CHEME 5710 - Lean Operations Design and Process Optimization

Spring. 1 credit. Letter grades only.

Enrollment limited to: seniors and M.Eng. students.

A. Woltornist.

An introduction into Lean base process design and operations management based on the Toyota Production System model (Lean). A deeper dive into the specific focus points of effective and clear process design, effective problem solving along with managerial expectations will be investigated and discussed. Tools/principles such as process mapping, data collection and analysis, gap analysis, cycle time content and balance, lead-time assessment and management, quality performance analysis and remediation, sustainable control measures, demand/takt time analysis and relation to demonstrated equipment/process capacity, process stability assessment, six sigma will be covered in detail. These tools will drive towards effective observation and analysis of process performance so that relevant and impactful process improvements related to cycle time, quality, lead time, and cost can be achieved. Content of delivery is supported through business case analyses and class discussion/debate by the students along with hands-on team activities throughout the semester in order to link theory with some level of practical outcomes. Industrial examples will also be linked to the theory throughout the class as case studies or videos. Guest speakers may be included where possible to link theory with practice.