, sites, or employers.
Frontline Supervisor
You lead a team. You want to coach improvement without becoming a full-time CI specialist.
Improvement Lead
You're scaling capability across the organisation. You need a curriculum that doesn't reinvent itself every year.
Why credentials matter
Foundations earns its place in the L&D budget.
For the Improvement Lead.
You're scaling capability across the organisation. Foundations gives you a curriculum that doesn't reinvent itself every year — and credentials that survive when the practitioner moves on.
For the CHRO / L&D Lead.
You need learning that earns its budget at year-end. Foundations is the only CI learning programme where completion is tied to live project evidence — capability you can prove, not just count.
A look inside a module
What 20 minutes of Foundations actually looks like.
Level 1A · 20 minutes
What continuous improvement actually means
Learning outcomes
- Define CI in terms your team will accept
- Distinguish improvement from firefighting
- Recognise the four signs an organisation is improving
Companion in OpX OS · Pairs with the Idea Hopper module in OpX OS — your first capture.
Outcomes
What organisations get from Foundations.
70%
of frontline staff achieve Level 1A within 90 days of enrolment
placeholder — pending Foundations cohort data
12+
improvement ideas captured per FTE per year, on average
research-backed range from CI literature
60%
reduction in time spent assembling improvement reports
research-backed claim from OpX_Brand_GTM_Reference
Sources: research-backed claims from Cardiff/LCS data and the OpX brand reference. Customer-specific results vary; we'll model your case in a demo.
PRICING
Foundations is priced to enrol a team, not just an individual.
Start with a cohort
Foundations seats
Foundations is priced per learner per year on volume-tier pricing. Bundle with OpX OS or Campus for the integrated capability footprint.
See Foundations pricingTest the curriculum
90-day pilot
Run Foundations alongside a scoped OpX OS pilot for 90 days, with a practitioner from the OpX team. Creditable in full against Year 1.
Run a 90-day pilotFounding Cohort rates locked in for 12 months for Year 1 enrolments. See full pricing →
FAQ
The questions that come up most often.
Do I need to use OpX OS to take Foundations?
Foundations is built into OpX OS, so yes — but you can buy a Foundations-only seat without operating an improvement programme yet. Most customers run the two together.
How long does Level 1A take?
Most learners complete 1A in 6–8 hours of self-paced study, plus one applied project they can run inside their normal week.
Is the LCS credential recognised externally?
Yes — LCS is the most widely recognised CI accreditation in the UK, partnered with Cardiff University. The credential travels with the practitioner.
Can my whole team learn together?
Yes. OpX Campus is the cohort companion to Foundations — group learning, coaching cadence, peer review.
What happens after Level 2B (Coach)?
Coach credentials renew every two years against ongoing project evidence. Continuous practice, continuous credibility.
Learn the discipline. Earn the credentials.
OpX OS · Connect · Campus · Academy.
The platform
OS
The operating system for improvement work. Six faces, one operating office.
Explore OS →The integration layer
Connect
Open API, native connectors, signed webhooks. OS plugs into what you already run.
Explore Connect →Services & human delivery
Campus
Onboarding, cohorts, partner content, enablement. The human layer around OS.
Explore Campus →The accredited curriculum
Academy
LCS-accredited learning with Cardiff University. Foundations is the operational expression.
Explore Academy →