Supply Chain Management Program Offers New Course

Submitted by Oday Aswad, Professor, Supply Chain Management 

The Supply Chain Management graduate certificate has been refreshed and, for the first time, features a standalone Lean and Six Sigma course. The course teaches students to apply Lean and Six Sigma tools to streamline processes, reduce waste, and improve quality. Key techniques — 5S, DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control), value-stream mapping, and root-cause analysis — are introduced to emphasize data-driven, continuous improvement. 

Lean Six Sigma blends two philosophies: Lean focuses on eliminating waste, while Six Sigma aims to reduce process variation. DMAIC provides a structured roadmap: teams define project goals, measure current performance, analyze data to find root causes, implement improvements using techniques such as Kaizen and 5S, and control the new process to sustain gains. The goal is to reduce waste and variation through data and continuous improvement, with a control phase to ensure changes endure. 

As part of the new course, students at the Kingston and Cornwall campuses completed DMAIC projects to improve their study routines. They interviewed around 40 peers to identify challenges such as time management and distraction, collected quantitative data on study hours, locations, and methods, and mapped their current study processes to pinpoint inefficiencies. Teams then brainstormed improvements — reorganizing study spaces, breaking tasks into smaller segments, and introducing time-management techniques like the Pomodoro method — and piloted them with small groups. Final deliverables included reports, presentations, and before-and-after data comparing old and improved study habits. Through this hands-on project, students gained experience in data collection, root-cause analysis, critical thinking, and teamwork while applying Lean Six Sigma principles to real-world problems.