UB Offers Business Improvement Programs this Fall

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo's TCIE is offering a slate of business improvement courses this fall that are designed to help professionals improve their individual job performance, as well as the company they work for.

Here's a look at what's on the agenda:

-- The Knowledge-Driven New Product Development certification program on Wednesdays (Sept. 12, 19, 26) from 6-9 p.m. at UB's Baird Research Park, 1576 Sweet Home Rd., Amherst. For professionals who develop new products or services, the program focuses on measuring innovation, information technology-enabled design and systems-level thinking. Participants must submit a vision statement for their organization. Register by Sept. 5.

-- Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 24-28, Oct. 15-16, and Nov. 5-8; and from 8 a.m. to noon on Oct. 17, at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center, 2402 North Forest Rd., Amherst. This course propels Black Belts, who have demonstrated a mastery of Six Sigma tools and a natural aptitude to lead and teach, to expert status. Participants must complete an improvement project, pass an exam and demonstrate teaching ability. Register by Sept. 17.

-- 3-Day ISO 9001:2008 Internal Auditor training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 25-27 at the Ramada Hotel. In the quest to understand how to assess their organizations' quality performance, participants learn about the ISO 9001:2008 standard, audit activities and techniques, objective evidence to gather, and expectations of third-party external auditors in determining compliance. Register by Sept. 18.

-- Certified Lean Professional course from 6-9 p.m. on: Mondays, Oct. 1 to Nov. 5 (except Oct. 8) and Nov. 19 to Dec. 17; Wednesday, Nov. 14; and Jan. 15 and Feb. 13 for project mentoring. The 39-hour course, offered at Baird Research Park, introduces participants to the Lean methodology of saving money and reducing waste by identifying unnecessary processes. Register by Sept. 24.

-- Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, Dec. 3-6, Jan. 7-10, Feb. 4-7 and March 4-7 at the Ramada Hotel. Candidates work toward mastering the Six Sigma methodology and process improvement tools at a high level. They complete an improvement project at their workplace and must pass an exam to earn certification. Register by Oct. 22.

-- Online certified courses with one-on-one mentoring from a Six Sigma expert. Sessions begin at the start of each month. The following courses vary by content and mastery level: Certified Lean Sigma Blue Belt (for the health care provider, covering Lean and process variation reduction) and Certified Six Sigma Green Belt (covering the Six Sigma methodology, a quality management program that helps a business grow through efficiency). Enrollment is continuously open for these sessions.

For more information on any of the programs, contact Kerry Lynch at 716-645-8840 or klynch4@buffalo.edu.

A program of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, TCIE is Western New York's bridge to excellence by providing a dynamic link between UB's expert resources and the region's business community. TCIE's engineering solutions ignite innovation and technological advancement, and its core focus on operational excellence drives continuous improvement. For more information on how TCIE can assist Western New York businesses, go to http://www.tcie.buffalo.edu or call 716-645-8800.