QRM Introduction Fundamentals of Quick Response Manufacturing

Cut lead times, and cost, quality, and responsiveness follow. If you run high-mix, low-volume, or custom manufacturing, this fast-paced introduction to Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) covers Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT), the metric that reveals where time and money are actually being lost in your operation. QRM was founded by Rajan Suri and is taught through UW-Madison's Center for Quick Response Manufacturing.

From there, you'll get an overview of QRM cell design for shop floor and office work, and POLCA, an alternative to traditional Kanban material control.

Who Should Attend?

  • New to QRM: Professionals in high-mix, low-volume, or custom manufacturing with no prior QRM background
  • Managers and Team Leaders: Manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, engineering, and office operations leaders responsible for process performance
  • Continuous Improvement Roles: Process engineers, industrial engineers, and improvement leaders driving organizational change and strategic decisions

What You Will Learn

  • Explain why lead time, measured through Manufacturing Critical-path Time (MCT), matters more than traditional efficiency metrics
  • Recognize opportunities to reduce lead time in your own shop floor or office operations
  • Understand how QRM cell design differs from traditional functional departments
  • Understand how POLCA works as an alternative to traditional Kanban material control
  • Identify next steps for bringing QRM principles back to your organization