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

This two-day workshop is designed for supply chain and purchasing professionals seeking to apply Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) principles and Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT) metrics to optimize supply chain performance. Traditional supply chain strategies often fall short as companies face increasing demands for high-mix, low-volume, and custom products. This course provides the tools and insights needed to transform supply chain operations by focusing on time as a strategic lever.

Participants will learn to evaluate supply chain performance using MCT, shift from cost-based to time-based decision-making, and implement QRM strategies that reduce lead times, improve flexibility, and enhance supplier responsiveness. Through presentations, interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, attendees will gain practical skills to drive significant improvements in their supply chain and purchasing functions.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the principles of QRM and how they apply to supply chain and purchasing operations to reduce lead times and improve responsiveness in high-mix, low-volume, and custom production environments.
• Learn to measure and utilize Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT) as a performance metric to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities across supply chain functions.
• Develop strategies to enhance supply chain flexibility and responsiveness, including techniques such as time slicing, dual sourcing, and delayed differentiation.
• Gain insights into reshoring decisions using the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model, enabling more accurate evaluations of sourcing strategies.
• Master advanced decision-making tools for evaluating make vs. buy decisions, supplier selection, and inventory management, with a focus on reducing lead times and increasing agility.
• Apply QRM tools to real-world supply chain scenarios through hands-on exercises, enabling immediate application of learned strategies in your organization.
• Understand the role of QRM in shifting from cost-based to time-based decision-making, enhancing logistics, procurement, and supplier management to improve overall performance.

This course is ideal for supply chain managers, purchasing professionals, and operations leaders responsible for optimizing performance in high-mix, low-volume, or custom production environments. It is particularly valuable for those focused on improving supplier responsiveness, reducing lead times, and enhancing flexibility across manufacturing and office-based operations. Professionals involved in reshoring efforts will benefit from exposure to the Reshoring Initiative's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model, enabling more comprehensive sourcing decisions. Consultants advising on operational efficiency and supply chain transformations, as well as professionals in logistics, sourcing, inventory management, and procurement strategy, will find this workshop essential for developing time-based strategies to improve competitiveness and supply chain adaptability.

Day 1: QRM and MCT in Supply Chain Management

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. Wrap-Up and Next Steps