DuPont Performance Coatings (DPC) has expanded the DuPont Performance Services (DPS) program, now offering the DPS Learning Academy – Lean Series. The DPS Learning Academy – Lean Series is designed for repair centers interested in implementing a lean process.

The DPS Learning Academy is a series of three, three-day events which are conducted on-site at a collision repair center that is actively using a pull production model. Currently, these events are being conducted at The Body Shop @ in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, or Marshall Auto Body in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. DPC has partnered with these organizations to develop a lean implementation strategy.

The Academy currently includes the following courses: 101 Administrative Process Flow; 201 Production Process Flow; and Pull Production and Continuous Improvement.

“When designing the DPS Learning Academy – Lean Series, we were cognizant of the 97 percent lean implementation failure rate in the industry, therefore we built our curriculum around the lean transformation (Kaikaku) model,” said Steve Trapp, collision services development manager. “Using the model, the DPC executive facilitator uses hands-on exercises in a workshop setting to have the lean champion apply the 12 lean principles to their repair center.”

Other exercises include study missions at repair centers currently applying kaizen thinking, lean tools and a pull production approach where participants can ask questions and take pictures. Back in the workshop, the participants can work together to refine their own tools and processes based on their customer’s needs, facilities and staff.

“A key to our approach is the weekly consulting sessions between the academy workshops to help keep the repair center on track with their unique implementation plan,” said Trapp. The end goal of the DPS Learning Academy – Lean Series is to transform participating repair centers that complete the entire process to a pull-based kaizen thinking organization that can solve problems based on the scientific problem solving model.

In addition to the Academy, DuPont Performance Services offers a traditional series of five educational courses on lean topics. To learn more about these courses or the DPS Learning Academy – Lean Series visit www.DPSlibrary.dupont.com.