Signature Programs
Driving Impact with
Our Signature Programs
Throughout the year, NWIRC assembles cohorts for high-impact programs designed to address the evolving needs of manufacturers and their teams. These offerings blend expert facilitation, peer collaboration, and hands-on learning to spark meaningful change across operations, leadership, and workforce development. In addition, there are opportunities for 1:1 professional development.
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Executive &
Leadership Coaching
One-on-one coaching with NWIRC’s Lisa Pustelak is a transformational experience tailored to high-performing individuals navigating change, new roles, or leadership growth. Over a minimum six-month engagement (2–4 hours/month), participants gain fresh perspectives, build emotional intelligence, and strengthen decision-making and leadership skills. Coaching is available in-person or virtually.
Mastermind Groups
Mastermind is a peer-to-peer mentoring small group for members to solve problems with input and advice from the other group members. While there is an expert facilitator for the group – the ‘invite only’ members drive the conversation topics. We’ll coordinate experts to attend sessions pertaining to requested topics as needed. To date, our groups have included ‘Ladies Leading in Manufacturing’, ‘Next Gen Leaders’, and ‘Manufacturing Operations Leaders’. Members meet monthly, typically over 10 months. If you have an idea for a mastermind group you’d like to join or help us build, reach out — we’d love to explore it with you.
Lean Together™
Lean Together™ helps your company create a culture of continuous improvement where everyone is working together, making small improvements everyday. Through nine, 3-hour monthly sessions, participants study and implement concepts from the book, 2 Second Lean, by Paul Akers. Sessions include classroom curriculum, facility tours, and mini-kaizen events.
Maintenance Master Certification
The Maintenance Master Certification training program provides your team with the skills and strategies to make the switch from costly, unplanned downtime to true forward-thinking maintenance excellence. Each monthly session is held at a regional host-manufacturing facility.
Manufacturing Excellence: Lean Bronze Certification
This immersive professional development program lays the groundwork for Lean Bronze Certification by building core competencies in lean thinking, leadership, and continuous improvement. Participants gain practical experience with tools and concepts aligned to SME’s Lean Body of Knowledge, making it a strong step toward certification readiness and ultimately taking the exam.
6 Types of Working Genius
There are Six Types of Working Genius that shape how people contribute – and whether their work energizes or frustrates them (Wonder, Invention, Discernment, Galvanizing, Enablement, Tenacity). Understanding this can transform team morale and effectiveness. NWIRC’s certified facilitators use this powerful tool to uncover hidden challenges and boost performance. It will provide your team a new way to think about team dynamics, projects, meetings, collaboration, and hiring.