Ultradent Products Inc. 
Beginner level
Theme: CI tools and culture: Connecting the dots

Pivot! Balancing Kaizen culture with strategic alignment

How accelerated Kaizen growth became too fast-paced for the organization

Format

Practitioner Presentation
Wednesday, Oct. 30 Location Code
10:45am-11:30am Atlanta Marriott Marquis WS/26

Topic(s)

Overview

This hands-on session will gamify learning that fosters creativity and builds camaraderie to jumpstart Kaizen energy. Follow along our journey as we discuss the successes and failures of rebuilding continuous improvement, establishing a Kaizen culture and launching internal project-based Six Sigma training within a heavily siloed organization.

Learn about the standardized Kaizen framework, cross-functional team selection and day-one training topics that create value for the customer. Discover how this brought us from zero documented Kaizen events to 43 full-scale events in 2 years. This rapid Kaizen growth created unforeseen difficulties consuming vital resources (manufacturing, engineering, quality, IT, leadership, etc.), causing the need to pivot. The speakers will share how the formation of a steering committee helped strategically align these vital resources with Kaizen culture to key performance indicators.

Key learning objectives

  1. Gamify learning for creativity and camaraderie.
  2. Discover standardized Kaizen event framework and day-one training.
  3. Hear about example successes from forming a steering committee.
  4. Learn how to align with key performance indicators.

Company

Ultradent's mission is to improve Oral health globally through science, creativity and education. The company strives to provide clinicians with progressive and trustworthy solutions while always respecting the patient and promoting their well-being. https://www.ultradent.com/

Presenters

Jason Baller is a dedicated professional with a robust background in leadership, aviation and continuous improvement. With over a decade of experience in both military and civilian sectors, Baller has honed his skills in managing multimillion-dollar assets and driving operational excellence.

Baller's career began with thriving as a helicopter pilot, navigating complex missions and ensuring safety during operations. His tenure in aviation included pivotal roles in flight instruction and management, overseeing flight schools, and mentoring numerous instructors and students. He transitioned to military service in the U.S. Army, where he excelled in logistics and warehouse operations, earning recognition for his meticulous attention to detail and leadership abilities. His military tenure culminated in an honorable discharge with accolades for his contributions.

Currently serving as a Continuous Improvement Black Belt at Ultradent in South Jordan, UT, Baller leads initiatives in lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies. He is instrumental in orchestrating Kaizen events and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement across manufacturing and business units.

Baller holds a Bachelor of Science in business management and an MBA from Western Governors University, underpinning his strategic insight and business proficiency. Additionally, he is a certified Black Belt, demonstrating his expertise in driving efficiency and optimizing processes. Outside of work, Baller is passionate about community engagement and has actively contributed to outreach programs during his tenure in aviation. His commitment to excellence, leadership experience, and dedication to continuous improvement make him a valuable asset to any organization striving for innovation and sustainable growth. 

Skyler Coleman is a full-time member of the continuous improvement team at Ultradent Products Inc. He began his career at Ultradent in chemical formulations and worked his way up into a management role. Coleman started his CI journey after learning about lean principles. He led several projects to organize and streamline his department before joining the continuous improvement team. He now serves as a Lean Six Sigma Black belt and leader, facilitating cross-functional improvement in the manufacturing, operations and the business process space. Coleman is currently pursuing a Master Black Belt as part of his quest for lifelong learning. He studied exercise physiology at Utah State University.