Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM)

Executive Training. Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) is a companywide strategy for lead time reduction throughout the enterprise, and is particularly suited to companies making high-mix, low-volume or custom products. Using QRM, such companies have reduced their lead times by as much as 80-90%. As a result these companies have not only seen large increases in market share, but also experienced 15-20% cost reductions and huge quality improvements. In addition, companies find that the lead time and cost reductions resulting from QRM enable them to compete effectively against low-cost countries.

This course provides an overview of QRM strategy, which includes four core concepts:

1. The Power of Time: The numerous reasons why lead time is important (much more important than most managers realize), how it influences total operating cost and quality, and how to take advantage of this realization. 
2. Organizational Structure: How to restructure your organization to minimize lead time throughout the enterprise, both on the shop floor and in the office.
3. System Dynamics: How interactions between machines, people and products impact your lead times. As a result, capacity planning policies (e.g. machine and labor utilization) need to be rethought for QRM.
4. Enterprise-wide Application: QRM is not just a shop floor approach; it is applied throughout the organization including in material planning and control, supply management, and office operations.

This course is intended for managers and executives and requires no prior knowledge of QRM. It will take approximately 40 minutes to complete. It is possible to exit the course at any time and return to resume where you left off.

Companies manufacturing high-mix, low-volume, or customized products struggle with long lead times and late deliveries. Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) is an enterprise-wide strategy that enables companies to reduce lead times by over 80% and achieve near-perfect on-time delivery.

These two courses are designed as an introduction to QRM for employees at companies that have already adopted the QRM strategy. They are particularly suited to onboarding of new employees. Each course takes approximately 25 minutes to complete.

Quick Response Manufacturing, Part 1: Realizing the Power of Time introduces learners to the core strategies of QRM and provides a closer look at lead time in manufacturing companies, including:

• Where to focus your efforts if lead time reduction is your goal.
• How to precisely define and measure lead time with a time-based metric.
• The numerous benefits of reducing lead time.