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Academic Programs
 The Boot Camp program that was originally developed by ILS faculty while working at the University of Kentucky is a novel, highly effective way for learning about lean systems. We plan to offer these boot camps in university and industrial education programs soon.
Key features of the Boot Camps include:
- Full integration of interdisciplinary classes into cohesive learning modules that clarify their linkages and promote holistic understanding and application. These modules are delivered by faculty who team-teach in order to best serve their students.
- An intense, total-immersion learning experience where there is focus on one module at a time over extended classroom and laboratory hours. The immersion involves high ratios of facilitators to students to enable strong coaching, to maintain high motivation and morale, and to build an effective learning community in a genuine team environment.
- Emphasis on real world application through extensive hands-on exercises executed through vehicles such as simulations, training factories and real world projects. The training factories are carefully designed, complex, discovery-learning activities built around manufacturing and other types of production operations that accomplish deep understanding and practical skills in applying the underlying theoretical principles in the real world.
- Numerous tours of factories and other production operations to see lean systems in action along with guest speakers from industry who are subject experts
- A commitment, to the degree practical, to the principal of attainment… the student teams move to the next topic after demonstrating mastery of the current topic to insure their success in the program
- Strong interest in the personal and professional development of each student. Development of their interpersonal, teamwork, communication, and leadership skills is given great attention. We expect our graduates to go on to be change leaders in industry. We actively support team and student/faculty bonding through numerous activities.
- Instruction by faculty members who have strong industry experience and relationships with leading practitioners. They have taught lean systems to executive and professional audiences around the world and have established strong relationships with corporations such as Toyota, Ford, Rolls Royce, SPX, Dana Corporation and many others. They have a passion for their subject and are committed to student development of real world skills.
We note that the program is very demanding and requires commitment and passion to succeed. Students are on site from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. during week days, and that is just for lectures and class activities. Project work and special activities consume the evening and weekend hours as well. There are scheduled working weekends where the students complete facilitated projects and exercises. We believe that all of the hard work is worth it. Corporate feedback on performance of the graduates of this program has been excellent.
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