What is Lean Enterprise?

Lean enterprise is the practice of creating more value for consumers while using fewer resources and eliminating waste. The concept of Lean has become a feasible solution for organizations to transform themselves and become more competitive.

What is the Lean Enterprise Summer Program?

The Department of Industrial and Information Engineering has worked with several companies and organizations, such as Boeing, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Link Belt, Newell/Rubbermaid, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Panasonic Electronic Devices Corp, Toyoda-Koki TRW Automotive, and Volvo Construction Equipment, implementing lean practices by applying the right tools for the right processes and developing a sustainable culture.

Thanks to this experience, we have developed a five-week summer program for students interested in learning about Lean and gaining experience in the methodology and applications.

What Will You Learn?

The summer program is divided into four modules:

1. Fundamentals of Lean Enterprise Systems. You will be introduced to lean and six sigma concepts and learn how to implement improvements within an enterprise environment.
2. Designing and Modeling of Lean Systems. You will learn how to identify an enterprise’s critical path and illustrate it using value stream mapping (VSM) to design the desired improved system.
3. Analysis of Lean Systems. You will test your proposed improvements utilizing simulation modeling.
4. Reliability of Lean Systems. Any system needs to be sustained through time in order to be successful. Using reliability engineering, you’ll be able to ensure long-term success of your proposed improvements.

Real-world experience

You won’t just spend time in classes. You’ll have the chance to take the lessons you’ve learned and work with UT faculty and research staff to apply lean concepts in a project with a local company.

What to Expect?

Distance Education

Your first week in the summer program will be spent in online classes delivered to your hometown.

Classes at UT

After your first week, you’ll travel to the U.S. and spend the remaining four weeks at UT. You’ll have access to UT facilities for research, homework, relaxation, and leisure. You’ll also take day trips to local sites and landmarks of the region.

Academic Certificate

Upon your successful completion of the summer program, you will receive a certificate acknowledging your fulfillment of course and project requirements.