General Overview

Factory Physics is an innovative framework of principles developed by Professor Wallace Hopp that describes the behavior of all production systems. In this program, participants will use the Factory Physics framework to provide a scientific basis for the practice of lean manufacturing, thus enabling them to select and develop lean policies to effectively design, control and manage their own organization's systems. Participants also learn Michigan's unique Rapid Plant Assessment method for quickly evaluating production facilities and apply the Rapid Plant Assessment to diagnose systems and identify improvement opportunities during a tour of a nearby plant.

The program leverages innovative teaching materials from the Ross School's Masters in Supply Chain Management degree as well as hundreds of innovative action-based learning projects Michigan has conducted in partnership with leading corporations around the world.

Takeaways

Participants will return to their organizations with the ability to:

• Link day-to-day operational details to business strategies
• Rapidly analyze production systems, and the process flows within them, to target improvement efforts
• Focus on operating policies that represent key leverage points with respect to the bottom line
• Work with the natural tendencies of a system to develop customized policies for their environment
• Increase throughput, reduce cycle time, lower variability, and improve quality

PLEASE NOTE: If you choose to take Factory Physics and Supply Chain Leadership consecutively, you are eligible for a special rate of $4,200 for each program, or a total of $8,400. Registration by phone at (734) 763-1000 is necessary to assure this special rate is applied to your enrollment.