QRM for Supply Chain & Purchasing Professionals Reducing Lead Times and Enhancing Responsiveness

Day 1: QRM and MCT in Supply Chain Management

Introduction to Quick Response Manufacturing and Its Supply Chain Impact

• Overview of QRM principles and the significance of time in supply chain performance.
• Understanding the Response Time Spiral and its effect on supply chain efficiency.

Applying MCT as a Performance Metric in Supply Chains

• How to measure Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT) and apply it to evaluate supply chain performance.
• Comparing MCT with traditional metrics of cost, quality, and on-time delivery

Advanced Supplier Metrics and Decision-Making

• Utilizing MCT to assess supplier performance beyond traditional metrics.
• Techniques for selecting suppliers based on responsiveness, flexibility, and lead time reduction.

Cost vs. Time: Shifting Perspectives in Supply Chain Decisions

• Moving from cost-based to time-based perspectives in logistics and purchasing decisions.
• Efficiency vs. speed in transportation: optimizing truck loading, shipping, and receiving operations.

Interactive Exercise: MCT Mapping for Supply Chains

• Hands-on activity to create MCT maps for supply chain scenarios, identifying bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement.

Day 2: Enhancing Responsiveness and Implementing QRM Strategies

System Dynamics Principles for Supply Chains

• Exploring the importance of spare capacity, small batch flows, and system dynamics in supply chain performance.
• Demonstration of trade-offs and their impact on lead times.

Reshoring Decisions and the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Model

• Introduction to the Reshoring Initiative's TCO model for evaluating true sourcing costs.
• Using TCO and QRM principles to guide reshoring and sourcing decisions that optimize lead times and costs.

Make vs. Buy Decisions in a QRM Context

• Evaluating the true cost of sourcing, including the impact of lead times.
• Strategies for dual sourcing and using MCT to guide make vs. buy decisions.

Techniques for Increasing Supply Chain Flexibility and Predictability

• Strategies such as time slicing, product enrichment, delayed differentiation, and multi-tiered concurrent planning.
• Implementing QRM-driven techniques to enhance supply chain adaptability and responsiveness.

Case Studies: QRM, MCT, and Reshoring in Action

• Real-world examples of companies successfully applying QRM, MCT, and TCO to transform their supply chains.
• Lessons learned and key takeaways from diverse industries.

Workshop: Customizing QRM Solutions for Supply Chain Challenges

• Group discussions and exercises to apply QRM strategies to participants' supply chain issues.
• Developing action plans for implementing QRM improvements in your organization.

Overcoming Common Challenges in QRM Supply Chain Implementation

• Addressing resistance to change, supplier coordination issues, and internal alignment.
• Best practices for engaging stakeholders and driving sustained improvements.

Wrap-Up and Next Steps

• Recap of key learnings and practical steps for applying QRM, MCT, and TCO in supply chain and purchasing operations.
• Q&A session to address specific participant questions and scenarios.

Registration Date/Time:
9/23/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 11/4/2025  8:00am - 2:30pm Central Time
• 11/5/2025  8:00am - 2:30pm Central Time

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.