'Network News'
It is my pleasure to announce our next network meeting:
Where: Misco Products, 1048 Stinson Drive, Reading PA 19605 phone: 610-926-4106
When: Thursday December 6, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Fire recovery, new flow, pathways and connections
Who: 3 representatives per member company
Why: Most of us remember the horrific fire Misco sustained in January when more than half their facility was turned to cinder or rendered unsafe. Since that time Misco has been shipping on-time by working in cramped, difficult conditions. The rebuilding and realignment of the most of the facility will be completed by 12/6, though some key areas have been delayed. Come see Misco’s new, improved flow, connections and pathways. You will not be disappointed.
October 31st, 2007
American LaFrance’s team showed us the progress they have made changing culture and implementing 6S and continuous improvement. The plant tours were highlighted by passionate responses from the people doing the work. Congratulations to everyone at American LaFrance for their valuable efforts thus far. (more…)
October 11th, 2007
It is my pleasure to announce our next network meeting:
Where: American LaFrance, 64 Cocalico Creek Road, Ephrata, PA 17522, phone: 717-859-1176
When: Thursday October 11, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Cultural Change at American LaFrance
Who: 3 representatives per member company
Why: American LaFrance has made significant and obvious strides improving the physical plant. How? They work on culture every day. Firetrucks and rescue vehicles are complicated projects. See ALF’s new approach and witness the improvements.
August 14th, 2007
The Clean Burn team showed us the progress they have made since the network’s visit last summer. Better organization and communication, improved visuals (more than 1500 items controlled by kanban), significantly improved assembly line flow, balance and productivity. Information was passed on, contact information was gathered and improvement remains our focus.
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July 19th, 2007
It is my pleasure to announce our next network meeting:
Our next network meeting:
Where: Clean Burn Inc, 34 Zimmerman Road, Leola, PA 17540, phone: 717-656-2011
When: Thursday July 19, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Assembly line balance and flow. See what and hear what Clean Burn has done too increase it’s output and reduce it’s costs
Who: 3 representatives per member company
Why: Clean Burn has developed into a terrific example of demand/pull and a visual factory
June 19th, 2007
Meetings subject: Administrative Lean
UtiliTech Inc. is a service company assisting it’s customer by identifying opportunities to reduce their utility and telecommunication costs and then proceed to apply rebates and rate reductions to costs.
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May 16th, 2007
It is my pleasure to announce our next network meeting:
Our next network meeting:
Where: UtiliTech, Inc., 975 Berkshire Blvd., Suite 100, Wyomissing, PA 19610, phone: 610-777-3200
When: Wednesday May 16, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: UtiliTech is a service company. They “sell administrative”, therefore they may know more about administrative waste, opportunity and improvements than many of us do. They Quote, they Measure, they Deliver Value and they Invoice just like many of you. In addition, they have the same cultural challanges all of us have. Come see some of their custom designed solutions and applications. We can all learn from this meeting.
Who: Due to space considerations 2 representatives per member company
Why: Different is good, you can learn so much in a “different” environment. We all know waste is waste and improvment is good, but a different perspective may enhance this learning opportunity.
May 3rd, 2007
Meetings subject: Measurement, Scoreboards and A3 Thinking
Rose Corp has recently taken the courageous step to post critical performance measures in their shops and offices. Tom McDevitt, Elain McDevitt and the companies new President and CEO Brian Higgins presented the story and process of communication to all members of their team. (more…)
April 20th, 2007
Our next network meeting:
Where: The Rose Corp., 401 N. 8th Street, Reading PA 19601 Phone: 610.376.5004
When: Thursday, April 19, 2007 from 8:30 until Noon
What: Rose will be discussing their posting of key measures, the problems and anxiety they have had, and the value they have experienced. Come see what, where and why they are posting.
Who: Due to space considerations 2 representatives per member company
Why: We feel the posting of key measures is difficult to implement and maintain. We witnessed some key measure posting at Yoder Brothers earlier, Rose has a different story with the same theme. Effective measures are powerful, learn how to harness this power.
March 14th, 2007
Our subject was Disaster Recovery
Presentations by Michael Goldberg of RestoreCore on Emergency Planning and Pete Conners of Remcon Plastics on a brief history of Remcon and the business, financial, physical and emotional impact of the Reading flood of 6/22/06. Significant input from Tony Byrne of Misco Products who are recovering from a fire January 11, 2007.
A plant tour illustrated the progress Remcon has made since our last visit and good, useful feedback to Remcon from the network regarding the best things they saw and opportunities for improvement.
Attending:
- American LaFrance
- Misco Products
- Insinger Machine
- Yoder Brothers
- UtiliTech
- Remcon Plastics
Not in attendance:
- Reading Powder Coatings
- Reading Area Community College
- Clean Burn Inc.
- The Rose Corporation
Expect news for our next meeting (early April if possible) within two weeks. Both Utilitech and Insinger express interest in hosting.
February 22nd, 2007
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