How can you learn lean manufacturing skills online?

1 Understand the basics

Before you dive into the details of lean manufacturing, you need to have a solid grasp of the core concepts and principles. These include the value stream, the seven wastes, the five whys, the kaizen approach, the pull system, and the 5S method. You can find many online articles, videos, podcasts, and books that explain these ideas in simple and engaging ways. You can also take some introductory online courses that cover the fundamentals of lean manufacturing and how to apply them in different settings.

2 Learn from the experts

One of the best ways to learn lean manufacturing skills online is to learn from the experts who have successfully implemented lean in their organizations. You can follow their blogs, podcasts, newsletters, webinars, and social media accounts to get insights, tips, advice, and case studies on lean manufacturing. You can also join online communities, forums, groups, and networks where you can interact with other lean practitioners, ask questions, share experiences, and get feedback.

3 Practice with simulations

Another way to learn lean manufacturing skills online is to practice with simulations that mimic real-life production scenarios. Simulations can help you apply the lean principles and tools to different situations, test your assumptions, experiment with solutions, and see the results. You can find many online platforms and software that offer lean manufacturing simulations for various industries and levels of difficulty. Some of them are free, while others require a subscription or a fee.

4 Take online courses

If you want to deepen your knowledge and skills in lean manufacturing, you can take online courses that cover various aspects and applications of lean. Online courses can provide you with structured and comprehensive learning materials, interactive exercises, quizzes, assignments, and certificates. You can choose from a wide range of online courses that suit your goals, interests, budget, and schedule. Some of the popular online platforms that offer lean manufacturing courses are Udemy, Coursera, edX, and Lean Six Sigma Institute.

5 Apply your learning

Finally, the best way to learn lean manufacturing skills online is to apply your learning to your own work or projects. You can start by identifying a problem or an opportunity for improvement in your current process, and then use the lean tools and techniques to analyze, design, implement, and evaluate a solution. You can also seek feedback from your peers, mentors, customers, or stakeholders to validate and improve your solution. By applying your learning, you can demonstrate your skills, create value, and enhance your performance.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?