Sparton Lean Profitability

Sparton counts on lean and Six Sigma to expand its profit margins. ...

... "As previously indicated, our focus in the EMS segment will be on continuing our operational improvements through the ongoing implementation of lean manufacturing techniques and six sigma practices which we expect to ultimately provide higher gross margin levels in the future. " ...

Via dBusinessNews: Sparton Corporation

Donaldson Kaizen Optimizes Business for Future with Operational Efficiency

Bill Cook, Donaldson's Chairman, President and CEO discusses the company's results and how it is positioned to operate in the future business environment. Donaldson reported a decrease in sales and earnings but is experiencing sequential operating improvements. The company is deploying a kaizen culture in project portfolio fashion to drive operational efficiency broadly in its products, procurement, and business processes. Donaldson sees its kaizen strategy as a platform for shifting the business to a new level of performance, optimized to compete in the future. ...

... "However, given that we’re expecting a gradual economic recovery rather than a strong V-Shaped one, we will continue to focus on our cost control initiatives to ensure that we balance our expenses with our current and projected business levels. Under our corporate philosophy of Kaizen or continuous improvement, we have dozens of project teams working across our organization to further reduce costs and improve our operating efficiencies, in our product designs, in our purchase materials, manufacturing processes, and our operating departments. Our objectives include not only managing today’s costs, but also optimizing our business for the future. We also have on going return on investment initiatives focused on implementing long term improvements in our working capital utilization specifically inventory, accounts payable and accounts receivable. All this work has paid big dividends so far and will continue to do so. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Donaldson Company Management Earnings Discussion

Company facts: Donaldson Company, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, is a leading worldwide provider of filtration systems and replacement parts.

Donaldson energy efficiency program uses these techniques to identify opportunities: Donaldson Lessons Learned and Case Study for Energy Efficiency (PDF): "Process to identify opportunities: Six Sigma, Kaizen/Lean utility Audits, Leased Building Audit, HQ Campus formal Process Efficiency program. "

Donaldson creates and sustains its kaizen / lean culture through education and engagement. Recent Donaldson employee and now lean consultant, Mack Story, shares his experiences at the company, where he developed internal lean certification program and engaged with the manufacturing workforce through training and kaizen events: Mack Story - LinkedIn. Karl Johnson, who was an operations manager at Donaldson during his career, managed Six Sigma black belts and engaged in a number of improvement activities as a routine part of his role: Karl E Johnson - LinkedIn: Lean Techniques, Six Sigma Projects, 5S Improvements, Kaizen events, for example.

WABCO Lean Manufacturing Applications

WABCO, tier one supplier to commercial vehicle industry, is able to navigate challenging business conditions and achieve profit while revenue is off significantly. The company is applying lean methods to enable cost savings and is seeing some growth in emerging markets. ...

... "WABCO continues to anticipate and mitigate adverse market conditions through orderly cost reduction measures, systematic productivity initiatives and further applications of lean manufacturing, among other accomplishments that our people have honed over the years in our globally connected culture of operational excellence, said Esculier " ...

Via WABCO: Q3 2009 Results

Hertzler Efficiency Seminar for Food Processors

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SPC software company will host webinar on operational efficiency for the food industry in October. ...

... "The seminar will be led by Tom Albrecht, Vice President of Business Development for Hertzler. Albrecht has been with the company for nearly 20 years. In his role he has helped dozens of companies increase efficiency, improve quality, and reduce costs. " ...

Via Hertzler Systems: Foods Industry executives

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Operational Excellence Mastery

Viracon is recognized for its application of asset management to drive operational efficiencies. ...

... "At Viracon, we’re constantly looking for ways to operate more efficiently and provide our customers with superior products and service, says Sheila Meixner, vice president of process improvement at Viracon. We are proud of the results we’ve achieved using the new asset tracking system, and we’re honored to have received the PM100 award. " ...

Via Viracon: Winner of Managing Automation 2009 Progressive Manufacturing 100 Awards

Fortis Plastics Lean Manufacturing ERP Initiative

Strategic Information Group has enabled the implementation of QAD at Fortis Plastics' manufacturing sites. The new ERP system supports the integration of manufacturing after a series of acquisitions and the implementation of lean principles to create efficiency. Fortis Plastics is a leading manufacturer that specializes in molding, compounding, and tooling. The company is committed to operational excellence and deploys an agile business model to react quickly to market trends. ...

... "Many benefits were derived from the rapid QAD ERP implementation including establishing company wide standardization, streamlining procurement and improving scheduling accuracy. Having a fully integrated and easy-to-use system has improved visibility enterprise wide and reporting now takes minutes instead of days to compile and deliver. The decision to implement QAD complements Fortis' ongoing lean manufacturing initiatives. " ...

Via Strategic Information Group: Fortis Plastics ERP Roll Out

QAD can be configured to enable lean manufacturing enterprises. ...

QAD Lean Manufacturing Software: "QAD Lean Manufacturing provides a suite of tools that supports both lean manufacturing and flow scheduling practices for production, replenishment and inventory."

Fortis is committed to quality through lean. ...

