Attendees of GBMP’s Northeast Lean Conference will learn how to translate Lean transformation to both top line and bottom line growth.

Newton, MA, April 6, 2018– The GBMP conference, coming October 10-11, 2018, to Providence RI, will focus on identifying and sharing the causes of successful Lean transformation and how excellent processes should consistently create compelling profit. 
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“Investment in Lean should have a greater return than many organizations have seen.  This is why we chose Profit from Lean as the theme for our 2018 event, “said GBMP President Bruce Hamilton. “For most organizations embracing Lean, the need is as it was originally for Toyota:  To be profitable.  This need may come from rising labor costs or from declining sales.  Or, it may be caused by the expense of new product development or needed infrastructure enhancements.  The causes of flagging profits as well as their solutions are present in every corner of business, from marketing and engineering to production and supply chain.  Lean systems and tools offer targeted solutions to a myriad of business challenges.”
 
Yet, over the last four decades, few organizations have gained the benefits seen by Toyota.   Many, whose gains are moderate and barely keeping pace with customer expectations, continue to search for an elusive secret ingredient; perhaps a value stream map or an A3, or improvement kata.  Others focus on cultural transformation, the people side of Lean, to give purpose the work and create alignment. 

Added Bruce Hamilton: The question for most remains, “How can we profit from Lean?”   Regardless of an organization’s vision or purpose, the need to make more money than it spends is universal.  As Stephen Covey says, “no margin, no mission.”  

The Northeast Lean Conference attracts more than 500 passionate Lean implementers every year, from the manufacturing, healthcare and service industries. Lean practitioners from the front lines to the back office attend with the goal of networking, benchmarking, sharing and learning all things continuous improvement and Lean – to get the tools, knowledge, inspiration and confidence they need to bring their organizations to higher levels of operational excellence.  Registration is open & an “Early Bird” discount is in effect through June 15, 2018.
The annual event is ideal for executives and managers who play a role in driving Lean transformation and provides exceptional educational benefits to front line team members, CI champions and change agents from all functional areas of any organization.

Featured keynote presenters include Jim Lancaster, President of Lantech & author of the book “The Work of Management: A Daily Path to Sustainable Improvement”, and Orry Fiume, former CFO of The Wiremold Company and co-author of the book “Real Numbers: Management Accounting in a Lean Organization”. Bret Watson, Owner of Jotul North America and Raye Wentworth, CFO & Plant Manager at New Balance Athletic Shoe will also keynote.

There will be more than 40 breakout sessions in five tracks: Lean Leadership, Strategy & Culture, Driving Momentum with Tools, Increasing Value Throughout an Enterprise (Lean isn’t just for the shop floor anymore), Employee Success, Growth & Empowerment, Developing Change Agents & Lean Facilitators.  There is also a dedicated track for Applying Lean in Healthcare. The final agenda is expected to be released in mid-April. To be notified when it is available, follow GBMP on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, or subscribe for updates on the conference's officie website, www.NortheastLeanConference.org

If you would like more information about The Northeast Lean Conference and/or GBMP, please contact Lela Glikes at 617-969-1396 or email at LGlikes@gbmp.org. Exhibitor and sponsor opportunities are still available. Download the prospectus here.

Plus a big “congratulations” to MassMutual Financial Group of Springfield MA. Allow me to explain…

As an examiner for the Shingo Prize and also as a certified instructor for the Shingo Institute Enterprise Excellence Workshops, I’ve had the opportunity to visit and learn from many terrific companies. The Shingo Prize criteria set a very high standard for both results and process, evaluating the entire enterprise from the corner office to the loading dock. GBMP has long been a proponent of the Shingo Institute and the Prizes it confers each year to excellent enterprises from around the globe.

Next week, GBMP will be at the 30th Annual Shingo Conference and Awards in Orlando, Florida to celebrate with a recipient from our northeast region: MassMutual Financial Group from Springfield, Massachusetts will receive the Silver Medallion, the second highest honor bestowed by the Institute. This huge accomplishment is more impressive still because it represents the collective efforts of more than 5000 associates at the Springfield site. The spirit of improvement that has been unleashed at MassMutual is evident to anyone who visits, and we are indeed fortunate to have this kind of showcase and beacon of excellence in our region. Congratulations to the many leaders, managers, and associates at MassMutual who live the slogan, “everybody everyday.”

Speaking of “everybody, everyday”, I recently created my first VLog and posted it to YouTube here. In it, I discuss how GBMP got its logo & tagline. I hope you will view, enjoy and share it.

How does your organization embody the ‘Everybody Everyday’ philosophy? I’d love to hear about it.
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Sincerely,
O.L.D.

White Paper: ​Recognizing the need to create a Lean Culture that encourages and promotes the technical side of Lean, many organizations are adopting the Shingo Institute Model for Enterprise Excellence.  A curriculum of five separate workshops provided by Registered Shingo Affiliates in either private or public settings form the basis for learning and effectively implementing the Model.  This White Paper recommends twelve critical questions to ask potential Affiliates before selecting a Shingo Workshop provider.