This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.
Course Outline
Introduction to QRM and MCT: The Power of Time
- Overview of QRM principles and the impact of reducing lead times on profitability and market share.
- Defining MCT and its role in highlighting hidden inefficiencies.
Hands-on QRM and MCT Applications
- Designing QRM cells for production and office environments.
- Practical exercises in MCT Mapping to visualize and communicate improvement opportunities.
Advanced QRM Strategies for Custom and High-Mix Production
- Implementing QRM in low-volume or highly customized production settings.
- Utilizing POLCA and other QRM tools for capacity planning and flow management.
Optimizing Your Supply Chain with QRM and MCT
- Applying MCT to evaluate and improve supply chain performance.
- Techniques for time slicing, delayed differentiation, and multi-tiered planning.
Overcoming Barriers to QRM and MCT Success
- Rethinking traditional metrics and embracing time-based performance measures.
- Case studies on overcoming resistance to change and achieving successful implementation.
Instructors and Program Director
Instructors
James Rink
Director, QRM Center
Dr. Rink brings over 35 years of experience in manufacturing, advanced technology, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has led global teams in China, Europe, the US, Mexico, and India, driving collaboration, enhancing manufacturing competitiveness, and achieving exceptional results. His tenure at Caterpillar spanned 31 years, concluding in roles as General Manager and Multi-site Operations Manager. Over the past five years, he has successfully managed his own consulting firm, Integrity 360 Leadership, delivering strategic manufacturing insights to companies such as Oshkosh, McNeilus Truck, and L&T Technology Services (LTTS).
Additionally, Jim has served as an adjunct faculty member at Bradley University, teaching manufacturing processes, and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Colllege of Business' Organizational Leadership department at Lewis University.
Jim has a diverse educational background, holding a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in manufacturing systems engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an MBA from Northern Illinois University, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship from Governors State University.Beyond his professional achievements, Jim is actively involved in his community, serving on the advisory board for the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the Unviersity of Wisconsin–Madison, and holding director roles on his local Workforce Investment Board and regional economic devleopment organization.
Vince Clark
Vince Clark is an accomplished manufacturing leader with more than 30 years of experience driving operational excellence across global organizations. He brings a proven record of leading large, complex operations in industries ranging from consumer products to heavy equipment and mining.Vince spent over two decades with Caterpillar Inc., progressing through roles that included Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Factory Product Manager, Global Manufacturing Engineering Director, and Operations Director. He led organizations with hundreds of employees, managed large-scale global engineering teams, and oversaw complex operations, including Caterpillar’s Ultra Class Mining Shovels and off-highway trucks, developing deep expertise in low-volume, high-mix production environments.Following his time with Caterpillar, Vince held senior leadership roles with Enerpac, Briggs & Stratton, and Andis Company, where he most recently served as Business Unit Director. Across these organizations, he managed operations of more than 600 employees, oversaw annual capital project portfolios exceeding $60 million, and consistently delivered measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Vince is recognized for his ability to combine Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and lead-time reduction principles with a people-centered leadership style, delivering both cultural change and bottom-line results.He holds a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and an MBA from Millikin University.As an instructor with the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Center for Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM), Vince brings a wealth of real-world expertise to help companies reduce lead times, improve responsiveness, and thrive in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape.Program Director
James Rink