IMPROVE YOUR PROCESSES &
Optimize Operations
Process optimization helps organizations work smarter, faster and more efficiently—driving higher quality, lower costs and better customer outcomes. Industry Extension Services training equips leaders and teams with proven methods to eliminate waste, improve flow and solve problems at the root cause. By building these capabilities, organizations create a culture of continuous improvement that boosts productivity, strengthens performance and delivers lasting competitive advantage.
We’ve designed the “Standard Work for Lean Leaders: Going to Gemba with Purpose” webinar to provide an understanding of how to better assess the condition of their operation, especially regarding whether material, people, and information are flowing as planned vs. in abnormal conditions.
Click to expand
Taiichi Ohno, one of the founders of the Toyota Production System, once said, “The greatest waste of all is the waste that we don’t see.” It is impossible to lead in a continuously improving environment without being able to identify waste that keeps our operation or service from performing at a high level.
Participants will:
Duration:
Less than 1 hour
Format:
Pre-recorded free workshop
Recommended For:
Managers and front-line leaders who want to build a continuous improvement culture that is practiced daily, not event-based.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Value Stream Mapping teaches participants how to visually map material and information flows to understand current processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Click to expand
Using Value Stream Mapping, teams can streamline processes, reduce lead times, and lower operating costs, driving measurable operational improvements.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Anyone responsible for initiating or leading lean, including CEOs, general managers, production managers, controllers, engineers, and materials managers. Suggested follow-up: an in-plant value stream analysis.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Hoshin Kanri teaches organizations how to align strategy, goals, and daily operations to drive meaningful, measurable results. Hoshin Kanri methodology uses a structured planning and deployment cycle to set goals, establish action plans, and define metrics that ensure progress at every level.
Click to expand
Hoshin Kanri eliminates waste caused by misalignment and poor communication, creating a unified organization in which every employee works toward the same priorities. Participants learn to integrate strategic planning with continuous improvement tools, conduct SWOT analyses, refine mission and vision, and implement rigorous reviews to maintain focus, transparency, and consistent progress toward organizational “true north.”
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
14-16 Hours | 2 Days
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Coaching:
Customized implementation coaching services are available after course completion.
Recommended For:
Executives, senior leaders, and managers responsible for setting organizational strategy and driving alignment across teams. It is also recommended for continuous improvement professionals, operational leaders, and project managers who need to link corporate goals with day-to-day operations, ensure consistent progress toward strategic objectives and foster a culture of accountability and focus throughout the organization.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) teaches organizations how to drive performance and problem-solving at the front line through visual management and daily engagement with key performance indicators (KPIs).
Click to expand
Managing for Daily Improvement (MDI) makes problems visible and engages the entire team in rapid, data-driven problem solving. By shifting from a traditional top-down management approach to a bottom-up system of continuous improvement, MDI fosters a culture of daily performance management and drives operational excellence.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Supervisors, team leaders, managers, and operational leaders who are responsible for driving daily performance, engaging frontline teams, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. It is also recommended for Lean practitioners and continuous improvement professionals who want to implement visual management, problem-solving routines and data-driven decision-making at the operational level.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
5S Training teaches participants how to organize and standardize the workplace to improve efficiency, safety, and quality. Our 5S training programs provide the foundational tools necessary to optimize workplace efficiency and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Click to expand
5S training includes hands-on learning, participants will learn to sort, set in order, shine, standardize, and sustain work areas, creating a clean and organized environment. The course equips teams with practical skills to reduce waste, streamline processes and maintain consistent, high-performing operations.
Participants will:
- SORT through what you have and remove what you don’t need
- STRAIGHTEN what remains, making space visual and self-explanatory
- SHINE up tools, equipment and work spaces, keeping them spotless
- STANDARDIZE and follow work rules scrupulously
- SUSTAIN by maintaining the discipline in 5S
Topics covered:
Duration:
7-8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Anyone responsible for initiating or leading a lean initiative including CEOs, general managers, plant managers, lean facilitators, engineers and materials managers. Anyone with a desire to improve a work area or office area with continuous improvement tools of standardization including office managers, supervisors, lead operators, industrial/manufacturing engineers and quality managers.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) teaches participants how to maximize equipment effectiveness and reliability through proactive maintenance, employee engagement, and continuous improvement. The course covers techniques to prevent breakdowns, reduce downtime, and improve overall equipment efficiency (OEE), while fostering a culture of ownership and teamwork across all levels of the organization.
Click to expand
Total Productive Maintenance covers techniques to prevent breakdowns, reduce downtime, and improve overall equipment efficiency (OEE), while fostering a culture of ownership and teamwork across all levels of the organization.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
7-8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Equipment operators, maintenance personnel, supervisors, team leaders, and plant managers responsible for equipment reliability and operational efficiency. It is also recommended for continuous improvement professionals and Lean practitioners seeking to implement proactive maintenance strategies, improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and foster a culture of ownership and collaboration across the organization.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
SMED (Single Minute Exchange of Dies), or Changeover Reduction, focuses on reducing the time and impact of key elements in the changeover process, including preparation; after-process adjustment; checking, storing, and moving materials, parts and tools; removing and mounting parts and tools; machine measurements, settings and calibrations; trial runs and adjustments.
Click to expand
SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Dies) training teaches participants how to reduce equipment setup and changeover times, increase productivity and standardize processes for faster, more efficient operations.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
7-8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Machine operators, setup technicians, production supervisors, maintenance personnel, and manufacturing engineers responsible for equipment changeovers and operational efficiency. It is also recommended for continuous improvement professionals and Lean practitioners who want to reduce downtime, increase machine productivity and implement faster, standardized changeover processes across their organization.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.
The Financial-Based Decision Making and Cost Estimating program equips manufacturers with the skills to make data-driven, cost-conscious decisions that maximize operational efficiency and profitability.
Click to expand
Financial-Based Decision Making and Cost Estimating to apply cost estimation, financial analysis and performance metrics to prioritize resources and select the most valuable production strategies.
Participants will:
Topics covered:
Duration:
7-8 Hours | 1 Day
Format:
Customized on-site, in-person instruction
Recommended For:
Manufacturing leaders, plant managers, operations and production managers, financial professionals, and anyone responsible for budgeting, cost control or strategic decision-making in production environments. It is especially valuable for those seeking to make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and profitability.
Contact your Regional Manager to schedule.