November 01, 2011
Workshop for manufacturers set for Nov. 17
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- An upcoming interactive educational workshop will provide instruction and production worker roles in a simulated production facility to give small- and medium-size manufacturers the opportunity to learn how to increase productivity and improve quality.
“Lean Overview with Simulation” is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the John A. Logan College Workforce Development Building, Room H123, in Carterville. Sponsors include Southern Illinois University Carbondale, the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center (IMEC). John A. Logan College, and the Illinois Small Business Development Center/International Trade Center at SIU.
In the world today, successful manufacturing requires operating a lean enterprise with a streamlined product design and manufacturing process. There are principles, concepts and techniques manufacturers can apply for a more profitable, higher quality manufacturing process and highlighting those things are what this workshop is all about.
Participants will begin the workshop as traditional production workers and will learn to apply techniques to align work areas and business processes for maximum efficiency, quality and safety and to eliminate unnecessary motion and inventory while saving time and resources. They will work in “shifts” and learn from previous shifts, deciding what works best in light of available resources, funding and worker resistance to change.
When the interactive event wraps up, those attending will be able to differentiate push and pull systems, name eight wastes one must eliminate to make a lean manufacturing process, tell how wastes reduce company profitability, understand how a Kanban system functions, and more effectively utilize employee time eliminating waste.
The cost of the workshop is $95 and the fee covers lunch and all training materials. To register, call IMEC at 618/453-3829 or register online at www.imec.org under the “Events” heading. The registration deadline is Nov. 14.
For more information, contact David Lowndes, IMEC business development specialist, at 618/713-2338 or by email at DLowndes@imec.org.