OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP

Reminder - Join this free webinar tomorrow (Thursday) on Zoom to see how Lean can make huge differences in your operations. ?? Register Now: https://lnkd.in/e2Z8zsTW

?? Join This Complimentary Webinar: Lean 101 Overview Date: This Thursday - 11/14/24 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM Why Attend? In today’s competitive landscape, agility and responsiveness are essential for success. Lean principles can be a game-changer for manufacturers looking to streamline operations and reduce waste. This complimentary webinar, hosted by SCMEP Process Improvement Coach David Woods—an expert in Lean methodology and its implementation —offers valuable insights into the Lean approach and how it can be applied to improve manufacturing processes and overall competitiveness. What You'll Learn: ?? The history of Lean and how it has evolved ?? Strategies to eliminate waste, simplify operations, and boost efficiency ?? How Lean promotes continuous improvements to adapt to market changes ?? Practical ways to stay flexible, control costs, and enhance product quality Don’t miss this chance to gain actionable insights that can elevate your organization’s performance. Reserve your spot today and take the first step toward operational excellence! ?? Register Now: https://lnkd.in/e2Z8zsTW OpExChange members - this counts toward engagement points for you and your company towards annual awards ... ?? OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership David Woods #Lean101 #ManufacturingExcellence #SCMEP #ProcessImprovement #ContinuousImprovement #CompetitiveEdge

?? Takeaways from AO Smith's McBee Facility Visit with OpExChange! ?? We recently had the pleasure of visiting AO Smith's McBee facility, where we gained invaluable insights into the impact of Lean Manufacturing and strong leadership on operational excellence. Thank you to Ian Cartmill, Dan Royston, and the entire AO Smith team for this enlightening experience! Here are some of the standout practices we observed: ?? People-Centric Approach: AO Smith empowers their workforce to engage, solve problems, and drive continuous improvement. ?? Strong Leadership: The leadership team is hands-on, providing support and coaching and embodying the values of Lean in daily operations. ?? Problem-Solving Focus: AO Smith utilizes the Toyota 8-Step Problem Solving process, enabling employees to actively identify and resolve issues. ?? Standardized Work: With effective visual management through standardized work maps and boards, they enhance efficiency across operations. ?? Lean as a Mindset: AO Smith embraces Lean as a mindset—an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and waste reduction. What struck us most was the "All-In" senior leadership commitment to the Toyota Production System. This dedication resonates across the workforce and drives engagement. ?? For a deeper dive into our visit, check out the published article on South Carolina Manufacturing. ?? https://lnkd.in/eb8-FcsN ?? OpExChange members may access the full presentation deck, Excel templates, and more on our members-only portal, including resources from over 100+ plant visits and events ?? www.opexchange.com Andrew McCathern Christopher Sippel Dan Royston Dennis Baker Erik J. Lowry, Ian Cartmill Jay Crawford Jonathan Melton Jordan Dieterle Joseph Durst Kyle Blackwell Lee Smith Miranda Craig Nicolas Agostini Ontonio Grant Paul Buchenroth Paul Kabis Ralph Hotham Ray Collison Scott Brown Steven Broach Todd Grothaus Tressa Gardner Wayne Hamilton William Shehane OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP?

"LEAN" in with your peers! Tim Moore led the final 2024 installment of the Lean Fundamentals course last week at MAU Workforce solutions office in Charleston. He partnered with the SCMEP to help give manufacturers some lean tools they could take back with them to their plants. The simulation exercise was really illuminating?in demonstrating that Heijunka reduces variability and provides more predictable and consistent output while reducing waste. Thanks, Tim!?Please keep helping South Carolina companies along their lean journey! If you’d like to see what Lean Manufacturing can do in your plant, The SCMEP is offering a complimentary webinar on “Lean 101” on November 20th at 11:00 am.?Register here ??https://lnkd.in/ekqBJSg5 Rohan Parikh Christopher Snook Jeptha Tanksley Lema Capers Zach Berry Erik Enciso Nieves Gustavo Fernandez Wesley Phibbs Brian French Kat Lipata Brian Paxton Ben Smith Stan Kajdasz Edward Burris Eddie Cogdill Jim Logan PATRICK BOSKA ZACHARY CROWE Lee Smith Mike Demos

Your end of October 2024 OpExChange Newsletter is here! Read more for OpExChange news and happenings across the State.

