WE llc

applying lean in the every day

TRAINING

 We offer several training programs designed to share lean principles and servant leadership ideals to enable strong execution of problem solving and design with overall excellence.

~ scroll down or click on titles below to learn more ~

Problem Solving | Risk Assessment & Prevention | Personal Time Management | Program Management | Value Engineering
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Client Feedback

"
I thought the training was good because we used real life issues, each person participated and it wasn’t just showing one method, I left the class with a good understanding of all items trained. I like the fishbone method because it doesn’t tie you down to thinking in a box until the next item to think about is wrote down it visually forces you to brainstorm. "- Ora

"Jennifer did a great job of explaining things and kept it very interesting. I really like the idea of trying to solve our own problems during the training. Yes I do believe we could obtain the real root cause to problems just so we have a team working on things. I believe the most important thing we all need to remember is work on them as a team, not just one person from quality. "- Tim



Risk Assessment & Prevention























Risk Assessment & Prevention






























Risk Assessment & Prevention




















Personal Time Management





















Personal Time Management






















Personal Time Management











Program Management


















Program Management

















Program Management










Value Engineering


















Value Engineering














Value Engineering

Problem Solving

 

Permanent corrective action is the goal of problem solving however, it’s not always found on the path of least resistance.   Too often a cause is diagnosed early and the ‘problem solving’ ends only for the issue to rear its ugly head down the road in the SAME product or in a similar product line.  Thorough understanding and definition of the problem, the *multiple* causes, and exploration of solutions is critical in the development of long term corrective actions that will provide your customers with the highest quality products & services.

 

Whether or not an ‘8D’ is required by the customer, this tool provides the basics of issue identification, isolation, short and long term solutions, as well tying actions to existing company procedures.  Our training focuses on the complexity of issue identification and resolution teaching the basics of the 9-step (8D) method, Fish Bone Diagram, 5-Why, and Kempner Tregoe tools to enable your colleagues to identify multiple root causes so to close the loop on all issues in question.  Ideally, your specific company examples will be used throughout the training.

 

Students who attend this training receive 9-step corrective action training step by step, in-depth problem identification and resolution training using standard industry tools, a quick reference hand-out to aid in performing problem solving and 8Ds in the future, and small workshops applying the lessons of the day solving actual company issues.

 

Participants of this training will be able to:

 

  • Effectively address internal issues and customer issues using the 8D tool
  • Effectively explore causes and effects using Fish Bone Diagram and 5-Why tools
  • Facilitate an 8D meeting
  • Find multiple resolutions quickly to close the loop on critical internal and customer issues

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Risk Assessment and Prevention (think APQP)

 

Murphy’s Law applies to most unless you plan to prevent failure by considering solutions before you encounter it.  Making snaps more flexible, creating a one way only assembly aid before the molding tool is built, or implementing a poke yoke to ensure screw torque are all examples of preventative actions spawned by the thoughtful organized disciplined brainstorming of product risk assessment and prevention.  In some industries, this is also known as advanced product quality planning (APQP).

 

WE use the AIAG tools of Process Flow, Process & Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis, Control Plan, and Operator Instructions to ensure statistically the provision of the highest quality product and/or services.  Think of it as problem solving before the problems arise.  Think of it as saving money by avoiding the high cost of customer issues, tool changes, and revalidation costs to name a few.

 

Perhaps your company already practices APQP, however you still experience recurring issues and multiple launch set-backs.  Perhaps a refresher course in this method is right for your team.  No matter the size of your company, this disciplined method will ensure your design and manufacturing integrity.

 

Students who attend this training receive a thorough understanding of using product requirements as the foundation for building a successful launch and manufacturing cycle.  They receive in depth training of how to create and use the Process Flow, PFMEA, DFMEA, and Control Plan as well as how to write effective Operator Instructions.  They also receive a quick reference hand-out to aid in applying the risk assessment to future projects and small applying the lessons of the day using actual company products.

