Last month, the Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) had an incredible experience at the Lean Solutions Global Summit in Detroit! The Lean Excellence Student Competition brought Lean learning to life as students showcased their commitment to continuous learning, scientific thinking, and teamwork.

The energy in the room was electric as two University of Michigan teams went head-to-head in a catapult systems challenge designed to test their Lean knowledge, collaboration, and problem-solving under real-world conditions. Each team worked to standardize processes, reduce variation, and demonstrate measurable improvement—all while having a blast.

In the end, it was the Blue Team that took home the victory—but the competition was incredibly close, with just a razor-thin margin separating the two teams.

“It was inspiring to watch these students bring Lean to life,” said one of our judges. “Their creativity, discipline, and collaboration show just how bright the future of Lean really is.”

Recognizing Our Supporters

This event would not have been possible without the incredible individuals and organizations that supported it:

Special Thanks To:

• Debra Levantrosser – U-M Team Coordinator

• Coaches: Ray Muscat, Mary Duck, and David Hyatt

• Judges: Josh Smith, Pamela Burgess, and Jon Kuipers

• Partner: Lean Solutions

• Sponsors: ZFS Solutions, Mike Dixon (Utah State University), and S Post Consulting

Your dedication and support gave students a meaningful platform to learn, collaborate, and lead the Lean way.

  

Looking Ahead

The success of this year’s competition highlights the importance of connecting students with real-world Lean experiences. The MLC is excited to continue building this program—expanding opportunities for students across Michigan and beyond to engage with Lean thinking, industry mentors, and the wider continuous improvement community.

The future of Lean is bright—and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.