Learn the Principles and Tools for Lead Time Reduction in Manufacturing Enterprises
Gain expertise in lead time reduction with UW-Madison’s Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Certificate. This program provides the core principles and tools to help manufacturing professionals reduce lead times by up to 80%, cut costs by 20-40%, and drive competitive advantage in high-mix, low-volume production environments.
Professional Benefits
This QRM Certificate offers a formal credential from a top-tier university, certifying your mastery of QRM principles, tools, and techniques. With this credential, you’ll be equipped to lead QRM implementations, improve operational performance, and share insights on QRM’s impact at industry events, enhancing your career and your organization’s success.
Digital Badge
Earn a digital badge upon completion as a shareable micro-credential, perfect for displaying on LinkedIn, email signatures, and social media. Click here for more information on digital badges.
Enroll Today
No upfront cost required—simply register and start fulfilling the requirements to earn your QRM Certificate. Upon completion, a nominal processing fee of $195 secures your printed and framed certificate. Take the next step in advancing your career and helping your organization thrive.
The following is an overview of the five requirements to earn the QRM Certificate. (The requirements can be completed in any order – there is no specified sequence.) All courses below are offered virtually or in person in Madison, Wisconsin, through the Center for QRM or Interdisciplinary Professional Programs (InterPro). Employees of QRM Center member companies can receive a 20% discount on the InterPro courses listed for Requirements 3 and 4. Please email the QRM Center Director for more information.
1) QRM Core Course
2) QRM Elective Courses (Choose Two Courses):
- QRM Shop Floor Mastery
- QRM Business Process Optimization
- QRM for Consultants
- QRM for Supply Chain & Purchasing Professionals
- QRM Strategic Leadership
- QRM International Conference
3) Leadership Core Course (Choose One Course):
- Agile for Technical Teams from Principles to Practice
- Coaching and Mentoring for Technical Leaders
- Critical Conversations: Results-Based Communication
- Effectively managing Technical Teams
- Leadership Beyond Your Team: Managing Up and Managing Across
- Mastering the Transition from Technical Expert to Manager
4) Advanced Technical Core Course (Choose One Course):
- Data Analytics for Technical Engineers
- Decisionmaking as a Competitive Advantage: Choosing by Advantages (CBA)
- Foundations of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Organizational Agility in Digital Transformation: Designing and Leading Change
- Principles of Engineering Project Management
- Root Cause Analysis Tools for Technical Applications
5) QRM Reflection: In addition to the core and elective courses, the QRM Reflection is a vital part of the certificate requirements, designed to consolidate and showcase your understanding of Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) principles. This assessment encourages you to apply QRM insights within your professional context, bridging theoretical knowledge with practical application. Through this written reflection, you’ll demonstrate your analytical and problem-solving abilities as they relate to QRM, reinforcing the skills and knowledge gained throughout the program.
Recommended Reading: To support your learning journey, we recommend the following:
- It’s About Time: The Competitive Advantage of Quick Response Manufacturing
- MCT Quick Reference Guide
- Quick Response Manufacturing: A Companywide Approach to Reducing Lead Times
- The Practitioner’s Guide to POLCA: The Production Control System for High-Mix, Low-Volume and Custom Products
Have You Previously Completed Some Courses? – You’re already on your way!
If you have completed any eligible courses within seven years prior to enrolling in the certificate program, you may receive credit for these courses.
Special note on ISyE 641:
If you have completed the UW-Madison graduate course ISyE 641 within the past 7 years, you are well on your way to earning the QRM Certificate, as it waives the first two requirements (the QRM Core Course and two QRM Elective Courses).
1) Two Core Courses on QRM
Complete the following two courses:
2) Two Elective Courses on QRM Subjects
Complete any two of the following QRM courses:
- Introduction to POLCA
- How to Decrease Supply Chain Lead Times for High-Mix and Custom Products
- How to Design Shop Floor Cells to Reduce Lead Times
- How to Design Office Cells to Reduce Lead Times
- QRM International Conference
Courses on additional QRM topics may be added to the above list from time to time – contact QRM Center director James Rink for additional details.
3) One Course on Leadership/Team Building
Complete one of the following courses:
- Mastering the Transition from Technical Expert to Leader
- Coaching and Mentoring for Technical Leaders
- Effectively Managing Technical Teams
- Leadership Beyond Your Team
4) One Course on Manufacturing/Management/Maintenance Subjects
Complete one of the following courses offered by InterPro or QRM.
Courses offered by InterPro:
- Principles of Engineering Project Management
- Critical Conversations
- Developing a High-Performance Maintenance and Reliability Organization
- Using FMEA and RCA to Reduce Equipment Failures
- Improving Equipment Uptime and Performance with TPM
Any course in Requirement #3 that is not being used to fulfill that requirement
Courses offered by QRM:
Any course in Requirement #2 that is not being used to fulfill that requirement
5) Required Readings
Read these two books on QRM strategy and tools and pass a short online quiz:
- It’s About Time: The Competitive Advantage of Quick Response Manufacturing
- MCT Quick Reference Guide
Have You Previously Completed Some Courses? – You’re already on your way!
If you have completed any of the eligible courses within 7 years prior to admittance into the certificate program you can receive credit for these courses.
Special note on ISyE 641:
If you have completed the UW-Madison graduate course ISyE 641 within 7 years prior to admittance into the certificate program, you are well on your way to completing the QRM Certificate since many of the above requirements will be waived! Contact the QRM Center for more details.
Please see “Certificate Requirements at a Glance” for more information
News
How Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) Principles Help Companies Achieve Agility
It is clear that success in business now and in the future will require agility. But, just what is agility? And, what policies or techniques can be implemented to help ensure that businesses are agile? This article will describe two approaches to defining agility and then identify several ways that the principles of Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) can help your organization become more agile.
- More Quick Response Manufacturing posts