Lean Supply Chain and Logistics

Evaluate Your Overall Supply Chain Network

This module focuses on the overall supply chain network and how its parts work together as a system, including methods for better information sharing, identifying waste, and optimizing flow in the extended value chain. You will also learn better sourcing practices, such as supplier evaluation, analyzing total landed cost, and managing the supply chain in order to minimize that cost.

Day 1

• Introduction to Lean Supply Chain Management
  • Importance and financial impact of the supply chain function
  • Lean principles and how they apply to lean supply chain in a variety of industries
  • Identifying waste in the supply chain system
• Introduction to Inventory Management in the Supply Chain
  • How to manage inventories in an organization and across the entire supply chain
  • Identifying which parts of the supply chain have too much inventory and which parts have too little

Day 2

• Inventory Management in the Supply Chain System, Continued
  • Pull systems for inventory management
  • Inventory Management Distribution Simulation
• Managing Global Supply Chains

Day 3 (Morning)

• Partnering with Suppliers and Customers for a More Efficient Supply Chain/Logistics System
• Implementing Supply Scorecards
• Methods for Information Sharing with Suppliers and Customers
• Sourcing Strategies to Improve Supply Chain Performance

This module is ideal from all change agents and staff involved in supply chain operations, including:

• Operations, supply chain, and production managers
• Supply chain analysts
• Purchasing agents
• Materials coordinators
• Business analysts 
• Production and material planners
• Inventory management professionals
• Customer service professionals

Izak Duenyas is the John Psarouthakis Professor of Manufacturing Management and Professor of Operations Management at the Ross School of Business and holds an appointment at the Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering. He also serves as the Chair of the Technology and Operations Area. Professor Duenyas' research interests lie in the performance analysis and optimal control of complex production and service systems.

More About Dr. Duenyas

• Learn how to implement collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment with value chain partners
• Review the bullwhip effect and causes of variability in the value chain and how to eliminate it using better information sharing
• Assess where to keep inventory in the value chain and how to manage the inventory
• Understand how to improve the flows of material and information in the extended value chain
• Evaluate the extended value chain
• Determine how to reduce risk across the supply chain
• Understand how to decide what to produce and when to produce it

Understand the Engineering of a Lean Warehouse

In this module, you will learn how to use Lean principles in your warehouse to improve its performance while reducing errors. Learning outcomes include familiarizing yourself with a variety of warehousing equipment; learning how to use simple techniques to assess the performance and manpower/equipment requirements of key warehouse processes; and understanding the role and impact of inventory accuracy.

Day 1 (Afternoon):

• Lean Warehouse Facility Tour
  • Gemba Walk of a local warehouse to see actual processes, understand the work, and ask questions.

Day 2:

• Introduction to Lean Logistics
  • Warehouse types based on “customer”
  • Applying Lean principles in the warehouse
• Lean Warehouse Simulation
  • Multiple-round simulation transforms a traditional warehouse into a Lean Warehouse

Day 3:

• Receiving and Put-away Functions; Application Exercise
• Basic Review of Storage/Retrieval Equipment; Application Exercise
• Order Picking Functions, Order Picking Accuracy: Pick-to-Light and Voice Pick
• Inventory Accuracy in the Warehouse; Case Study

This module is ideal from all change agents and staff involved in logistics and distribution, including:

• Operations managers
• Warehouse managers/supervisors
• Distribution center managers/supervisors
• Logistics engineers
• Order fulfillment specialists
• Inventory control specialists
• Third-party logistics providers

Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan College of Engineering, Dr. Bozer served for 11 years as the Engineering Co-Director of the Tauber Institute for Global Operations. He is also the Co-Director/Co-Founder of the Lean Manufacturing and Lean Logistics Certificate Programs offered through ISD. Professor Bozer's teaching and research interests focus on the application of Lean techniques to material flow and storage systems found in manufacturing and logistics facilities such as production plants, distribution centers, and warehouses.

More About Dr. Bozer

• Observe successful lean implementation in warehousing
• Understand how to apply Lean principles in your warehouse operations
• Review warehousing equipment and processes
• Use simple, excel-based tools to assess the throughput of receiving/put-away operations and manual, as well as automated storage/retrieval systems
• Review opportunities to improve picking and inventory accuracy

Professor Bozer guides course participants on a "Gemba Walk" of a local Lean warehouse to see actual processes, understand the work, and ask questions.

We have designed and developed an interactive warehouse simulation exclusive to our program that allows you to practice lean thinking and apply what you learn to your work.