Deadline Looms for Lean Manufacturing Program

 

Reprinted from the New Haven Register

March 13, 2010

 

Local manufacturers have until Friday to sign up for a 20-week Lean Manufacturing Certificate Program through the Corporate and Continuing Education division at Gateway Community College.

The program involves 20 half-day sessions that run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The first 10 weeks begin March 23. The second 10 weeks are tentatively scheduled to begin June 15.

This program is tuition-free, underwritten by a $1.8 million High Growth Job Training grant in advanced manufacturing, awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Connecticut Business and Industry Association.

The only fee required is $200 per participant to cover the cost of training materials. Without the grant, future offerings of this program will be $1,550 per participant.

Gateway collaborated with CBIA, the state’s largest business organization, to develop the certificate program, which has been used by more than 10 local companies to improve their business, including Covidien, Elliptipar and Blakeslee Prestress.

“Lean” manufacturing is an industry improvement theory based on the premise that all work is accompanied by waste that inflates costs, lead times and inventory requirements and therefore should be minimized or eliminated.

The training is particularly relevant to employees in operations, manufacturing engineering, quality, marketing, product development and materials.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and participation is capped at 25 students.

To register, or for more information, contact Gateway Community College's Kim Dogolo at (203) 285-2316 or CBIA's Shelly Talley at (860) 244-1932.