By Ryan Kor

Short-term career training can be an attractive option for professionals seeking to advance in the logistics, supply chain and transportation fields.

Amanda Mewborn took Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training, which teaches students in business problem solving and helps develop their management and leadership qualities. Having gained these new skills through the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE) in Atlanta, she put them into practice for her employer, Perkins + Will. Then she was hired as executive director of project management for Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta and she now teaches Lean Green Belt training.

The IIE program provided career-specific training in a short amount of time for Mewborn, a mom who already held a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Georgia State and degrees from Georgia Tech. She chatted about her field and the value of a short-term certification course.

Q: Why do you like being an industrial engineer?

A: As an industrial engineer, my work involves improving processes and performance of organizations. I chose healthcare because I can make a difference in the lives of people.

Q: What were some skills you learned in the training program?

A: Lean is all about eliminating waste from processes so we can increase value to the customer. The instructor offered many hands-on exercises that ensured that all learning styles were accommodated in the course.

Q: How did you fit the training into your schedule?

A: We did the training over five long days in one week (at her workplace). While my employer allowed us the workday to attend the training, client commitments still had to be met. Some days, we had to work late and do our regular work after the training. It was only for one week, though, and was well worth the sacrifice of some personal time in the evenings and early mornings.

Q: In what ways did the training influence your career?

A: Since the training, I have changed jobs and now work at Piedmont Healthcare. At Piedmont, I use the Lean tools in my work as a project manager. It is probable that having the Lean Black Belt certification influenced the company’s decision to hire me.

Q: What advice would you give those who are seeking to work in engineering?

A: Sometimes people immediately think, “I need to get my master’s degree.” The first thought might be to do a certification class, which is less risky because it’s not as expensive and it’s not as big of a time commitment.