LeanDNA Academy Gives Manufacturers a Faster Way to Train and Certify Supply Chain Teams

New self-paced learning destination teaches APEX and the supply chain principles behind it, with outcome-based certifications for buyers, planners, managers, analysts, and suppliers.

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- LeanDNA, a leading intelligent supply chain execution platform, today announced the launch of LeanDNA Academy, a self-paced training and certification program for people who use APEX, LeanDNA's AI-powered supply chain orchestration platform. The Academy teaches how to use APEX and the supply chain principles behind it, with learning paths built around business outcomes, not just product features, and is available at academy.leandna.com.

"LeanDNA Academy has transformed our Buyer and Inventory Analyst APEX training by providing a consistent, interactive learning experience that connects system actions to the supply chain thinking behind them, allowing MSA Safety's experienced Buyers to focus on training internal processes, SAP, and business-specific knowledge," said Eric Blanton, Sr. Manager Global Purchasing, MSA Safety.

Until now, most customers learned APEX by sitting next to the one or two colleagues who already knew it. That works for the first few users, not the twentieth, and it resets when those people leave. The Academy gives every customer team a single place to send people, with a credential at the end.

Certification paths cover buyers, planners, supply chain and materials managers, analysts, and suppliers working with a LeanDNA customer. Learners who pass earn a certificate they can celebrate internally and share with their professional network on LinkedIn. The certifications are designed as career currency, giving learners and their managers proof of skill that travels with them.

Expert certifications go deeper into inventory execution, customer on-time delivery, inventory optimization, and supplier collaboration. Lessons are short and self-paced, mixing supply chain concepts such as lean inventory and how inventory shows up on the balance sheet with hands-on APEX skills. Formats include click-through product demos, quick tours of key reports, knowledge checks, and a scored assessment at the end of each path.

"Software only pays off when people use it well, and in most supply chain teams that know-how sits with one or two people. The Academy turns it into something a whole team can have and benefit from," said Daniel Taylor, VP, Solutions & Services, LeanDNA.

The Academy reduces key-person risk, enables more widespread and consistent adoption across sites, and speeds onboarding for new customers and new hires, so time with LeanDNA's team is spent on outcomes and results. Customer administrators also get enrollment and certification reporting, so managers can see who on their team is ready. LeanDNA plans to add more learning paths and certifications to the Academy, along with French, Spanish, and Chinese versions.

Before today's launch, LeanDNA piloted the Academy over the summer with a group of early-access customers from global manufacturing companies including MSA Safety. LeanDNA also introduced the Academy to customers at the 2026 LeanDNA Manufacturing Excellence Summit in Austin.

About LeanDNA

LeanDNA powers the world's discrete manufacturing with a single source of truth for factory-first materials orchestration and inventory optimization. APEX, the AI-powered expert execution platform from LeanDNA, transforms data into optimized decisions and action. LeanDNA empowers manufacturers in aerospace, HVAC, industrials, automotive, and medical to improve on-time delivery and working capital levels. Leading manufacturers including Caterpillar, Daikin Applied, Radius Aerospace, and Siemens use APEX for supply chain orchestration to gain visibility into current and incoming materials, take action based on inventory criticality, collaborate in real time with suppliers, and track progress toward inventory optimization goals. Learn more at LeanDNA.com.

SOURCE LeanDNA Inc