Instructor leading class discussion

Advancing Supply Chain Knowledge

Access education and applied solutions to help you address today's increasingly complex supply chain challenges.

What will you learn?

You will become expert in garnering solutions by applying the knowledge and best practices of supply chain risk and management. Our accessible yet customized approach will transform your supply chain organization from the ground up.

  • Light on theory and heavy on application, you will develop a sustainable competitive advantage for your organization's supply chain.
  • Partnership with instructors will help you customize solutions for your company.
  • Empower your leadership with the best of academia and industry. Our training programs transform managers into supply chain visionaries.

    Dr. Sime Curkovic, professor of supply chain management

Workshops designed for professionals

Three people in professional dress in conference room standing and talking

Workshops designed for professionals

 

Benefits of WMU Haworth workshops

  • Earn WMU Center for Supply Chain Management Certification as a Lean Six Sigma White, Yellow or Green Belt (and count Green Belt certification toward your WMU MBA).
  • Understand the history and philosophy of continuous improvement utilizing LSS methodology and tools. Explore relevant case study examples. Learn the system structure, tools and techniques of LSS project management.
  • Connect with kindred spirit professionals through classroom activities and coursework.
  • One-on-one coaching support for participants before and after the course. Note: Customized coaching and training for work teams is available for an additional charge.

Register for our workshops

  • White belt certification

    Designed to give senior and top-level leaders a working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma as a platform for building a culture of continuous improvement, this one-day course focuses on methodology used to develop a deep understanding of the leadership role within an organization. White Belt training is geared toward providing leaders with fundamental comprehension of the LSS outline involving process improvement, variability, process performance and the specific roles that different team members play in order to maximize the return on investment and return on objectives.

    Upon successful completion of the course, participants will earn a Lean Six Sigma White Belt certification and master the following tools:

    • Explain and apply the fundamental principles of continuous improvement via LSS.
    • Apply DMAIC/PDCA/JDI project management methodology to initiatives and everyday work.
    • Apply critical thinking and mapping techniques to clarify complex marketplace settings and issues.
    • Support the implementation of continuous improvement projects in order to maximize return on investment and return on objectives.
    • Develop the principles and purpose elements that define the Shingo culture.
    • Support implementation of measurement and analysis techniques to understand the root causes of failures, waste and increased cost drivers.
    • Use the coaching Kata in order to drive employee empowerment.

    Required equipment: Each participant should bring to class a laptop with Excel, Word and PowerPoint installed.

    Cost: $950, includes snacks, lunch and supplies.

    Questions about future dates?

  • Yellow belt certification

    Designed to give practitioners a fundamental working knowledge of the tools used to drive continuous improvement on Lean Six Sigma techniques and managing project work. This two-day, in-person course develops skills that can be applied to any career or organization.

    After passing the exam, you’ll earn a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and master the following tools:

    • Explain and apply the fundamental principles of continuous improvement via Lean Six Sigma.
    • Apply DMAIC/PDCA/JDI project management methodology to events, initiatives and everyday work.
    • Apply mapping techniques to clarify complex settings and issues.
    • Implement continuous improvement projects in order to maximize return on investment.
    • Optimize resource allocation with a focus on everyday activities.
    • Implement measurement and analysis techniques to understand the root causes of failures, waste and increased cost drivers.
    • Work with cross-functional teams to drive upstream wastes and pains out of the system in a sustainable manner.

    Dates: Friday, March 1 and Friday, March 15. Participants must attend both sessions to earn Yellow Belt certification.

    Required equipment: Each participant should bring to class a laptop with Excel, Word and PowerPoint installed. All other materials provided.

    Cost: $1,200, includes snacks, lunch and supplies

    Registration closes Feb. 17

  • Green belt certification

    Designed for managers and supervisors involved in the creation and management of systems supporting continuous improvement through experimentation and advanced data analysis methodologies, participants in this virtual course will use advanced Lean Six Sigma tools and techniques to discover how to minimize waste, streamline processes and increase efficiency by mastering essential and advanced Lean Six Sigma tools and methods.

    Prerequisite: Must have completed Yellow Belt training previously.

    After attending all workshop sessions and passing the exam, you’ll earn a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification and master the following:

    • Explain and apply the fundamental principles of continuous improvement via Lean Six Sigma.
    • Apply DMAIC/DMADV/IDDOV/PDCA/JDI project management methodology to initiatives and everyday work.
    • Implement measurement and analysis techniques to understand the root causes of failures, waste and increased cost drivers.
    • Develop systems to work on in order to enable team members to work in them.
    • Construct and interpret designed experiments to increase revenue and market share.
    • Earn credit toward a WMU Haworth MBA

    Spring 2024 dates:

    To be announced

    Time: All sessions will be held virtually from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Must attend all sessions to earn certification.

    Required equipment: Each participant should have access to a laptop with Webex, Excel, Word and PowerPoint installed. All other materials will be provided.

    Cost: $2,600

    Registration dates will be announced soon.

  • Bring training to your company

    Want to train a cross-functional group? No problem. Interested in a session that combines company employees and suppliers? No problem. WMU’s Center for Supply Chain Management offers customized, onsite sessions and has the resources and expertise to take any educational need and customize a solution to move a company’s workforce to the next level of excellence. Contact Tom Kelly today to discuss the right option for your team.

     

  • Yellow belt essentials

    Yellow Belt Essentials focuses on ensuring that your whole organization is on the same page regarding Lean Six Sigma. This training is recommended for anyone who is interested in improving change management, processes and teamwork.

    The classes concentrate on how to contribute to continuous improvement projects through participation in problem-solving activities. Learners acquire knowledge about identifying problems and developing effective solutions. You will learn Lean Six Sigma basics to be able to take control of addressing problems within your business area.

    There are many benefits to this training such as solving the root causes of problems, making decisions with validated data and improving management and communication skills.

    The program focuses on specific content in the Yellow Belt toolbox that will allow your team members to immediately to increase productivity, while reducing waste and variation.

    Topics will include:

    • 8-wastes
    • 6-S
    • GEMBA walk
    • Huddle boards
    • Voice of the customer / Voice of the business
    • Process balancing
    • Change management
    • Communication
    • Root cause analysis

    The training consists of six total hours and can be presented in one six-hour session or two three-hour sessions. Training can be done in person or remotely. A minimum of seven people must be signed up to run the training.

    Required equipment: Each participant should have access to a laptop with Webex, Excel, Word and PowerPoint installed. All other materials will be provided.

    Cost: $750 per person. (Discount for groups)

    Upon successful completion of the course, individuals will receive an acknowledgment of completion from the WMU Center for Supply Chain Management.

    Please note: This is not a replacement for Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training.

Student offerings

Student smiling while being congratulated by other workshop participants

Workshops and certifications for students

Ready to amp up your skills? Through the center, students have access to Lean Six Sigma certification! And the Agile training workshop offers another way for you to stand out when searching for professional positions. Stay connected with the center for up-to-date student offerings.

  • As a student, the Agile workshop was a great opportunity to learn more about project management and how to work effectively and efficiently not only as an employee but also in general.

    Taleen T. Kawouk, B.B.A.'23, project engineer at Pfizer Global Supply