The MBA with a Lean Emphasis will be offered in a hybrid, modular format.
All five modules will be offered within an 18 month time period.
Module 1
Sequencing: 6 Credit Hours.
Lean Operations:
This module addresses the general production systems concepts,
the lean philosophy and system, lean tools, and operations management.
Module 2
Sequencing: 6 Credit Hours.
Organizational Structure to Support Lean Management:
This module addresses the detailed design of lean production operations
(with analytical procedures and approaches that can be applied to complex, real world production circumstances), establishment of a
learning organization within this design, human resource and management structural needs to support lean production, and behavior
models and requirements for leadership in a lean organization.
Module 3
Sequencing: 6 Credit Hours.
Lean Operations:
This module addresses financial accounting and supply chain management. Although these are classical business subjects, the
content of these courses will be tailored to meet the special needs of lean operations.
Module 4
Sequencing: 6 Credit Hours.
Lean Business Support Systems:
Quality and Enterprise-level Transformation. This module gives special attention to quality systems, addressing six-sigma problem solving,
statistical quality control, and lean's unique source quality approaches in detail.
In addition, it addresses enterprise and extended-enterprise
restructuring. For example, one major training factory exercise enables students to learn how sales, design, development, and procurement
operations can be effectively integrated with complex build-to-order manufacturing production operations and show how lean principles can be
applied to restructure these enterprise-level transactional systems.
Moreover, just-in-time logistics systems are designed and operated by the
students including the address of novel kitting strategies now starting to be applied in industry to simplify operations, reduce mistakes,
eliminate waste, and enhance flexibility of the system. Students critically examine and restructure information flows in the system eliminating
paperwork waste while enhancing useful information for real time operations control and management. Finally, students put in place financial
performance measurement systems that follow lean accounting principles.
Module 5
Sequencing: 6 Credit Hours.
Guided Transformation Activities: As noted above, students in the program would be required to directly
apply what they have learned in their operations. This would include basic tools such as standardized work, visual workplace, setup reduction, etc.
In addition, we would require them to lead a major restructuring activity for lean transformation within their organization.
Each student would be
assigned an experienced mentor from the lean systems group and would be required to establish a significant project, propose that product to the
lean group and their student peers, establish a project plan and apply project management approaches in execution of the plan, document results,
and report out at the end of the program. The activities would require demonstration of the knowledge they have learned as well as their
leadership and interpersonal skills.
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