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

This workshop equips supply chain and purchasing professionals with Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) principles and Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT) metrics to optimize performance. Participants will learn to shift from cost-based to time-based decision-making, reducing lead times and enhancing supplier responsiveness. Through interactive sessions and hands-on exercises, attendees will gain practical skills to transform their supply chain operations.

• Supply chain managers and purchasing professionals optimizing performance in high-mix, low-volume, or custom production environments.
• Leaders focused on improving supplier responsiveness and reducing lead times in manufacturing and office-based operations.
• Consultants and professionals in logistics, sourcing, inventory management, and procurement strategy seeking time-based strategies to improve competitiveness.

Day 1: QRM and MCT in Supply Chain Management

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wrap-Up and Next Steps

• Recap of key learnings and practical steps for applying QRM, MCT, and TCO in supply chain and purchasing operations.
• Q&A session to address specific participant questions and scenarios.