RnDynEO training module on Lean management for R&D now available

The official launch party for the RnDynEO training module was held on February 12, 2019 at Grenoble-EM Labs. Around 60 people, mainly from STMicroelectronics, Grenoble Ecole de Management business school, Grenoble Institute of Technology, and IRT Nanoelec and also from the CEA, UDIMEC, and the Grenoble Chamber of Commerce, attended. Highlights of the evening included presentations by the training module’s designers Stéphanie Bérard, Pierre Chevrier, Emmanuelle Heidsieck, and John Kenwright, and the STMicroelectronics ambassadors who helped develop and beta test the course.

The evening was a success in terms of the number of attendees and the involvement of all stakeholders—evidence that collaboration on this type of module for the IRT Nanoelec training and education program for Grenoble’s nanoelectronics industry (and beyond) is more than relevant.

The RnDynEO module was developed using a collaborative approach and was overseen by Virginie Vergès of STMicroelectronics. Once the preliminary specifications were approved, work rapidly began in early 2018. Real-world challenges to include in the module were identified, a benchmark survey of existing programs was completed (both for inspiration and to fill in gaps), content and student-led learning methods (including the two games, SILO Story and VALU Story) were tested, the Learning Model System and design were selected, and the launch was prepared (stakeholders, communications tools, and partners like UDIMEC).

STMicroelectronics employees completed two test runs in November and December 2018 to validate the module and confirm that the innovative, original approach (a two-day module with an additional day of tutoring) was relevant. The module was made available to STMicroelectronics employees in January 2019, with the goal of training around 200 people per year by 2021. Initially the module will target the company’s R&D centers in France. It will later be made available internationally.

The module could be provided to other companies and to engineering schools. It is currently being modified for international learners (students enrolled in international Masters programs). These releases are planned for 2019.

An article on the project is forthcoming and will be presented at the International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education to be held on September 12–13, 2019 at the University of Strathclyde (UK).

The launch party was a success, and the training module’s future looks bright, with potential opportunities for broader implementation just over the horizon!