Fortis Plastics: "Our assurance of quality is put to use using combined tools of Quality, Continuous Improvement and Lean Manufacturing. "

Chemical Company Lean Manufacturing Principles

Study recommends lean manufacturing and operational excellence to chemical companies as remedy to weather the challenges of the business cycle. ...

... "Equally, optimizing fixed costs can be tackled in a number of ways, including introducing lean manufacturing principles or relocating to more efficient production facilities. " ...

Via Commodity Online: Chemical coompanies

HP Operational Excellence

HP marketing executive sees opportunities for the company to connect with customers using social media and feels that the scale through acquisitions has led to operational excellence. ...

... "I'd say that HP has become very good at operational excellence. We're obviously a very large company, the world's largest technology company. We've had a lot of acquisitions. We've had a number of changes in the business, and I think with that size and scale, you have to be extraordinarily good at operational excellence. " ...

Via OregonLive: Social media connects HP

Manufacturing Call to Action

Webcast will look at significant transformation in manufacturing costs as a strategy for competitive advantage. ...

... "How would you respond if your executive team challenged you to cut your manufacturing costs by 50% in the next five years to remain competitively viable? " ...

Via IndustryWeek: Cut Costs by 50%

Ingersoll-Rand Lean Six Sigma Operational Excellence

Ingersoll-Rand has been challenged by the economic downturn with exposure to the construction market and the need to service a higher debt load related to acquisitions. Yet, the company is positioned in the HVAC market for infrastructure investments and has expanded geographically into Asian markets, where growth is expected. ...

... "IR has been using Lean Six Sigma for years, and will continue to rely on it to achieve operational excellence, which reflects IR's clear and constant awareness of efficiency and cost. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Ingersoll-Rand Excellence

Operational excellence is a key lever for the company in 2009. ...

Ingersoll Rand via Reuters: "We are realizing the synergies from the recent acquisition of Trane and from our initiatives in purchasing and Lean Six Sigma, which will produce even greater benefits in 2009. "

The company has invested in training programs. ...

Ingersoll Rand Lean Six Sigma Training Series.

IR has expanded its lean methods globally. ...

China Lean: "Ms. Zhang Dong is currently the Lean six sigma manager of Ingersoll Rand Industrial Technology Air Solutions, Asia Pacific. She has more than 14 years working experience in Engineering, Operations, Marketing and Service. "

Ingersoll Rand employees have had successful careers in industry, helping manufacturers become successful with Lean Six Sigma. ...

Mark Beffel Bio via APICS: "Mark has over 35 years experience in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations management with John Deere, Pentair, Lozier, Ingersoll Rand and Manitowoc. "

IR leaders are published in the field. ...

Leaning Into Six Sigma Book by Barbara Wheat via Barnes & Noble: "Barbara Wheat is the Director of Six Sigma for Ingersoll-Rand Tool and Hoist Division, where she brings the tools and techniques of both Lean Enterprise and Six Sigma together to institutionalize a world-class system of continuous improvement. "

Operational Excellence at Energy Conversion Devices

Leaders of Energy Conversion Devices discuss the company's quarterly results and the impacts that its operational excellence initiatives are having on the financial performance. Lean manufacturing is being focused on working capital improvements and asset utilization rates. And, other quality improvement actions are targeting material waste and cycle time optimization. ...

... "For example, we reduced our deposition cycle by 10% on our ramping machines in Greenville and our lamination cycle times by 9% in Auburn Hills and Mexico. We also introduced lean manufacturing processes in our Auburn Hills 2 facility that will reduce work-in-progress inventory and improve throughput in our production process. We will be initiating several material utilization improvement initiatives in step three of our manufacturing process. These projects are targeting 10% to 20% reduction in material utilization with several of our polymer suppliers. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Energy Conversion Devices Earnings Call

Multi-Fineline Electronix World-Class Manufacturing through Six Sigma

Flexible circuit manufacturer discusses company performance and the use of quality improvement on its operational efficiency. ...

... "In response to reduced cost and improve our operational performance as a world-class technology manufacturing company, we have initiated ambitious lean-manufacturing and Six Sigma quality improvement initiative. These are expected to enhance our operational performance in both the short and long term. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Multi-Fineline Electronix Earnings Call

Multi-Fineline Electronix

Masco Six Sigma Recognition

Masco leaders discuss the company's operational excellence program and industry recognition for its achievements and talent. ...

... "We have won a Shingo Prize in the past and most recently, the Masco Builder Cabinet Group President Karen Strauss has been named the Sixth Sigma CEO of the year by Global Six Sigma Award and Karen will be accepting that award on June 24th at the Summit in Chicago ... " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Masco Corporation Earnings Call

Virtua Six Sigma Credit Strength

Fitch affirms strong credit rating for Virtua Health based on managements adoption and rollout of Six Sigma improvement methods. Six Sigma has improved the company's operating performance and profit margins have expanded. ...

