Corporate Education and Workforce Development Programs

Corporate Master

At WPI, lifelong learning is an integral part of our educational philosophy. With personalized support and considerable flexibility, our graduate and professional development programs provide WPI’s distinctive project-based education to working professionals who seek real-world knowledge and skills to further in their careers.  

Whether you’d like to gain a competitive advantage by maximizing the potential of your company’s workforce, or you're an individual interested in improving your skillset, WPI’s customizable programs are designed for busy working professionals and can be delivered online, on site, or through a blended approach. All programs are taught by WPI faculty and industry experts. 

 

 

Customized Corporate Programs

Invest in your company’s most important asset—your employees. By providing employees with continued learning opportunities, your company will gain a more knowledgeable and productive workforce, attract and retain top talent, and remain on the cutting- edge of innovation. 

Our expert instructors and dedicated support staff work with you to identify your team’s knowledge gaps, suggest opportunities for growth, and craft a curriculum that meets your learning needs and business goals. 

  • First, our team works with you to identify your business and educational goals through exploratory dialogue. 
  • Second, our team of industry experts crafts a curriculum to address your organization's specific educational gaps. 
  • Third, we develop a delivery option that meets the needs of your busy workforce—whether at your site, on the WPI campus, online, or through a blended approach. 
  • Finally, we provide post-program consultation options to ensure that skills learned in the classroom translate into action. 

Request information today to learn how to customize a program for your company. 

 

View WPI's full catalog of graduate programs. WPI also offers more than 25 fully online graduate programs.

 

 

Workforce Development Programs

With our engaging workshops and training programs, your employees gain relevant skills and tools that can be immediately applied in the workforce. Workforce Development programs can be designed to meet your companies unique needs. 

Some of our most popular programs include: 

 

Systems Engineering

The Professional Development Series for Systems Engineering covers a wide range of topics such as Concepts of Systems Engineering, Stakeholder Needs, Systems Requirements, Systems Architecture and Design, and Systems Integration and Test. Throughout the program of study, the participants implement systems engineering methods and techniques taught on pre-selected projects and report their results. These topics are presented at a graduate level of quality and in a balanced theoretical and practical manner.

This program of study gives participants opportunities to explore systems engineering processes in the context of a complete product life cycle model, to elicit and express stakeholders expectations and requirements, to develop a user Concept of Operations (CONOPS), to plan and implement a risk management process, and to develop solution selection and acceptance criteria. The participants also explore best practices and techniques to conduct systems functional and performance analyses, manage requirements through the system lifecycle, develop creative alternative system architectures which address system operational, functional and physical viewpoints, manage system architecture and design through the product lifecycle, and develop strategies and plans for system integration, validation and verification testing. The program culminates with final status reports by the participants on their projects.

Process Improvement

WPI’s Process Improvement Workshops will teach you proven techniques to help address systemic process issues that may be holding back your organization from reaching maximum efficiency. This series of workshops—customizable to meet your organization’s needs—will teach timely strategies to better understand the root causes of process difficulties, and then apply this knowledge to:

  • Reduce variation
  • Remove activities that contribute no value to the product or service produced
  • Improve customer satisfaction
  • Alleviate wasteful frustration

Specific Workshop Topics (WPI Recommends a Series of At Least Three)

  • Advanced Design of Experiments
  • Advanced Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis
  • Design of Experiments
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
  • Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for the Systems Engineering Environment
  • Introduction to Six Sigma Process Improvement Tools and Concepts
  • Statistical Process Control
  • Value Stream Process Mapping
Lean / Six Sigma

Lean and Six Sigma are well established methodologies for quality improvement and cost reduction. These methodologies are more than just theoretical approaches; they have been proven to be effective in countless industries and companies around the world. Through a strong reliance on data, structured process, an empowered team, and a focus on the customer’s definition of quality and performance; these methodologies encompass a set of proven best practices.

Leadership & Management Development

Leadership and management training is a crucial investment for successful organizations. Leaders inspire and motivate the workforce, while managers plan, organize, and coordinate projects. These important contributors require training and support to maximize their effectiveness. Are your critical employees prepared for today's challenging business environment? 

Additional Information: Employees at a mix of organizational levels can benefit from development in leadership and management. This path provides a choice of workshops across key topical areas, plus room for customization in other development topics such as Six Sigma or lean enterprise, among others. Your workforce will emerge ready with the tools, tips and techniques they need to be successful.

