Contact us at 731-425-8826 or workforce@jscc.edu to develop a training plan for your organization.
MFG-CI-101 | Introduction to Continuous Improvement
Duration: 8 Hours Format: In-Person, On-Site, or Online Audience: All Manufacturing Employees
Continuous improvement (CI) is a mindset and a set of tools that empowers every employee to identify and eliminate waste, solve problems, and make their work better every day. This foundational course introduces the CI philosophy, the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and how CI principles apply to everyday roles on the manufacturing floor. No prior experience with CI methods is required.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the core principles of continuous improvement and why they matter in manufacturing
- Describe the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and apply it to a workplace example
- Identify at least three types of waste present in a typical manufacturing process
- Recognize opportunities for improvement in their own work area
- Explain the role every employee plays in building a culture of continuous improvement
MFG-CI-102 | Kaizen Fundamentals
Duration: 8 Hours Format: In-Person or On-Site Audience: Group Leads, Team Leads, Supervisors, Process Owners
Kaizen — the practice of continuous, incremental improvement — is one of the most powerful tools available to manufacturing organizations. This course introduces the Kaizen philosophy and provides hands-on experience simulating a Kaizen event. Participants will learn how to identify waste, engage their teams, and drive rapid process improvements that stick.
Learning Objectives
- Define Kaizen and explain its origins and application in manufacturing environments
- Identify 8 forms of waste within a process using direct observation
- Participate effectively in a structured Kaizen improvement event
- Use basic Kaizen tools, including process observation, waste walk, and idea generation
- Develop a simple improvement action plan with ownership and timelines
MFG-CI-103 | Kaizen Event Facilitation
Duration: 16 Hours (2 Days) Format: In-Person Audience: CI Coordinators, Supervisors, Internal Trainers
Effective Kaizen events require skilled facilitation. This two-day course prepares participants to plan, lead, and follow up on Kaizen events from start to finish. Participants will practice managing team dynamics, guiding problem-solving discussions, building action plans, and sustaining improvements after the event ends.
Learning Objectives
- Plan a Kaizen event, including goals, team composition, and logistics
- Facilitate productive team sessions that generate high-quality improvement ideas
- Apply observation and data collection techniques during the event to identify waste
- Guide teams through root cause analysis and solution development
- Build and communicate an improvement action plan with accountable owners and deadlines
- Develop strategies to sustain improvements and maintain measurable gains after the event
MFG-CI-104 | Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
Duration: 6 Hours Format: In-Person or On-Site Audience: Quality, Production, and Maintenance Teams
Solving problems permanently requires finding and eliminating their root causes — not just treating symptoms. This course builds structured problem-solving skills using proven tools including the 5-Why method and fishbone (Ishikawa) diagrams. Participants will apply these tools to real-world manufacturing problems through guided exercises.
Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between symptoms, contributing factors, and root causes of a problem
- Apply the 5-Why technique to trace a problem to its root cause
- Construct a fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram to organize potential causes by category
- Develop corrective actions that address root causes rather than symptoms
- Document RCA findings in a format suitable for review and follow-up
MFG-CI-105 | Statistical Process Control (SPC) Basics
Duration: 8 Hours Format: In-Person or On-site Audience: Quality Technicians, Operators, Supervisors, Group Leaders
Statistical Process Control gives manufacturing teams the tools to monitor processes, detect variation, and make data-driven improvement decisions before defects occur. This course covers the fundamentals of SPC, including control charts, process capability index, and variation analysis. Participants will complete hands-on exercises using real or simulated production data.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the difference between common cause and special cause variation in a process
- Construct and interpret X-bar, R, and individual control charts
- Identify out-of-control signals on a control chart and determine appropriate responses
- Calculate and interpret process capability components (Cp, Cpk, Pk, and Ppk)
- Collect and organize data for use in SPC analysis
- Use SPC data to support continuous improvement decisions
MFG-CI-106 | Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement (CI)
Duration: 8 Hours Format: In-Person Audience: Managers and Senior Leadership
Tools and techniques alone do not create lasting improvement — culture does. This strategic course is designed for managers and senior leaders who want to develop, sustain, and measure a genuine culture of continuous improvement across their organization. Participants will explore employee engagement strategies, recognition systems, and how to align CI efforts with broader business goals.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the key characteristics of a mature CI culture in a manufacturing organization
- Identify the leadership behaviors that enable or hinder a CI culture
- Develop strategies to engage front-line employees in improvement activities
- Design recognition and reward approaches that reinforce CI participation
- Establish metrics and visual management systems to track CI culture progress
Align CI initiatives with organizational goals and operational performance targets