... "Virtua's operating results in recent years show a marked improvement over the earlier part of the decade, when Virtua's operating margins ranged from 4% to (-0.4%) in years 2000 to 2004. Much of the improvement in operational performance is attributed by management to its use of GE management tools (Six Sigma, Best People, Workouts). Virtua was one of the original organizations to adopt GE's management tools in a health care setting, and Fitch views Virtua's management's adoption of and ongoing commitment to these tools as a credit strength. " ...

Via PR: Fitch Rates Virtua Health A

Flexible e-KanBan Manufacturing Replenishment System

AeroScout collaborates with IMEC Technologies to implement a a wireless parts replenishment solution for Thermo King Corp. The system uses a WiFi-enabled Active RFID technology to create lean manufacturing and operational improvements at its manufacturing plant in Galway, Ireland. ...

... "Thermo King manufactures transport temperature control systems for trailers, truck bodies, shipboard and airborne containers, and buses and railway cars. The company has implemented a Wi-Fi parts replenishment solution – also known as an e-Kanban system – and integrated it into its internal manufacturing applications. The AeroScout solution uses standard Wi-Fi and leverages Thermo King’s existing Cisco Unified Wireless Network, which the staff also uses for data communications with laptops and handheld mobile computers. When additional parts are needed on the production line, workers at the facility use call buttons located on AeroScout’s Wi-Fi tags mounted next to parts containers throughout the facility. When the quantity in a container reaches a pre-determined level, workers simply press the corresponding call button to request more parts. The battery-powered tags transmit the request over the facility’s standard Wi-Fi network to AeroScout’s MobileView software. These requests are then processed by IMEC’s parts replenishment application, which initiates the appropriate materials replenishment steps. The solution requires no hard wires, is easy to deploy and enables flexible support of production line layout changes. " ...

Via AeroScout: Manufacturing Operations with Wireless Parts Replenishment Solution

Chrysler Quality: Job None

Chrysler is not likely to survive this economic downturn and suffers from a quality management foundation. ...

... "Chrysler nevertheless failed to make good on Mr. Zetsche's vow, despite a considerable amount of effort to improve operations on the factory floor. " ...

Via Wall Street Journal: Chrysler Poor Quality

Via The Scoop at Chrysler Group: CEO Bob Nardelli on Future: "As we rebuild confidence in the New Chrysler, we must also recognize that many outsiders and critics of our company are not yet aware of the steady strides we have made and the reasons we are optimistic about our future. "

Department of Defense Lean Six Sigma Software Enabler

The U.S. military standardizes on Minitab statistical software to support its implementation of quality improvement methods using Lean Six Sigma. ...

... "Since the U.S. Army deployed Lean Six Sigma in 2005, nearly 2,000 personnel have been trained, more than 1,000 projects have been completed, and more than 1,600 remain active. The Army credits these projects with achieving nearly $2 billion in savings so far. The Department of the Navy has trained more than 5,000 sailors and Marines as Six Sigma green or black belts since 2006. The Navy estimates savings from its projects for 2006 and 2007 to be $450 million, a 4-to-1 return on investment. The U.S. Air Force has trained more than 500 Six Sigma belts, and its Air Logistics Centers received two Shingo Prizes for quality improvement last year. The Air Force has committed to a 40,000-manpower reduction without impairing its operational capabilities due in part to efficiencies gained from its initiatives. " ...

Via Minitab: Minitab quality improvement software

Slop and Six Sigma Coexist

Growing and accelerating business can tolerate a degree of sloppiness until the growth subsides and earning momentum must be sustained. ...

... "Process improvements, Six Sigma, and process learning are for companies that are in operational mode. They are already selling as much as they can, so the only way to improve the finances is to spend less on operations. " ...

Via US News and World Reports: Sloppiness

Operational Turnaround through Six Sigma Excellence

Vertis Communications reports its fiscal results and describes its turnaround plan which includes the use of lean and Six Sigma methods to drive operational excellence. ...

... "The Company implemented a turnaround plan in early 2007 involving new management and a multi-faceted turnaround strategy that includes:

1) gaining a better understanding of customer's expectations and a commitment to exceed those expectations via our Customers Delight Initiatives;

2) establishing a platform of operational excellence driving improved quality, service and efficiency via a re-engineered manufacturing system based on lean and six sigma; and

3) enhancing management processes throughout the Company.

The turnaround initiatives are beginning to show results ... " ...

Via Vertis Communications: Vertis Reports 2007 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results

Incremental Profitability Through Six Sigma

Joe Herring, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Covance, offers his perspective on the company's strong performance. ...

... "Our relentless focus on operational and service excellence continues to deliver substantial benefits. Six Sigma, which is being utilized across more than two-thirds of the company, delivered approximately $5 million in incremental profitability in the first half of 2007. More importantly, Six Sigma reduces process variation, which improves project delivery, increases client satisfaction, and helps drive repeat business. By this time next year, we expect all of Covance's service offerings globally to have deployed Six Sigma. In addition, we continue to make strategic infrastructure investments in facilities, information technology, and talent to support our ability to capitalize on the extremely favorable, long-term outsourcing trend in drug development. " ...

Via Covance: Covance Reports 2Q07 Earnings of $0.64 Per Share