Teaching lean manufacturing at a postgraduate level: Integrating traditional teaching methods and problem-based learning approach
International Journal of Lean Six Sigma
ISSN: 2040-4166
Article publication date: 27 July 2018
Issue publication date: 7 August 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims at integrating two teaching approaches to enhance Lean manufacturing (LM) learning at a graduate course level and verify its effectiveness through comparing students’ performance and learning preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed methodology incorporates problem-based learning (PBL) approach based on real problems of companies undergoing a lean implementation into traditional teaching methods. The methodology was applied with graduate students from a Brazilian public university, whose learning preferences were subsequently identified. The verification of effectiveness is undertaken through a comparative analysis of students’ performance after each course.
Findings
The findings indicate that PBL may be an effective complementary method for LM learning, especially because it exposes students to actual problems when implementing LM. The proposal may improve problem-solving ability and provide a more fertile environment to promote better learning experience. The results are also positively related to the current body of the literature. Finally, because of different students’ learning preferences, PBL alone may not fulfill all students’ cognitive requirements, and hence, traditional teaching methods should not be eradicated from the LM learning process.
Originality/value
Because of an increasingly worldwide competition regarding business performance, LM has been an emerging and relevant subject among engineering and management postgraduate courses. Nevertheless, the practical character inherent to the understanding of LM may undermine learning and development of students. Therefore, studies that verify the effectiveness of the teaching approach may contribute to better prepare students for such demanding context.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Corrigendum: It has come to the attention of the publisher that Guilherme Tortorella, Paulo A. Cauchick-Miguel (2018), “Teaching lean manufacturing at a postgraduate level: integrating traditional teaching methods and problem-based learning approach”, International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 301-323, did not fully attribute one of the sources drawn upon within the paper. This was: Tortorella, G. and Cauchick-Miguel, P.A. (2017), “An initiative for integrating problem-based learning into a lean manufacturing course of an industrial engineering graduate program”, Vol. 27, e20162247. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0103-6513.224716. The author guidelines state that articles submitted to the journal should be clearly acknowledged. Although the authors did cite the work published in 2017, they sincerely apologise for this.
Citation
Tortorella, G. and Cauchick-Miguel, P.A. (2018), "Teaching lean manufacturing at a postgraduate level: Integrating traditional teaching methods and problem-based learning approach", International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 301-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-08-2017-0101
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited