Supervisor Bootcamp

Supervisor Bootcamp is a practical, skills-based program designed to develop effective and confident frontline leaders. Whether transitioning from team member to supervisor or building existing leadership skills, participants gain the tools needed to lead people, communicate effectively, and manage daily operations with confidence. 

Over seven weekly half-day sessions, participants engage in instructor-led learning, interactive activities, and real-world manufacturing examples to strengthen core supervisory skills, including communication, delegation, conflict resolution, and team leadership. 

Designed for new and emerging supervisors, cell leads, and frontline leaders responsible for managing teams and daily production activities, Supervisor Bootcamp places a special emphasis on helping participants successfully transition from peer to leader. Along with practical strategies for building trust, establishing credibility, and leading former coworkers with confidence, participants develop Lean awareness to identify workflow inefficiencies, reduce waste, and support improved operational performance. 



Participants gain practical strategies they can immediately apply on the job to improve team effectiveness, strengthen decision-making, and enhance day-to-day operations. 

Lean Awareness Training (LAT)

This half-day, interactive workshop intended for production and frontline manufacturing employees involved in day-to-day shop floor operations, introduces participants to the fundamentals of Lean and continuous improvement. 



Learn to identify opportunities to positively impact production, people, and quality, while gaining an understanding of core Lean concepts, the eight forms of waste, and key tools used to improve flow, reduce inefficiencies, and increase value. This in-person session demonstrates how Lean principles apply across any role or department through a hands-on simulation that moves participants from a traditional environment to a Lean one. 

Lean 101

Lean 101 provides a practical introduction to the core principles and tools of Lean, helping organizations eliminate waste, improve flow, and create greater customer value. Designed for cross-functional personnel across manufacturing, operations, sales, engineering, and supply chain functions, participants learn how to identify the 8 Wastes (DOWNTIME), and apply foundational Lean practices including 5S, Standard Work, Point-of-Use Storage, Quality at the Source, and Pull/Kanban systems. 

Through interactive simulations and hands-on exercises involving both office and manufacturing processes, participants experience how continuous improvement can drive measurable gains in productivity, quality, delivery, and operational performance. In this full-day workshop, learners apply Lean techniques while learning to distinguish value-added from non-value-added activities, assess current-state processes against a future-state vision, and identify opportunities for improvement. 

Lean Practitioner

Lean Practitioner is designed for individuals who want to actively participate in and support continuous improvement initiatives within their organization, including frontline leaders, continuous improvement practitioners, project managers, and early-career engineers involved in driving operational performance and process improvement. 

This five-day program combines classroom learning and in-class mentoring to build the practical skills needed to identify waste, improve processes, and support continuous improvement initiatives. Participants apply Lean concepts to a real-world improvement project based on a need or opportunity within their organization, receiving guidance and coaching throughout the program. 

Key topics include Performance Measurement & Management, Kaizen, 5S, Setup Reduction, Cell Design, Pull/Kanban Systems, and Standard Work. Participants gain the knowledge and confidence to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and employee engagement while contributing to sustainable organizational results. 

Continuous Improvement Champion Certification (CICC)

The Continuous Improvement Champion Certification (CICC) Program is CONNSTEP's most advanced Lean training program, equipping supervisors, managers, engineers, and continuous improvement professionals with the skills, tools, and leadership capabilities needed to lead continuous improvement initiatives and drive operational excellence. 

Through 10 sessions of classroom instruction, experiential learning, hands-on application, and personalized on-site mentoring, participants follow a "learn it, do it" approach—immediately applying new concepts and tools to a real-world improvement project within their organization. Participants learn to identify improvement opportunities, facilitate teams, analyze processes, and implement sustainable Lean solutions. 



Building on Lean principles and practices, CICC participants apply proven continuous improvement methodologies to projects that improve quality, productivity, delivery, safety, and customer satisfaction. Upon successfully completing their on-site project, participants earn a Continuous Improvement Champion Certificate awarded by CONNSTEP, demonstrating their ability to lead improvement efforts and help build a culture of continuous improvement within their organization. 

Marketing for Manufacturers

*NEW*

This 3-day workshop is designed to help you evaluate your current strategy and find areas for improvement as you create a company-driven marketing project. ​

Part of every class features local resources and industry guests sharing practical advice and rolling up their sleeves to help you improve your project any way they can. ​

Perfect for small business owners or sales teams handling marketing without formal training, you will leave this workshop with a finished project and some professional marketing assets to utilize with confidence. ​

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What you’ll get: ​

• Direct Support: Every class features local resources and industry guests.
• Sharing practical advice to elevate your project. ​
• Marketing Assets: Leave the course with a finished marketing project.
• Professional assets ready to use. ​
  

Quality Essentials Program (QEP)

The Quality Essentials Program (QEP) provides a practical introduction to the principles and practices of quality management. Over four full-day sessions delivered once per week, participants develop a strong foundation in quality concepts, process thinking, problem-solving, performance measurement, and the role of Quality Management Systems (QMS) in delivering consistent products and services. 

QEP is designed for new employees, production operators, technicians, quality inspectors, supervisors, administrative staff, and others seeking a foundational understanding of quality principles and Quality Management Systems. The program also helps organizations establish a common understanding of quality across departments. 

Through practical instruction and real-world application, participants learn how quality is built into everyday work, identify opportunities for improvement, and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement that enhances product quality and customer satisfaction.

The Applied AI Workshop Series​

*NEW*

The Applied AI Workshop Series is a hands-on training initiative built to help manufacturers improve legacy processes with high-efficiency, AI-driven workflows. Forget high-level theory—these targeted, seasonal sessions focus on the practical deployment of modern AI tools across your operation. ​

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Each workshop delivers actionable next steps to modernize your front office or shop floor. From leveraging AI search tools for supply chain and procurement discovery to deploying intelligent automation for workforce training, data-driven optimization, and smarter marketing, this series ensures your business is ready for the future. ​

AI for Manufacturers

CONNSTEP is developing a program to help manufacturers explore AI applications for process optimization, predictive maintenance, quality management, and data-driven decision-making. This program will prepare employees to implement AI solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve operational performance.

CMMC Bootcamp

Prepare your company for Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0 compliance. This series of five half-day workshops guides participants through NIST SP 800-171 practices, cybersecurity policies, and implementation strategies to protect sensitive information and ensure eligibility for Department of Defense contracts.

Six Sigma Program (Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt)

Gain a structured, data-driven approach to process improvement using the DMAIC methodology (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control). Participants learn to identify opportunities, analyze problems, implement validated solutions, and sustain improvements through statistical tools, control plans, and real-world projects.

Supply Chain Champion Program

Build a resilient, agile, and future-ready supply chain. This two-day program teaches supply chain professionals and decision-makers strategies to manage risks, optimize planning, implement flexible manufacturing and distribution systems, and leverage digital technologies to improve supply chain performance and compliance.