COMPETING Blog

Next Lean Thinking Network Meeting

Where:  Fenner Drive, 311 West Stiegle St Manheim Pa 17545 parking in lower lot

When:  Thursday October 9, 2014, 9am-noon (arrive between 8:30 and 9)

What:  Topic- The Importance of Having a Future State Map prepared and Ready.  Fenner very recently moved a department, we will be able to go see and listen to the story from the people who did the work.

Who:  3 attendees per member company.

Safety: Safety glasses required we will be staying within the aisle so steel toes are not but no open toe shoes or heels.

Why: Moving a department is a challenging task, often filled with mistakes.  This will be a wonderful learning opportunity.

Fenner has requested the name, business and title of all attendees be available to them by Thursday Sept 25, 2014.

to register go to:

http://dwightbowen.com/contact/

We are looking at October 9th,  9am-noon (arrive between 8:30 and 9) at 311 West Stiegle St Manheim Pa 17545 parking in lower lot. I will need names of all attendees, place of business and their titles 2 weeks in advance.  We can handle 20-30 people total

Our second visit to the Shingo Prize winning Army Depot did not disappoint as we visited new areas and saw, heard and discussed the improvements made and opportunities to make further improvements.  Building #30 – Sandblast and Paint was the focus of our tour.  The highlight of the tour (to me) was an idea demonstrated by an operator in an assembly cell, simplifying the process of turning a thumb screw…….and then showing us an improvement to the improvement…..Great Stuff!

According to Brad Jones, the Depot’s Director of Continuous Process Improvement, the Depot follows David Mann’s management philosophy:  1. Visual Management 2. Visual Accountability

3. Standard Work for Supervisors.  Mann’s philosophy filled attendees with the prospect of making some fundamental changes in operations.

Our thanks to the Depot and the great team that supported our learning efforts.

Attending companys:

Misco Products

Green Leaf Enterprises

Restek Corp.

Itinerary for the Visit of

Lean Thinking Network

7 Aug 14

Purpose: To benchmark Lean Six Sigma and 6S initiatives at Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Lean Thinking Network attendees will be:

Dwight Bowen

Notes:  ALL ATTENDEES MUST PRE-REGISTER – SORRY ONLY U.S. CITIZENS MAY ATTEND.

(1)  Also attending the Briefings will be:  TO REGISTER GO TO:  registration link

Mr. Donald Engel, Chief, Research and Analysis Division

Mr. Brian Regan, Chief, Process Improvement Division

Ms. Danielle Weinschenk, Directorate of Productivity Improvement and Innovation

(2)  Also attending the tour will be:

(3)  Personnel at Lunch will be:

Lunch will be Chicken Caesar Wraps, Pasta Salad, Assorted Potato Chips, Fresh Baked Cookies and Assorted Beverages. Cost will be $9.00 per person.

Point of contact for this Itinerary is Danielle Weinschenk, (570) 615-7418.

Team Tobyhanna – Excellence in Electronics!

The morning’s training focused on necessary changes to Lean Management Principles.  Mentoring (Managing to Learn – John Shook), Practicing/Communicating (Toyota Kato – Mike Rother) and Idea Systems (Idea-Driven Organizations – Alan Robinson, Dean Schroeder) were the source documents of much of the presentation.  Also discussed were Gemba Walks and Kamishibai Boards.

In attendance were:

Misco Products

Four Seasons Produce

Rose Corporation

Fenner Drives

Thanks to Alan Robinson for donating a few copies of “The Idea-Driven Organization” to attendees.

Our next network event will be Thursday August 7, 2014 when we visit the Shingo Prize winner, Tobyhanna Army Depot – details to follow soon.

Who – targeted to the mid-level or member organizations, up to four per member company

When:  Thursday June 5, 2014 9am to Noon

Where:  Reading Area Community College, Schmidt Training and Technical Center (first floor) 10 S 2nd St, Reading, PA 19603  Phone 610-372-4721

What:  Dwight’s presentation will touch on:  Gemba walks, Improvement and Coaching Kata, Kamishibai (kah-mee-she-bye) boards and system, and idea systems as well as interactive training.

Why?:  Learn how other organizations have been successful in linking top leadership to daily improvement.  After-all, we all notice what the boss notices.

Click here to register

Submitted by Andrew Bishop who facilitated:

In attendance at Thursday’s meeting hosted by The Rose Corp:
Videon
Peiffer Machine
Four Seasons
Green Leaf Plants
Misco
Fenner Drives

Tom McDevitt of Rose made an excellent case for the role of communication and a focus on organizational alignment in sustaining a lean deployment.

Those of us who have visited Rose before were impressed by continued improvements on the shop floor and the progression from Rose’s strong 5S deployment to significant improvements in work processes.  Color coding, kitting, vendor engagement in improvements all add up:  “The job is easier now” – Assembly Foreman Emilio G.

Where – Rose Corp., 401 N 8th St, Reading, PA 19601,   phone 610-376-5004

When – Thursday May 15, 2004 from 9am to noon

What – “Sustaining Improvement” – Ten years of continuous improvement

Who – 2 attendees per member company  – Please register at this link      REGISTER HERE

Why – Go see and hear what Rose has learned and continues to learn.

Next Network meetings

June 4, 2014 at RACC – Idea-Driven Organizations – a public presentation by Alan Robinson

June 5, 2014 at RACC- Overcoming Organizational Obstacles – Influencing and training Improvement and Coaching Kata