Mastering Lean Supply Chain

Both, in sequence. Modules one to eight are Lean: principles, wastes, tools, value stream mapping and kaizen culture applied to supply chains. Modules nine to sixteen build the Six Sigma side, from variation, sigma levels and the voice of the customer through each DMAIC phase to statistical process control. The later modules bring the two together in lean inventory, digital Lean and project leadership.

Module seven takes an end-to-end view rather than a single workstation. Participants draw the current state across suppliers, warehouse and delivery, calculate takt time, lead time and the value-added ratio, then design a future state with fewer handoffs and less waiting. The exercise is meant to be repeated on a real flow after the module, which is why most cohorts pick one before they start.

Module five first explains muda, mura and muri, then defines the eight wastes and walks through where each appears in logistics, warehousing and planning: empty running, waiting at docks, excess motion in picking, overproduction of forecasts and re-keyed data. It finishes with diagnosing waste at the gemba, the actual place of work, rather than from reports.

Module eight covers the kaizen mindset and the PDCA cycle, going to the gemba as a leadership practice, the structure of kaizen events alongside daily improvement, and the respect for people that keeps frontline staff engaged. Combined with the standard work and visual management tools from module six, participants have what they need to lead a first event with their own team.

Yes. The process view in module three and the pull principles in module four apply directly to planning, and the wastes module treats overproduction of plans and excess inventory as waste in their own right. Planners who complete it understand why operations ask for smaller batches and leveled schedules. Module seventeen, on lean inventory, pull replenishment and the bullwhip effect, is written for them.

The content amounts to 33 hours of self-paced online learning on the Blue Ocean learning platform, available on web and mobile, made up of modules, digital study resources, knowledge checks and practice assessments. Managers can see enrollment, progress and completion for every participant on the administrator dashboard. Those who complete successfully receive a digital, verifiable MBE credential.

Use the Register Now button on this page. It opens Mastering Lean Supply Chain on the Blue Ocean Academy website, where you can enroll and start learning at your own pace.