Leadership Academy

By participating in this training program, attendees will learn how to implement the continuous improvement production system that first revolutionized the manufacturing industry and has become the “go-to improvement strategy” for organizations all around the world. The program is designed to provide participants with the capability to drive work practice improvements on the job and is taught by experts from the Jacksonville Lean Consortium. The curriculum focuses on the foundational lean manufacturing principles, tools, and methods. The training follows the learn-by-doing approach that includes 18 hours of in-person classroom instruction, over 6 hours of one-on-one coaching sessions, manufacturing site visits, tailored homework assignments, a Lean Practitioner certification examination, and a final project presentation of an overall value stream mapping/A3 improvement project that has been specifically selected from their work site. The target audience for this program is very broad, from subject matter experts and individuals who are responsible for introducing change and implementing process improvements, to upper-level leaders and decision makers. Note that at the beginning of the program, a virtual meeting will take place between the student, his/her Supervisor, and the instructors. The purpose of this meeting is to outline the requirements forthcoming in the classes and to ensure an understanding and commitment for the student to participate in all classes and complete all homework assignments. Program Benefits for Organizations: • Improve key work processes that will generate compelling results in productivity, cost, delivery, quality, customer satisfaction, and safety. • Receive robust ROI by having participants complete impactful projects aligned with your organization’s goals. • Provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to solve problems and continuously improve their work. • Share and spread the continuous improvement mindset throughout your enterprise. Gain the internal capability to successfully launch or accelerate your organization’s Lean journey. Program Benefits for Participants: • Receive certification as a Lean Practitioner, a highly respected credential that promotes career advancement. • Gain the requisite lean knowledge and skills to drive tangible improvements in your organization. • Lean how to maximize customer value, eliminate waste, improve key processes, solve problems, and achieve compelling results. • Receive helpful resources, tailored coaching, and continuous feedback from experienced lean practitioners. • Begin development as lean improvement event leaders and organizational change agents. To date, 40 students representing 10 different member and non-member companies have participated in this program. Feedback from participating companies has confirmed a positive return on investment based on the successful completion of a continuous improvement project by the participants.

The program is designed to provide skill and knowledge training in five specific technical areas that exist in manufacturing operations. The curriculum includes basic training including troubleshooting tools in electricity, pneumatics, hydraulic applications, programmable logic controller (PLC) applications, and pumps and drives applications. Target audiences are new employees or existing employees who need exposure to basic introductory level process principles and equipment in a manufacturing environment, or manufacturing employees who have an interest in progressing into a maintenance technician career path. This offering consists of ten 4-hour in-person classes taught by FSCJ instructors and occurring at the FSCJ Advanced Technology Center on consecutive Wednesday afternoon sessions over a 2-month period. Classes represent a combination of instructor led discussions as well as hands-on lab exposure for all topics. Pre-and post-class student knowledge assessments have consistently shown a 125%-200% increase in student knowledge on the class topics as a result of participating in this program.

This highly successful course is designed to focus on the most critical leadership topics based on continuous feedback from manufacturing supervisors to senior leaders. This program builds on basic leadership fundamentals to ensure the participants develop at a higher leadership level within the organization. This curriculum is specifically designed for mid-to-upper level leaders who: 1. Are currently in a mid-to-upper leadership position and are leading other supervisors or managers (not direct front-line employees) 2. Have participated in previous foundational level supervisory training during their career, 3. Understand why they are being nominated by their organization, 4. Are ready to commit the time and effort for the course – making it a priority, 5. Will implement the learning from the course in their real world of work. The program includes highly interactive sessions, peer learning, one-on-one leadership coaching, access to DISC, 360-degree, and team performance assessment tools. The curriculum will focus on developing the following critical leadership competencies: • Providing more value from a higher leadership level • Developing, leading, and sustaining high performing teams • Coaching & Developing at the Next Level • Guiding and counselling underperforming leaders • Developing and leading strategic planning & thinking in a manufacturing environment • Leading change and managing stakeholder engagement in change situations • Driving and leading change Classes represents five different sessions plus two one-on-one coaching sessions as well as a kick-off breakfast and graduation event over a 15-week period. Classes will rotate through different host manufacturing sites during this program. To date, 88 students representing 19 different member companies have participated in this program. Feedback continues to confirm outstanding value to the individual students as well as the sponsoring companies.

The Front-Line Supervisor 2 program has been developed to bridge a leadership gap that exists between our Front Line Supervisor 1 and Mid-Level Manager training classes. The curriculum is designed to build upon the leadership skills that were introduced in the Front Line Supervisor 1 program. The program will focus on critical skills including employee motivation, goal settings and developing personal accountability, performance management, team building, and managing change. During each class, students will participate in extensive exercises/practices, role-plays, and case studies to help them apply these leadership skills on the job. Each student will participate in a one-on-one coaching session that will include private feedback and coaching on their 360-feedback evaluation tool. Note that participating in the Front Line 2 program does require students to complete the Front Line I program as a prerequisite.