NITL today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Leading Edge Group. The collaborative venture will involve the launch of an innovative Lean supply chain learning programme - Lean Masters Green Belt Program in Supply Chain Management.
The Leading Edge Group is a niche consulting and training organisation based in Cork, Ireland and Toronto, Canada. It provides process improvement solutions to the supply chain, manufacturing, financial services and healthcare sectors. The company has grown over the years and now works throughout Europe and North America where it has successfully conducted over 800 operational and process improvement engagements in the last decade. For more information about the company’s work visit www.leadingedgescm.com
The Lean Masters Green Belt Program in Supply Chain Management is a blended solution combining both on-line and classroom delivery. Participants receive access to a Learning Management System portal from where they can launch each lesson, download resources, take prep exams and interact with fellow participants via a Lean discussion forum. This learning is further enhanced by the delivery of two half-day classroom lectures on supply chain integration, design and reengineering. The program is accredited by the Institute of Industrial Engineers and participants who successfully complete the course are eligible for an exemption from the compulsory introductory module of NITL’s M.Sc. programmes.
Joe Aherne of Leading Edge Group and Edward Sweeney of NITL photographed in Cork
at the recent launch of their new collaboration
Commenting on the launch Joe Aherne, CEO of the Leading Edge Group commented: “Applying Lean Thinking to the supply chain can provide significant cost and process efficiencies. However, in order to realize and sustain these benefits fully, there is an urgent requirement to educate and empower supply chain staff in the principles and methodologies involved. Education and training in Lean Thinking should be part of an organizations’ competency framework to ensure consistency across all functions.” Edward Sweeney of NITL stated that “NITL is delighted to be partnering with Leading Edge to offer this premium SCM development programme. It offers an ideal opportunity for those involved in any aspect of the supply chain to upskill in this key area and opens up the possibility of studying SCM right up to Masters level”.