Lean Manufacturing Events

This November, manufacturers in Northeast Washington are invited to join a three-part workshop series designed to strengthen skills in Lean and process improvement. Tailored for early- and mid-career professionals in both direct production and indirect roles, this series equips participants with the tools to identify waste, streamline operations, and build more resilient organizations. 

Register Here

Part 1 – Lean Fundamentals (4 hours) - November 11th, 2025
An engaging introduction to Lean principles and tools. Participants will learn how to identify the 8 wastes, define value-added vs. non-value-added activities, and apply Lean concepts such as workplace organization, visual management, and continuous flow. This session sets the foundation for thinking and acting with a Lean mindset.

Parts 2 & 3 – Measuring Processes (8 hours total) - November 18th and 20th, 2025
Delivered in two practical sessions, this workshop focuses on understanding how to calculate and interpret essential metrics such as cycle time, takt time, and lead time — and how to use them to uncover waste, balance workloads, and improve flow. Participants will practice identifying bottlenecks, measuring process stability, and using data to drive improvements that reduce waste and increase efficiency.

Learn more about the Lean Fundamentals and Measuring Processes workshops here.

Who Should Attend

• Early- or mid-career professionals in manufacturing
• Employees in direct production or indirect support roles (purchasing, quality, operations, etc.)
• Anyone who can implement or influence change and waste reduction within their organization

Why Attend
By completing the full series, participants will:

• Build a strong foundation in Lean thinking and waste reduction
• Develop the ability to measure and analyze processes effectively
• Gain practical tools to improve efficiency, quality, and productivity
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement in their workplace

This 12-hour series provides hands-on learning, practical exercises, and actionable takeaways to help manufacturers in Northeast Washington prepare their teams for long-term success.

Join us for a Lean 101 workshop designed for Clark County manufacturers, hosted in partnership with Columbia River Economic Development Council.

Learn how to streamline your manufacturing processes and boost efficiency. This in-person event is perfect for anyone looking to grow their manufacturing business.

Register here

The workshop provides a practical overview, real-world success stories, and the hands-on tools needed to apply Lean principles to your organization. The focus is to learn how to deploy Lean in the manufacturing work environment to yield efficiency and improvement. These same tools can also be used across any industry to eliminate waste and improve efficiencies.

Interact with people from other industries.

Apply the tools in a simulation: 5S, Point-of-Use Storage, Total Production Maintenance, Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, Batch Size Reduction.

Learn more about the Lean 101 workshop.

Participants will:

• Learn how to define value from your customer’s perspective and identify l waste.
• Understand various lean concepts and be able to apply them to simple improvement projects
• Be guided through the transformation of an imaginary company - from a traditional manufacturing environment to a lean work environment.
• Undergo three levels of simulation will be conducted with training and discussion between sessions.

A high level of involvement from class attendees is required.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to network with industry experts and fellow entrepreneurs. See you there!