← Continuous Improvement
On-site consultants · Nashville · Memphis · Knoxville · Chattanooga · Jackson · Tri-Cities
Lean Manufacturing Training Series
for Tennessee Manufacturers
Most Lean efforts stall because the people running them weren't trained to sustain them. This program gives your supervisors, team leads, and CI coordinators the hands-on skills to lead improvement — and make it stick.
On-site at your facility · Simulation-based · 11 Lean tools · Delivered by Tennessee MEP consultants
What Your Team Will Be Able to Do After This Training
Each module is simulation-based — participants work through real scenarios, not slide decks. By the end of the series, your team can lead these improvements without outside help.
✓ Run a 5S event and build an audit system that keeps the gains in place month after month
✓ Map a value stream, identify the biggest sources of waste, and prioritize where to focus improvement first
✓ Facilitate a kaizen event from scoping through sustainment — without needing a consultant in the room
✓ Lead a SMED event on a high-changeover machine and document a standardized procedure the whole team can follow
✓ Design a kanban replenishment system, balance a production cell, and implement standardized work for key operations
✓ Speak a common Lean language across your team — so improvement efforts don't depend on one person to hold them together
Lean Manufacturing Training Series, Answered
What is the Lean Manufacturing Training Series? +
It's a hands-on, simulation-based training program covering the full toolkit of Lean manufacturing — delivered on-site at your facility by Tennessee MEP consultants. The program is built for the people responsible for making improvement happen: supervisors, team leads, CI coordinators, and operations managers. Rather than a lecture series, each module puts participants through simulations so they leave knowing how to apply the tool, not just what it is.
What topics are covered? +
The series covers eleven modules delivered in sequence:
| Introduction to Lean | Workplace Organization (5S) |
| Value Stream Mapping | Standardized Work |
| Cellular Manufacturing | Pull / Kanban |
| Total Productive Maintenance | Quick Changeover (SMED) |
| Mistake Proofing | Lean Office |
| Kaizen Facilitation |
Do participants need prior Lean experience? +
No. The series starts with Introduction to Lean and builds from there. Participants with some Lean background will reinforce and deepen their knowledge; those starting fresh will have everything they need to follow along and apply the material. Eight to twelve participants is the ideal class size — enough to keep sessions interactive and run the simulations effectively.
Can we bring the training on-site? +
Yes — and that's the standard format. Delivering the training at your facility means participants are applying concepts in the environment where they'll actually use them. It's also easier to schedule around your production calendar and train a full team at once rather than sending individuals offsite one at a time. Modules can be scheduled individually or as a full series depending on your priorities.
How does this relate to Lean Six Sigma training? +
The Lean Manufacturing Training Series focuses on Lean tools and the cultural side of continuous improvement. Lean Six Sigma adds statistical problem-solving methodology — DMAIC, variation reduction, and data-driven root cause analysis. Many manufacturers pursue both, with this series providing the operational foundation and Lean Six Sigma building the analytical depth to tackle more complex problems. Tennessee MEP consultants can help you determine the right sequencing for your team.
Schedule a class at your facility
A Tennessee MEP Solutions Consultant will work with you to select the right modules, schedule around your production calendar, and put the right people in the room.
Most companies start with a single module — 5S or Value Stream Mapping — to see how the format works before scheduling the full series.
Talk to a Solutions Consultant →
Free consultation. No commitment required.
Give Your Team the Skills to Lead Lean — Not Just Participate in It
Talk to a Tennessee MEP Solutions Consultant about scheduling a class at your facility.
