Lean applies to every employee role in every business and every process. It is not a tactic or a cost reduction program, but a way of thinking and acting for an entire organization. Lean thinking changes the focus of management from optimizing separate technologies, assets, and vertical departments to optimizing the flow of products and services through entire value streams that flow horizontally across technologies, assets, and departments to customers. Lean Principles is the foundation course for all other Continuous Improvement topics.

2-day training 5/31 & 6/14

Practical Problem Solving: Plan, Do, Check, Act/A3

Problem Solving is the foundation of continuous process improvement. Improving requires continually solving problems - whether these are technical or recurring day-to-day problems. As a Lean tool, A3 reporting addresses the root cause of everyday problems. When used properly, the PDCA-A3 process dramatically increases the probability of success.

Learning Outcomes

Learn to identify, classify and define problems.
Be able to analyze and prioritize problems, symptoms and root causes.
Match the right problem-solving process to the problem.
Use a variety of proven problem-solving models, tools and techniques.
“Frame” a problem to gain support and buy in from others in the organization.
Understand how Plan Do Check Act process and A3 works.
Create an A3 problem report to “tell the story” of the problem to guide and structure the problem-solving activity.
Use root cause analysis tools.
Develop countermeasures.
Develop implementation plans.

Prerequisites:  Lean Principles, Workplace Organization

Customers, employees and suppliers can tell a well-run organization without a narrated tour. The visual clues are everywhere. Establishing simple visual controls is one of the most important elements of becoming a Lean and Green Enterprise. 7S reduces the opportunities to make errors and help highlight, at an early stage, potential delays and disruptions and drives an organization to becoming green at the grassroot level.  7S is much more than “a place for everything and everything in its place.” 7S consists of seven principles to make people highly efficient, effective and greener in performing their work. This one-day session will provide the participants with the principles of 7S.

This training is designed to

Provide participants with an overview of 7S, how it can benefit an organization’s performance, an explanation of each category, how to get started, things to avoid, and tips for leadership.

2-day training June 28 & July 12, 8 am - 5 pm

• Recognize the different symbols used for Value Stream Mapping .
• Develop current state maps.
• Categorize operations and make product matrices.
• Develop future State Maps.
• Identify the different major elemental parts of a Value Stream Mapping.
• Use Value Stream Mapping to identify needed Kaizen events.
• A step-by-step development of current and future state value stream maps.
• Link waste to cost savings.
• Know how VSM can be used to improvement initiatives.
• Be able to recognize opportunities for improvement in the workplace.

2-day training August 2 & August 16, 8 am - 5 pm

Business Process Mapping is one of the most important tools in identifying process improvement and green opportunity. In this 2- day interactive workshop, participants will explore various process mapping tools and discuss the pros and cons of each. Participants gain hands-on experience with each mapping tool and will understand when to apply the tool. This hands-on workshop provides participants with the knowledge and experience necessary to start implementing mapping in an organization.

This training is designed to:

Enable participants to define, map and analyze work processes from the customers' perspective; identifying waste, inefficiency and impact on the customers.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the importance of business processes.
• Understand the definition of a Process Map.
• Understand why a Process Map is necessary.
• Identify the steps and practices for breaking down a process.
• Be familiar with different types of process maps.
• Create a System and Relationship Process Map.
• Perform a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement.
• Create a Current and Future State Process Map.