What is the Grand Rapids Lean Summit?

The Grand Rapids Lean Summit is MLC's regional one-day event held in West Michigan, bringing together Lean and continuous improvement professionals for a focused day of speaker sessions, student competition, and community connection. Hosted at Grand Valley State University, it pairs keynote and breakout content with the Lean Excellence Student Competition, giving the event a distinct emphasis on developing the next generation of Lean practitioners alongside seasoned professionals.

• Opportunity to connect with Lean practitioners and students from West Michigan universities and organizations, including automotive, healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing sectors.
• Attendees can engage directly with keynote and breakout speakers throughout the day, plus watch student teams apply Lean tools live in the Lean Excellence Student Competition.
• A full day of programming combining keynote talks, practitioner-led breakout sessions, and a hands-on student competition track.

Why attend?

• Learn from Practitioners: Hear directly from professionals sharing real-world Lean strategy and honest, practical insights.
• See Lean in Action: Watch student teams apply PDCA, rapid experimentation, and structured problem-solving under real constraints.
• Networking Opportunities: Build relationships with Lean professionals and rising talent from across West Michigan.
• Share and Learn: Exchange best practices across a full day of sessions and conversations.
• Support the Next Generation: Celebrate and encourage student competitors representing the future of continuous improvement.

Interested in Speaking at a MLC Event? 

Share your Lean expertise by becoming a Virtual Coffee presenter! We’re always looking for members to lead discussions and share insights with our community. If you’re interested, complete the Speaker Interest Application to get started. 

Join us at the next Virtual Coffee and be part of an inspiring Lean conversation!