This course is based on the following four modules:

Module 1- Introduction to Continuous Improvement

• What is Continuous Improvement
• Why do all manufacturing/service companies need it
• What is value, and how can it be captured, created, and delivered, particularly in manufacturing systems?
• What are the main pillars of Continuous Improvement

Module 2- People

• Leading Self (self-awareness, growth mindset, emotional intelligence)
• Leading Teams (Bonding, nurturing trust, fostering positive team dynamics, cultivating psychological safety, driving effective communication and facilitating adept conflict resolution)
• Leading Complex Projects (System dynamics, systems thinking, Social responsibility and awareness)

Module 3- Process

• Process Strategy (Process types, Volume vs. flexibility, Standardization vs. competence)
• Lean Operations (Principle of lean system, Lean building blocks, , Lean tools)
• Capacity & Constraint Management (Capacity planning, Bottleneck analysis, Theory of constraints (TOC))
• Quality Management & Analytics (Product/Service quality, Quality costs, Quality control, Process capability, Six Sigma, Quality tools)
• Facility Location & Layout (Product & process layouts, Line Balancing, Minimizing transportation Costs/Distances)

Module 4- Technology

• Understanding the pitfalls of change projects and why they often fail
• Mapping industries and digital transformation frameworks to define a comprehensive digital roadmap
• Harnessing disruptive technologies for improvement in product, service, and process domains
• Simplifying the user experience to enhance digital adoption and engagement
• Managing change effectively and articulating a robust plan for sustainable change
• Navigating the transformative journey from products to platforms and ecosystems

Continuous improvement, Operational Excellence, Leading Change.

• Probability and Statistics

• Production Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Data Science for Business

• Data analysis using Excel
• Active engagement and teamwork
• Advanced level of probability and statistics

• Understand the fundamentals of change initiatives (from continuous improvement to transformation)
• Learning how to communicate change and manage emotions of change
• Evaluate and analyze a system performance
• Design and execute a change plan for a system with people and not for them

• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
• Evaluate one's own performance in the team, receive and respond appropriately to feedback.
• Write a scientific or technical report.
• Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
• Negotiate effectively within the group.
• Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
• Chair a meeting to achieve a particular agenda, maximising participation.
• Resolve conflicts in ways that are productive for the task and the people concerned.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Take account of the social and human dimensions of the engineering profession.
• Identify the different roles that are involved in well-functioning teams and assume different roles, including leadership roles.
• Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.

• Formal lectures
• Group activities
• Class discussions
• Simulation/Games
• Hands-on exercises
• Project-based learning
• Real-world case studies
• Guest lectures by leading academic and industry figuers

• Individual: Self-study, Active class discussions, case evaluations, Q&A
• In-group: Teamwork (respect, brainstorming, involvement and constructive feedback)
• Presentation: Share your findings weekly in class/group coaching sessions

Continuous evaluation of case reports, projects, individual and group presentations, class discussions, during the semester. More precisely:

• 25% Participation, and class engagement,
• 45% Class assignments, presentations, projects, and case reports,
• 30% Final (Final report and presentation and understanding of the case)

Series of book chapters, hand-outs, and notes will be shared in the class. The following books are recommended for further reading;

People:

1. Dweck, C., (2007). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Ballantine Books
2. Goleman, D., (2005). Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Random House Publishing Group.
3. Tan, C. M. (2018). Search inside yourself. HarperOne; Reprint edition.
4. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Macmillan.
5. Kahneman, D., Sibony, O., & Sunstein, C. R. (2021). Noise: A flaw in human judgment. Little, Brown.
6. Kohlrieser, G. (2006). Hostage at the table: How leaders can overcome conflict, influence others, and raise performance(Vol. 145). John Wiley & Sons.
7. Rosenberg, M. B. (2002). Nonviolent communication: A language of compassion. Encinitas, CA: Puddledancer press.
8. Stone, D., Patton, B., & Heen, S. (2010). Difficult conversations: How to discuss what matters most. Penguin.

Process:

1. Stevenson, W. J. (2020). Operations management. McGraw Hill.
2. Slack, N., Chambers, S., & Johnston, R. (2016). Operations management. Pearson education.
3. Sterman, J. (2010). Business dynamics. Irwin/McGraw-Hill c2000.
4. Senge, P. M. (2006). The fifth discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization. Doubleday.
5. Kotter, J. P. (2012). Leading change. Harvard business press.

Technology:

1. Porter, M. E., & Heppelmann, J. E. (2014). How smart, connected products are transforming competition. Harvard business review, 92(11), 64-88.
2. Porter, M. E., & Heppelmann, J. E. (2015). How smart, connected products are transforming companies. Harvard business review, 93(10), 96-114.
3. Agrawal, A., Gans, J., & Goldfarb, A. (2018). Prediction machines: the simple economics of artificial intelligence. Harvard Business Press.
4. Rogers, D. L. (2016). The digital transformation playbook: Rethink your business for the digital age. Columbia University Press.
5. Gupta, S. (2018). Driving digital strategy: A guide to reimagining your business. Harvard Business Press.Chicago
6. Iansiti, M., & Lakhani, K. R. (2020). Competing in the age of AI: strategy and leadership when algorithms and networks run the world. Harvard Business Press.

• Find the references at the Libraryhttps://slsp-epfl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=course_code,contains,%22ME-498%202025-2026%22&tab=41SLSP_EPF_MyInst_and_CI&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&vid=41SLSP_EPF:prod

• Course slides (main material)
• Videos
• Hand-outs

• https://go.epfl.ch/ME-498https://go.epfl.ch/ME-498