COMPLIMENTARY AS9100 WEBINAR AS9100 is a quality management system (QMS) tailored for the aviation, space, and defense sectors. OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP is hosting a one-hour educational webinar on Wednesday, Oct. 23. to provide an overview of this system. If you or a team member are interested in attending, please register at the following link: ?? https://lnkd.in/eYwQMi25 (OpExChange members - this will count towards engagement activity for awards and recognition ??)

?? ADVANCED COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP??? ILD Coach-Innovative Leadership Development, a leadership partner with SCMEP, delivered a powerful half-day workshop yesterday for the OpExChange network. The focus? Advanced communication techniques and tools to empower manufacturers across South Carolina. ?? This was the fourth potent session ILD Coach has led for OpExChange this year! 70 attendees from 43 companies across the state gained valuable insights and tools to take back and implement in their plants. A BIG THANK YOU to ILD Coach for their ongoing partnership with SCMEP in equipping manufacturers for success! LOOKING AHEAD: Not only are exciting plant visits on the horizon for OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP in 2025, but the OpExChange is offering members 12 additional workshops, including Change Management, Building a Digital Twin with Simulation Modeling, and Identifying & Eliminating Waste. ARE YOU A SC MANUFACTURER OR DISTRIBUTOR? Join the OpExChange network today to gain access to these valuable resources and connect with industry peers! Anyone from your team may participate in up to 36 events offered each year with one small fee of $960 per year. Click here to learn more and apply for membership! ??https://lnkd.in/dYG3SGt Colleen Painter Consquela Thomas, Don Walters Jr Eddie Cogdill LaVerne Robertson Lindsay Stevens Mark Gosnell Mark Robinson Melissa Mardirossian Michele Mastria Paul Kabis Richard Martin Scott Brown Sherri Woody Tammy Smutzer Tony Jackson Derrick Bonaparte Christian Henson Rebecca Rhodes Natalie Bruno Jaci Mathis #manufacturing #communication #leadership #SouthCarolina #OpExChange #SCMEP

??MICHELIN PLANT TOUR - OPEXCHANGE?? The premier OpExChange event in September was a plant visit to Michelin in Lexington. We had a tour of their US7 plant in Lexington, where the largest tire in the world is manufactured. US5 joined them to present on some of their Industry 4.0 applications. The visit featured projects on automated guided forklifts, a robot dog that autonomously performs maintenance inspections, and augmented reality and AI for knowledge capture, work instructions and training. Equally impressive was their “Spark Team” which is solely designed to enhance employee experience, which undoubtedly fuels and sustains their high retention rate and engagement. Check out the article in South Carolina Manufacturing e-magazine below. (OpExChange members may access pictures from the visit, presentation decks, and videos of the robot dog on the members only portal. (contact Mike Demos if you need access - [email protected]). Carlton King?Catherine Smith Matt Monroe Ryan Burns Adarsh Jeyes Alisha Needs Alondra N. Brad Stone Chance Buley Christopher F. Dale McClelland Dennis Baker Derek Scott Don Petty Dorian Talley Dylan Gaw, Erwin Brannon Griffin Riener Holly McCrary James Robinson James Smith John Champion Lucius Robinson Marc Steffen Büchner Marta Duran Matthew Schifferdecker Miguel Santana Ortiz Robert Heron Roger Baskin Tom Wehrkamp Tobey Elgin Todd Nalepka Tom Rougeux Wes Galloway https://lnkd.in/ezJCdWmU

??OpExChange and SME Join Forces at SEW-Eurodrive - Technology Social?? OpExChange wrapped up Q3 with a record-breaking in-person event at SEW-EURODRIVE - USA in Wellford. This collaborative joint gathering between the OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP and the SME brought together South Carolina manufacturers and distributors to witness Industry 4.0 technology in action. Participants had the unique opportunity to network and collaborate with fellow manufacturers across the state, gaining valuable insights and forging new partnerships. We extend our sincere gratitude to SEW Eurodrive, a recent addition to our OpExChange community, for hosting this event at their state-of-the-art MAXOLUTION showroom and showcasing their advanced technology, including robots and conveyance systems. A special thanks to our technology presenters: EAC Product Development Solutions (Augmented Reality), Digitize Designs (3D Scanning), FANUC America Corporation (COBOT and CNC trainer), and SCHUNK USA (end of arm robotic tooling). We'd like to acknowledge Carolina Handling for sponsoring the drinks and both FANUC and Schunk for sponsoring the food! Thank you to Josh Diaz for making this event happen and Barrett Hopper, for providing most of the pictures! OpExChange, Powered by SCMEP Dan Sage Rainge Dockter, MBA,