 

Participants of this training will be able to:

 

  • Effectively assess the risk and prevent with appropriate actions
  • Show the process of engineering decisions towards the final product design to your customers in an organized and disciplined way
  • Effectively explore causes and effects using the PFMEA and DFMEA
  • Facilitate an assessment meeting on their own
  • Find and analyze multiple resolutions quickly to determine best design actions

 

Client feedback on this training:

 I always used to copy prior APQP documents and never fully understood how I could solve problems in advance so quickly. – Ray

 

Using the positive expected product requirements made it a lot easier to understand potential failure modes.  I always used to get stuck in the failure/cause loop before and blaming my operators for something I really could’ve fixed up-front – Scott

 

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Personal Time Management

 

aka: How to Stop Procrastinating and Get The Things Done You’ve Wanted To Faster Than You Thought You Could

 

We’ve heard about making to-do lists, delegating and keeping our plans realistic, setting goals, and maybe even stopping the constant checking of our email daily, but yet we often still over-schedule, use old to-do lists (if any), and easily get distracted by email or other seemingly important obligations.  What makes us procrastinate and why is it ok?  And, if it’s ok, how does knowing it’s ok help one to stop procrastinating?

 

Interesting riddle and one WE address in this class. 

 

Of course I cover the basic mechanics of keeping time whether you’re trying to balance your workload or that of several others.  Depending on your team I will cover this in detail or treat as a refresher.  Mostly this class discusses, analyzes, and teaches to apply anti-procrastination techniques to understand the reality of time, how to maximize our days, avoid interruptions (we’ll call those ‘time stealers’), prioritizing our/their workloads, and how to set goals that will allow us to accomplish more and work better with others.

 

Students who attend this training receive insight into their procrastinating ways, in-depth mechanics of time management, understanding of SMART goals and how to react when good planning might not be working, as well as small interesting workshops applying the lessons of the day both individual and group based.  Options for additional hours or credit available with out-of-class assignments.

 

Participants of this training will eliminate:

 

  • Unplanned or poorly managed days
  • Wasting precious hours in their day
  • Disorganization in both their work and personal lives
  • Clutter in their minds and possibly in their office
  • Running meetings poorly
  • Stress in their lives

 

 

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Program Management

 

There are lots of things the Program Manager is responsible for such as avoiding schedule problems, keeping the team on task, understanding costs, and communicating to everyone.  Getting mired in all the details, underestimating the critical path, responding to an issues list, and keeping communication tight within your immediate team can get one into trouble quick no matter your dedication to the project and company.

 

WE introduce methods of forward thinking and planning that are inclusive to all involved with design, manufacturing, and sale to inspire teams and keep the energy high through out the project.  We review the basic mechanics of Program Management yes, but also discuss how to manage change, risk, project scope and keep team morale high.

 

Students who attend this training receive insight into how to inspire the personal best of their team mates, review of the mechanics of program management, understanding of SMART goals and how to react to change and unknowns, how to react when good planning might not be working, how to be proactive, understand critical path and keeping morale high on the team along with small interactive workshops applying the lessons of the day both individual and in groups. 

 

Participants of the training will be able to:

 

  • Effectively assess risk and lead the team to prevent
  • Run meetings more effectively and respectfully
  • Identify the critical path in any project
  • Facilitate team brainstorming to solve the design request or issue
  • Define and manage project scope more effectively
  • Understand the difference between planning quality into a product verses just hoping for it
  • Find and analyze multiple resolutions quickly to determine best design actions

 

 

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Value Engineering

 

Doing more with less is a great idea but how this is accomplished especially if morale is low as economic uncertainty continues to bloom?  Lean principles aren’t so much about doing more with less than they are about using your current resources more effectively and bringing various disciplines together early in the development and launch process.

 

This training focuses on the tie in between all company disciplines from sales to manufacturing, marketing to product testing, quality to finances.  The understanding of team collaboration as it relates to product development, risk assessment, market analysis, sustainability is taught in lecture and in the application of lean principles in both individual and group workshops.

 

Students who attend this training receive insight into how to inspire the personal best of their team mates, lessons in collaboration, review of DFMEA and PFMEA tools, and a method of developing product efficiently and cost effectively to fit your market and sustainability goals.

 

Participants of the training will be able to:

 

  • Review a bill of material and identify opportunities for cost savings
  • Run effective design reviews
  • Facilitate team brainstorming to solve the design request or issue
  • Articulate and apply the lean method of new product design
  • Review product designs to maximize material usage
  • Incorporate design for disassembly, reuse, EOL
  • Incorporate customer and market feedback into development

 


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