Use lean to drive sustainable continuous improvement
Explore ways to achieve outstanding results through engaged employees using lean management system practices. Get the scoop on effective VSM, kaizen events and visual management. Learn how visual management and using accountability gemba boards contribute to performance gains. Hear about operator and leader standard work. Discover how to blend operational excellence and environmental stewardship initiatives.
Learn how to achieve significant operational improvements by embracing a culture of employee-led CI and operational excellence. Hear how a long-term, vertical integration business philosophy allows employees to innovate, giving the company complete control over the design and manufacturing process, as it supports a sustainability and lean value stream focus. See how engaged employee teams minimize environmental and process waste and manage energy while maximizing product lifespan. Hear about recycling efforts plus a CI recognition and reward system. Learn how lean tools such as value stream mapping, kaizen and 5S play a vital role in creating more usable space as business grows. Observe how to create a pull system through assembly lines. Study a facility recognized by the Ohio EPA with its first gold-level award in its Encouraging Environmental Excellence program. The program acknowledged Crown Equipment for completing environmentally beneficial activities, exceeding regulatory compliance obligations and committing to long-term strategies to reduce waste, lower emissions and improve environmental performance.
Crown Equipment is one of the world’s largest material handling companies. It has a reputation for award-winning product design, advanced engineering and technology and superior after-sale service. Crown’s business philosophy utilizes vertically-integrated processes to design, manufacture and distribute innovative solutions that improve customers’ productivity and operating efficiency. Crown produces a broad range of forklifts as well as automation and fleet management technologies. It received an award for the 2014 International Forklift Truck of the Year. www.crown.com
Kim Leopold is the operational excellence manager for Crown Equipment in New Bremen, OH. Her responsibilities include overall leadership and strategy of Crown’s global operational excellence program.
Dave Beddow is the vice president of manufacturing operations at Crown Equipment. He has more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing leadership.
David Tumbusch is the director of manufacturing at Crown Equipment. He has more than 29 years’ experience in manufacturing and design experience.
