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Day 1 – Foundations and Strategic Practices
The Storeroom's Contribution to Total Process Reliability
- Common Storeroom Challenges
- The Storeroom's Role in Reliability
Nine Strategic Practices
Main Topics
- Data Scrubbing
- Optimizing Stock Levels
- Critical Spares Evaluation
- VMI/Consignment
Supplemental Course Materials Provided
- Problem Solving
- Monthly Budget
- Salvage Value
- Material Scrap
- Parts Standardization
Day 2 – Tactical Processes and Procurement
Fifteen Tactical Processe
Main Topics
- New Item Setup
- ABC Classification
- Cycle Counting
- Kitting
- Issuing
- Obsolescence
- Materials Preventive Maintenance
Supplemental Course Materials Provided
- Improvement Opportunities
- Purchasing and Procurement
- Requisition of Materials
- Receiving
- Repair or Replace
- Delivery
- Return to Supplier and Return to Stock
- Emergency Procurement
Stores Stock Committee
- Form and Charter
- Improvement Opportunities
Maintenance Budget Contribution
- Making Sense of Cents
- Storeroom Users
- Improvement Opportunities
Root Cause Analysis
- Fix It Forever
- What Hits Your Radar
- 5 Why Analysis
Day 3 – Safety, Layout, and Your Improvement Plan
Safety and Environmental Practices
- Your Plant Goals
- The Storeroom's Contribution
Storeroom Layout
- Current State and Future State
- Storage Requirements
- 5S Activities
Storeroom Organization
- Roles and Responsibilities
- Process Guide and Workflow
- RACI and Activity Detail
Develop Your Improvement Plan
- Seminar Review
- Customized Improvement Plan
Registration Date/Time:
11/3/2026 07:30am Central Time
Event Dates/Times:
- 11/3/2026 8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
- 11/4/2026 8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
- 11/5/2026 8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
Course Location
Lodging
Accommodations include: Your stay includes hot breakfast buffet, fitness center, business center, convenient on-site parking. Guest rooms are complete with Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, complimentary high-speed Internet, and 40-inch, flat screen, high-def TVs.
Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi and Local/Airport Shuttle. Parking available $15/night.
Room: rates start at $160
Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi, Local/Airport Shuttle, Pool, and Fitness Center.
This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions or if you need to make a change.
This course uses the Canvas course management and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access the online course site. Both in-person and online students should have a NetID and access the Canvas course website. Your registration confirmation email will give you instructions on how to create a NetID and log into Canvas.
Canvas will have digital materials for this course. Please watch the email address you provided for important course updates and information. Check your spam file if you do not see emails from the "wisc.edu" addresses.
Instructor
Steve Gowan
Vice President - Partner at Marshall Institute
Steve Gowan is a Continuous Improvement leader with over 20 years of industrial experience and 14 years in Asset Management, Maintenance, and Reliability consulting.
He began his career in the United States Air Force as a Crew Chief on the B-1 Bomber, where he also served as an MRO Inventory Liaison. During his time at Dyess Air Force Base, he was named Airman of the Year after developing an improved inventory management process for aircraft spare parts. After his military service, Steve held engineering roles in the aerospace industry, owned his own business, and later served as an MRO Manager in the automotive sector and Plant Manager for a high-volume bakery.
Across every role, his focus has been continuous improvement. He has led initiatives in TPM, 5S, storeroom and spare parts management, employee development, root cause analysis, preventive and predictive maintenance, equipment reliability, and Lean manufacturing.
At Marshall Institute, Steve has served in several leadership roles, including Senior Consultant, Manager of Manufacturing and Training Services, Senior Manager of Manufacturing Services, Director of Consulting Services, and now Partner and Vice President. In his current role, he focuses on helping clients build practical strategies and ensuring his team delivers meaningful, measurable results.
Steve is a hands-on trainer, facilitator, and coach who works closely with clients to improve reliability, reduce costs, and build sustainable processes that stick.
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Program Director
Jon Wellik