QRM Shop Floor Mastery Cell Design and Scheduling for High-Mix, Low-Volume, and Custom Production

Introduction to QRM and the Role of Shop Floor Cells

• Understanding the fundamentals of QRM and the importance of cells in reducing lead times.
• Key aspects of cell design for high-mix, low-volume production.

POLCA: A Visual Control System for Complex Production

• Detailed exploration of POLCA and its unique hybrid push/pull approach.
• How POLCA enhances team coordination, reduces scheduling stress, and improves job flow.

Designing and Implementing Effective Shop Floor Cells

• Identifying Focused Target Market Segments and designing cells to meet production needs.
• Practical guidance on equipment, labor considerations, and overcoming challenges with shared resources.

Advanced Shop Scheduling and Capacity Planning

• Techniques for managing capacity, lot sizes, and inventory in cell-based production.
• Using POLCA to support cell teams and maintain optimal flow on the shop floor.

Steps to Successful Implementation and Industry Success Stories

• Stepwise guide to implementing cells and POLCA, including strategic and financial justification.
• Case studies showcasing how companies have transformed their operations through cell design and POLCA.

Registration Date/Time:
4/15/2026 8:0am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 4/15/2026  8:00am - 3:00pm Central Time
• 4/16/2026  8:00am - 3:00pm Central Time

• Instructor

  Vince Clark

  Vince Clark is an accomplished manufacturing leader with more than 30 years of experience driving operational excellence across global organizations. He brings a proven record of leading large, complex operations in industries ranging from consumer products to heavy equipment and mining.

   

  Vince spent over two decades with Caterpillar Inc., progressing through roles that included Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Factory Product Manager, Global Manufacturing Engineering Director, and Operations Director. He led organizations with hundreds of employees, managed large-scale global engineering teams, and oversaw complex operations, including Caterpillar’s Ultra Class Mining Shovels and off-highway trucks, developing deep expertise in low-volume, high-mix production environments.

   

  Following his time with Caterpillar, Vince held senior leadership roles with Enerpac, Briggs & Stratton, and Andis Company, where he most recently served as Business Unit Director. Across these organizations, he managed operations of more than 600 employees, oversaw annual capital project portfolios exceeding $60 million, and consistently delivered measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

   

  A certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Vince is recognized for his ability to combine Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, and lead-time reduction principles with a people-centered leadership style, delivering both cultural change and bottom-line results.

   

  He holds a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and an MBA from Millikin University.

   

  As an instructor with the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s Center for Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM), Vince brings a wealth of real-world expertise to help companies reduce lead times, improve responsiveness, and thrive in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape.

   

• Program Director

  James Rink

Fee covers course materials and online instruction.

Team Discounts
Receive 10% off the registration fee per person when 3-7 individuals from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed as part of the registration process.

Receive 15% off the registration fee per person when 8 or more individuals from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed as part of the registration process.

10% discount per person for participants registered in the Quick Response Manufacturing series. Promo code needed during registration.

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.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.