All of the following training courses have been designed by Seven Pines Consulting Group specifically to enable a company’s self-sufficiency. The sequence of the coursework is structured to provide critical internal skills and knowledge at a level appropriate to the capability of the specific organization while also guiding the improvement process. All material can be customized to meet the unique needs of the individual or organization.

Teamwork in the Lean Environment (1-day course)

In this session participants will get involved in the team process through interactive challenges. Individuals will develop techniques to communicate more effectively, utilize all participants on the team and recognize what it takes to get results when implementing Lean techniques. Individuals will learn problem solving techniques, understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to keep the momentum going within the team environment.

Problem Solving (1-day course)

Participants will learn tools and techniques to analyze problems and get to the root cause using a team approach. They will learn how to define a problem and how to break it into manageable pieces in order to get to the root cause and eliminate it permanently. Individuals will learn techniques to analyze corrective action and make good decisions.

Change Management Company Specific (1 - 5-day course)

This interactive training session will be focused on educating and supporting those in the workforce most associated with the areas impacted by changes within the business. The success of any change in business process is directly related to the willingness and readiness to make change by those involved. People need to recognize the basis for their resistance to change, understand that it is natural, and leverage the tools and techniques available for managing change without added stress. Ultimately, people who are ready for change and understand the need for change will embrace and actively participate in making the change succeed. The session will engage participants in structured discussion about change and how to manage the specific changes within the business effectively. PARTICIPANTS: All personnel who will be affected by the planned business process changes.
High Performance Work Teams in the Lean Environment
(5-day course; 10, ½ days)

This process will take an intact group of individuals (cross-functional or departmental) and form them into a high performing work team. A formal team structure will be put into place. The team will learn how to identify and solve key Lean oriented problems (waste, time reduction, process flow). This process will be designed for the team to continue meeting on their own once the formal training has been completed.

Leading for High Performance in the Lean Environment Company Specific (8-day course: 16, ½ days) Designed for supervisors, team leaders, superintendents, shop floor engineers quality people, materials people

Shop floor performance metrics need to be linked to and driven by the overall business objectives. Supervisors and managers need to monitor performance to insure day-by-day realization of essential metrics:
- productivity
- quality
- cost
- cycle time
- safety

Problem solving and continuous improvement tools need to be understood and applied regularly to close the gap between the daily performance results vs. predetermined targets. Supervisors need to learn how to lead and manage daily data supported performance; supervisors need to review performance with employees on a daily basis, managers need to review performance with supervisors at least weekly, and plant-wide performance should be monitored and communicated minimally on a monthly basis. Related competencies and training topics include:
- performance management
- coaching
- conflict resolution
- problem solving tools
- priority management
- visual management
- plan-do-check-act
- standard work practices among departments and between shifts.
Leading for Optimum Performance Workshops focus managers and supervisors on defining the key performance metrics and indicators that will result in optimizing their business success, apply their specific performance metrics in their operation, apply the key continuous improvement and problem solving tools while learning how to coach their employees to achieve higher levels of performance.

Coaching for High Performance in the Lean Environment
(5-day course <10, ½ days) Designed for managers and executives.

This interactive session will be focused on educating and supporting the company’s key managers and executives on the role they need to play to successfully support an effective Lean transformation. The group will meet for one-hour team sessions followed up with 1:1 personal coaching sessions for each participant.