Lean Academy

The LAI Lean Academy course is a 3-day, intensive, hands-on learning experience that introduces lean principles. The course combines and melds theory, lectures, application through hand-on simulations, case studies, individual and team active learning, anecdotal evidence, and real world examples into a coherent learning experience.

Initially targeted at undergraduate students nearing graduation, the LAI Lean Academy is also an excellent opportunity for graduate students, new hires, or lean neophytes. LAI Lean Academy courses for 25-30 students are taught at the MIT Professional Education Program; at company sites, and on campus as either a regular semester-long class or a special 3-day learning experience. The faculty is a carefully selected mix of trained academics from major universities and experienced lean trainers and practitioners from industry. Academy logistics are supported by the host organization aided by a professional staff working out of MDC and the Lean Advancement Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

MDC is under contract from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lean Advancement Initiative (LAI) to organize Lean Academy events. This work includes helping match sponsor companies and local academic participants with qualified instructors and facilitators and assuring that sponsor facilities and capabilities can support the Lean Academy. MDC special projects engineers also create locally customized agendas for the meetings, coordinate with the instructors and facilitators to support the agendas, and other work necessary to assure successful events. MDC serves as the administrators for the Lean Academy events including handling registration, budgets, materials organization and coordinating shipping for the events.

MDC also sells Lean Academy Materials, including lectures, active learning materials, DVD recordings of experts delivering the lectures, and a hands-on learning simulation kit at the new Lean Store.