Topic(s)
- People-centric leadership
Overview
Duke's Lean journey began in 2015. Members of the Duke leadership team will share their collective journey in helping to develop a culture of engagement and continuous improvement as part of this 100-year old family business, which has grown to become an industry leader. They will also highlight some of the tried-and-true innovative approaches the company has used to adapt its customer-intimate business model through the application of lean principles. The journey continues, and while all the stories aren't necessarily wins, they will hopefully provide insights and ideas you can utilize in your company's unique lean journey.
Key learning objectives
- Understand the importance of a clear purpose, mission, vision and values
- Learn how to create a culture of engagement
Company
Duke Manufacturing has been an industry leader in food service equipment since 1925. For nearly 100 years, its customers have come to count on its team of creative, problem-solving specialists for unmatched customer experience and equipment that helps them be more successful.
In addition to the highest quality standards, Duke's products are purpose built with your applications in mind. Its team is here to listen to your challenges and develop solutions that address your pain and support your goals.
Duke’s success started with a single steamtable and the determination to be a “solutions provider” to the industry. With hard work, quality fabrication, innovation and a customer success focus, Duke has grown into an industry leader and cemented a reputation as Your Solutions Partner.
Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, Duke is a global organization with the reach to support customers across the world. The company has three domestic manufacturing sites totaling 675,000 square feet; two ISO certified locations in Sedalia, MO, and a custom fabrication facility in Houston, TX. Duke has three distribution centers in Sedalia, MO, Prague, Czech Republic and Shanghai, China. The Duke Software Development Center is located in the Philippines. The company has sales and service satellite offices in all world regions. Rounding out all these locations is a global network of trained and authorized service agents. https://dukemfg.com/
Presenters
Lee Wagenknecht is currently director of enterprise improvement (CI + quality) and is Duke's representative on AME's St. Louis Consortium Board. He was previously director of supply chain management and has been actively involved in Duke's lean transformation work since its inception. 
John Wennemann is VP of HR at Duke with responsibility for HR, safety and continuous improvement. In this role, he draws on experience from his work in energy, engineering services, retail and manufacturing. He grew up in St. Louis, MO where he once again resides after a career journey that included several other states. 
