Abstract
The manufacturing industry has become extremely competitive in nature and each company’s survival depends on gaining an edge in their respective field. Lean manufacturing has emerged as the leading management philosophy in this struggle. The original model of lean, called the Toyota Production System, is utilized by the phenomenally successful automotive manufacturer Toyota and many others have followed suite. There is a need for a course in schools that offer manufacturing curriculum which will integrate the lean concepts with the current manufacturing program of study. Lean is a proven management strategy and should be offered as a course of its own. Lean can be taught using both knowledge-based and competencybased learning styles. Through the use of academic, simulation, and real life examples these concepts can be understood. This research examines these issues and illustrates an implementation model which can be used to accomplish this goal utilizing these same lean principles.