Your program manager will work with you to ensure learning objectives are focused and relevant, and will help you select workshops based on your organizational goals and the experience level of your participants. In addition, our corporate offerings can be delivered on-site, offering added convenience for your employees and a greater participant rate than off-site programs. Learn more about this certificate program below by filling out the above form.

We recommend at least three of the following workshops to provide a strong foundational knowledge:

  • Becoming an Effective Leader
  • Collaborative Communications
  • Developing the Team Process for Continuous Improvement
  • Essential Management Skills for New Managers
  • Finance for Engineers and Technical Professionals
  • Handling Conflict, Confrontation and Difficult People
  • Improving Your Negotiating Skills
  • Influencing and Managing Peers
  • Leading an Effective Cross-Functional Team
  • Leading Remote and Virtual Teams
  • Leading Through Change
  • Performance Management
  • Powerful Presentation Skills
  • Time Management
  • Train the Trainer
Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T)

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) is a means of specifying engineering design and drawing requirements with respect to actual functions and relationships of part features. With the growing demand for more specifically and economically stated engineering design requirements, today's manufacturing professionals must thoroughly understand this universal engineering language.

Benefits of GD&T Training:

  • Learn proficiency in reading engineering drawings
  • Understand the latest in metrology techniques
  • Gain basic knowledge of GD&T Symbology meanings and applications
  • Successfully convey design intent, improve quality and reduce costs in the design-to-manufacturing process
  • Apply the latest in tolerance management tools

This workshop will help you understand and use GD&T, the universal engineering language on engineering drawings. Your new skills, applicable to any manufactured product, will eliminate many of the communication problems prevalent in the design-to-manufacturing cycle.

Project Managment

Whether you are a senior executive, program manager, project manager or a project team member, it is your job to help your organization grow and increase its value form the project initiatives. Successful project planning and execution involves a carefully designed set of tools, techniques and processes designed to help manage change, drive competitive advantage, and deliver results in-line with your organization’s corporate strategy. Certification in Project Management is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after credentials for today’s professionals. This workshop can be tailored when delivered on site or to intact teams to incorporate their best practices and specific needs.

Curriculum:

  • Principles of Project Management Methodology Project Management Planning and Scheduling
  • Setting Boundaries and Planning  Techniques
  • Project Leadership & Communications - Leading the Project Team
  • Project Risk Management - Forecast, Monitor and Mitigate Risk
  • Project Execution and Control - Running the Project and Project Pitfalls

The Biomanufacturing Education and Training Center (BETC)

Our 10,000-square-foot facility, located in the heart of Massachusetts, is where theory is put into practice and hands-on training fosters growth and creates bold innovators in industry.

 

Hit the ground running. New to the biotech field? Maybe you're looking to level up your skill set in a particular area? From one-day to in-depth weeklong programs, the BETC provides a rich environment where you’ll expand your knowledge of bioprocessing and hone your hands-on techniques. Our goal: a skilled, confident workforce ready to be productive from day one. 

Leave the on-boarding to us. Biomanufacturing companies face a unique challenge in training employees while running a busy production line. Whether you’re an employee looking to expand your skill set or a manager developing your team, the BETC provides dynamic learning opportunities so your company can gain a productive workforce, attract and retain top talent, and remain on the cutting-edge of innovation.  

Learn More.


Grant Funding Eligibility

Several of the BETC’s workforce development training programs are eligible for express grant funding through the Massachusetts Workforce Development Training Funding, administered by Commonwealth Corporation.  The Workforce Training Fund Program helps address business productivity and competitiveness by providing resources to Massachusetts businesses to fund training for current and newly hired employees.  The funding is available to businesses of all sizes, with increased levels of funding for small to mid-sized businesses. 

Apply Today

 

[Our] relationship spans many different areas. We’ve established a graduate program in systems engineering that’s currently in its third cohort. WPI has allowed us the flexibility to pick and choose what the best courses are in graduate programs.
  • Cheryl Chaput
  • Manager of Engineering Leadership Development Program
  • BAE Systems
The project management certificate program is a great mix of real-world examples, theory, and group work. I look forward to applying what I have learned back at the office.
  • Andrew Hastings
  • Constant Contact