REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:
Development of Lean Process Design Case Studies
Project Background
The NSF CCLI Phase 2 grant (award number 0618669) involving Worcester Polytechnic
Institute (WPI), Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T; formerly
known as the University of Missouri- Rolla (UMR)), Merrimack College, and Time Wise
Management Systems (TWMS) focuses on developing hands-on curriculum materials that
will improve students' ability to apply lean ideas and to use data to effectively support
decisions. One of the major grant objectives is to facilitate the creation of lean case studies
that will allow students to explore different applications (e.g. services, supply chain, design)
and contrast the tactics used in different situations. For more details about this NSF grant
involving WPI, Missouri S&T, Merrimack College, and TWMS, please visit the following
website: http://www.mgt.wpi.edu/Research/Lean
As part of this grant, proposals for developing lean process design case studies are requested
from faculty members at U.S. universities and two- and four-year colleges (including
community colleges). Preference will be given to those applicants who are also participating
in simulation workshops, which are described at http://www.mgt.wpi.edu/People/lean.html.
Estimated Number of Awards:
10
Proposal Due: May 16, 2008
Anticipated Project Duration:
June 2, 2008 - May 29, 2009
Anticipated Funding Amount: $5,000 per award.
Organization Limit: While there on no limits on the number of proposals per organization,
the limit on number of proposals per PI is one.
Lean Process Case Studies
The Lean Process Design Case Studies will be distinguished by the following features:
 Cases will require students to carry out an analysis to apply a particular technique
within the context of lean implementation, and be geared toward engineers and
operations experts who will be expected to lead lean efforts upon graduation.
 Lean cases in standard textbooks or popular business books are often success stories
framed at a strategic level with little operational detail provided. The cases developed
through this project should focus on operational level details.
 Cases will include the scenario description presenting the problem to be solved, with
text, pictures, and appropriate operational data (in spreadsheets or other media).
 An Instructor’s manual, with learning objectives, analysis and company solutions, and
teaching suggestions, will also be provided.
 Cases should preferably be developed by faculty interaction with lean practitioners
from industry. Faculty will provide their expertise on framing problems at the
appropriate level for analysis, based on knowledge of student abilities and course
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goals. The lean practitioners ensure that cases studies address practical issues and
current scenarios, with the complexity and breadth of the real world.
The specific case study topics will be chosen to deepen understanding along two dimensions,
which are defined here along with examples:

Demonstrate lean principles and tools in additional non-manufacturing settings, such as
services, product development, supply chain, and examine tactics that are appropriate for
that setting.
Example: Developing a value stream map for an office or service process such as
invoicing.
Example: Applying lean principles to product development processes to reduce
development time and to improve quality. In this context, different tactics
need to be employed to achieve lean principles. For example, flow might
be created by employing information technologies that allow information
to be easily exchanged between geographically dispersed developers, or by
exploring design task sequencing.
Example: Examine the supply chain of a food chain or retailer, drawing on
environments where students may have work experience and can thus
draw on personal experience. The complexity of supply chain relationships
is difficult to capture, however, and students would be challenged to
explore the issues of trust, information exchange, and distance in applying
the lean principle of pull.

Demonstrate that a particular tactic does not always work to achieve the principle in every
situation.
Example: In a manufacturing system, students use cell concepts and balancing to
achieve flow. A complementary case study in a hospital environment
would address flow, but using cell concepts by dedicating resources to a
particular product (diagnosis) would cause shifting under- and overutilization problems because of demand uncertainty for each diagnosis.
Highlighting discrepancies and shortcomings in understanding is
important for learning.
Proposal Guidelines
Proposals should follow the guidelines outlined on pages 4-5, including a title page with
contact information and the specified sections. Formatting requirements are also provided.
Timeline
Proposal submission
Funding decisions
Case study writing workshop
Written case and related material submission
Report on classroom use, with final materials
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May 16, 2008
by June 2, 2008
June 11, 2008
December 19, 2008
May 29, 2009
Case Writing Phases
We have sub-divided the case writing activity into four phases, with guidelines provided on
when each phase should be complete:
1. Research phase: Finding appropriate industry motivated case with pertinent data
and information (complete by August 15, 2008).
2. Analysis phase: Building and modifying the case from the perspective of specific
learning objectives (complete by September 26, 2008)..
3. Writing phase: Actual writing of the case-report and associated instructor manual
and teaching notes (complete by December 19, 2008).
4. Testing phase: Using the case for a live class, and revising the case to correct any
errors and to improve readability and analysis (complete by May 29, 2009).
Evaluation Criteria
The proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

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Industry-motivated case
Case originality and novelty
Case learning objectives and their relevance to lean thinking principles, as well as the
application to non-manufacturing settings
Proposed plan for developing the case, including specifics on contacts at the proposed
organization, plans for visiting the organization and data gathering (through
interviews, for example).
Proposed testing plan and potential impact in the classroom (e.g., how many students,
core or elective courses, etc.)
Appropriateness of the case for broader dissemination (e.g., different types of courses
where case might be used, etc.)
Participation in other grant activities, e.g., Lean Foundation or Supply Chain
Workshops
The evaluation criteria suggest that projects that are highly rated will already have completed
some of the research phase at the time of submission. If you are interested in submitting a
proposal, but are having difficulty identifying an organization, please email sharon@wpi.edu.
Through the TWMS network, we may be able to introduce you to lean practitioners and/or
potential case study organizations.
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LEAN PROCESS DESIGN CASE STUDY PROPOSAL
Due May 16, 2008
Title of Proposed Case:
Submitted by:
Principal Investigator:
Co-PIs:
Correspondence address (including e-mail & phone #):
This proposal is not being submitted to any other agency.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________
PI
_________________________________
Co-PI (if applicable)
__________________________
Department chair
__________________________
Date Submitted
Note: The proposal should be submitted via email to sharon@wpi.edu along with the subject
line “2008 Lean Case Development Proposal”
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Notes:
Use 8.5”X 11” paper size.
Use 1” margins (top, bottom, and sides).
Use 12 point font.
Use single spacing.
Proposal sections 2-6 should be limited to no more than 5 pages.
1. PROJECT SUMMARY
Limited to 200 words.
2. CASE DECRIPTION
Include a description of the setting and potential learning objectives
3. DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Include information about how the PI/co-PIs will interact with the case
organization, and a timeline for completing the project.
4. TESTING PLAN AND POTENTIAL IMPACT
Include information about the course(s) the case will be tested in during Fall 2008,
as well as other courses where the case might be used (broader impact).
5. PROPOSED BUDGET
Describe how the proposed $5,000 grant will be used to support the case
development.
6. BIO FOR THE PI AND CO-PIs (1 page per investigator)
The bio should highlight course, case, or other educational material development.
7. OPTIONAL: Support letter from case organization.
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