Purpose: The purpose of this paper is two-fold: to describe how Lean methodology can be used, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to enhance the learning experience for non-traditional adult learners (NALs) and to explore attitudes and perceptions of students toward the integration of Lean methodology in online classes. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were used to collect data for the study. NALs were invited to participate in 60--75 min semi-structured interviews. These interviews allowed researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of a participant's experience. A six-step thematic analysis framework was used to conduct the data analysis. Findings: This paper presents a Lean model that can be implemented in an online medium of instruction. The core concepts of Lean methodology: jidoka, just-in-time, customer-centered approach, team involvement and standardization and how these can be used in online learning have been described in-depth. In total, 40 students participated in the semi-structured interviews. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: work-life balance; lack of standardization; learning online classes and connection to the workplace. Practical implications: These findings could help academic institutions, instructors and course designers as they work on implementing new teaching and learning strategies for NALs. Originality/value: There is extremely limited evidence on the usage of Lean methods for NALs in a public health crisis. As academic institutions move to the online medium of instruction to contain public health problems, this project can provide important practical tips to instructors.