Reducing Lead Times for High-Mix and Custom Product Supply Chains

This course will present how to use manufacturing critical-path time (MCT) to evaluate supply chain performance and utilize the principles of quick response manufacturing to reduce long lead times in your supply chain.  The course will include presentation, group discussions, and hands-on exercises.

Overview of Quick Response Manufacturing

• Understanding the power of time and the response time spiral
• Applying QRM to office operations

Using MCT as a performance metric

• How to measure MCT and apply it to your supply chain

Supplier metrics

• Comparing MCT to traditional metrics of cost, quality, and on-time delivery

Efficiency vs. speed for truck loading & shipping

• Moving from a cost-based to a time-based perspective when making logistics decisions

System dynamics principles

• Importance of spare capacity and small batch flow
• Demonstration of trade-offs

Make vs. buy decisions

• True cost of sourcing
• Dual sourcing
• Choosing a second source based on MCT and responsiveness

Techniques for increased responsiveness, flexibility, and predictability

• Using time slicing for a shared or subcontracted process
• Product enrichment
• Delayed differentiation
• Multi-tiered concurrent planning

James Rink

Dr. Rink brings over 35 years of experience in manufacturing, advanced technology, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has led global teams in China, Europe, the US, Mexico, and India, driving collaboration, enhancing manufacturing competitiveness, and achieving exceptional results. His tenure at Caterpillar spanned 31 years, concluding in roles as General Manager and Multi-site Operations Manager. Over the past five years, he has successfully managed his own consulting firm, Integrity 360 Leadership, delivering strategic manufacturing insights to companies such as Oshkosh, McNeilus Truck, and L&T Technology Services (LTTS).

Additionally, Jim has served as an adjunct faculty member at Bradley University, teaching manufacturing processes, and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Colllege of Business' Organizational Leadership department at Lewis University.

Jim has a diverse educational background, holding a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in manufacturing systems engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, an MBA from Northern Illinois University, and a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership and Social Entrepreneurship from Governors State University.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jim is actively involved in his community, serving on the advisory board for the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the Unviersity of Wisconsin–Madison, and holding director roles on his local Workforce Investment Board and regional economic devleopment organization.