Continuous Improvement From Symptoms to Solutions

The hardest part of continuous improvement isn't finding a fix, it's making it stick. This course is built for manufacturing and operations professionals responsible for building and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement, not just solving individual problems, but creating the team habits, management systems, and improvement cadence that make performance gains repeatable.

Using a structured, facilitation-focused approach, you'll learn to write clear problem statements, use team-based tools like Is/Is Not Analysis and Cause and Effect Diagrams to build shared understanding, and prioritize the right improvement actions. You'll connect your findings to PDCA cycles and quality systems, so results are sustained, not just resolved. Built for supervisors, CI leads, and improvement managers, these are practical, team-based methods you can put to work immediately and repeat consistently across your organization.

View course details

Who Should Attend?

Emerging Managers and Improvement Leaders: Building management systems and a culture of continual improvement
Quality and Manufacturing Professionals: Leading and facilitating cross-functional improvement efforts
Operations Supervisors and Team Leaders: Improving recurring process or performance issues
Lean, Six Sigma, and CI Practitioners: Strengthening PDCA-based improvement work

What You Will Learn

Write clear problem statements that align cross-functional teams and focus improvement efforts
Use basic problem analysis methods to build shared understanding and guide improvement work
Facilitate team discussions to prioritize issues and improvement actions
Evaluate countermeasures using data, observation, and PDCA to improve results
Develop feasible, sustainable improvement actions that strengthen process performance
Integrate problem-solving into PDCA cycles and management systems so improvements stick

Course Details: RA00112-E236

Course Outline

Module I

Foundations of Continual Improvement Thinking: Learn to see recurring problems as system-level issues using the 8 Classes of Waste as a diagnostic lens
Problem Statements and Descriptions: Frame clear, blame-free problem statements that guide effective team-based analysis
Applying Is/Is Not Analysis: Define problem boundaries and build shared team understanding using structured comparison
Using Cause and Effect Diagrams: Map contributing factors visually to support team-based, systemic thinking
Team-Based Tools, Affinity and Interrelationship Diagrams: Group ideas and uncover patterns to prioritize improvement efforts as a team
Confirming Causes with Data: Use data and observation to confirm which contributing factors improvement efforts should target

Module II

Tree Diagrams for Action Planning: Break issues into clear, actionable steps with defined sequencing and responsibility
Prioritization Matrices for Decision Making: Focus team energy on high-impact actions using weighted criteria
Linking to PDCA and Quality Systems: Connect findings to PDCA cycles, audits, and quality systems for lasting results
Capstone Workshop and Reflection: Apply the full toolkit to a realistic case, build an implementation plan, and identify next steps

Course Schedule

Instructor and Program Director

Instructor
Terry Mann
senior lecturer
Terry Mann is a senior lecturer with the UW-Madison College of Engineering, and has an active consulting practice assisting companies in the implementation of ISO quality and environmental management system requirements. He is an Exemplar Global Principal QMS Auditor, EMS Auditor, Medical Device Auditor and Senior ASQ Certified Quality Auditor. Terry teaches courses on quality engineering topics, including ISO Standards, Six Sigma, operations management, statistical process control, design of experiments, cellular manufacturing, and facilities layout. He earned his Master of Science degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the UW–Madison.
Program Director
James Rink

Total Credits:

CEU 1.4,

PDH 14,

Applies to these Certificates:

Manufacturing Excellence,

Quick Response Manufacturing,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials and instruction in TEAMs.

Discounts

UWEBC members enjoy a 20% discount. Discount code UWEBC.

Payment Options

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 registration@cerc.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 registration@cerc.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.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend, please notify us by no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Because this course has limited enrollment, cancellation received after this date and no-shows are subject to the full course fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.