High Performance Consortium Updates
Updated August 21, 2008
Emerald Valley High Performance Enterprise Consortium (EV HPEC)
EV HPEC reached an important milestone by formally becoming an Oregon Nonprofit Corporation and electing a seven-person board of directors.
With an eye to the future and the desire to becoming a self-sustaining organization, EV HPEC has begun requiring membership dues. The group currently has eleven members, and it is poised to grow: Several more companies have expressed interest in joining. EV HPEC hopes to reach still more employers through an upcoming executive forum called Building a Lean Culture featuring Mike Hoseus, co-author of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way. The event will be held October 14, and is co-sponsored by EV HPEC, Lane Workforce Partnership, LCC Business Development Center, and the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. This is one of many training events EV HPEC has planned for members and interested parties this fall.
EV HPEC serves the southern Willamette Valley.
For additional information about programs or membership, contact Dave Oatman, EV HPEC project coordinator 541-517-5501.
High Desert Enterprise Consortium (HiDEC)
HiDEC has been very active this year offering a host of Kaizen events including an exciting Executive Forum held in June regarding the benefits of—you guessed it—Kaizen events. Presenters were Roger Aubert, director of manufacturing at Triad Speakers, and Toni Doolen, OSU assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering. The bottom line? Kaizen events are valuable but company management needs to construct the process and select participants with advance knowledge of whether they seek to optimize short-term productivity gains or long-term cultural gains. Moving into the fall, HiDEC will partner with a local lean consultant to interview its 25 member companies to gauge where they are in their Lean implementation. HiDec will use the results to inform and focus future training events.
The group serves Central Oregon.
For additional information about programs or membership, contact Eric Strobel, EDCO business development manager, at 541-388-3236 or 800-342-4135.
Mid-Willamette High Performance Consortium (MWHPC)
MWHPC has grown to include a whopping 31 members that represent 13 manufacturing industries. The group continues to attract additional members through an assortment of events and the Enterprise for Employment and Education’s work with three other industry consortia. The Enterprise staffs and supports MWHPC.
MWHPC has coordinated several hands-on learning tours, has offered training classes and certification workshops to members, and has held executive forums including one called Building a Lean Culture featuring Mike Hoseus, co-author of Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way. This forum was open to the public sector community as well.
As fall approaches, MWHPC is offering a full-day training event for front-line supervisors taught by Jay VanderZwaag of the Lean Leader Group, and through its partnership with the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, will offer other trainings and learning tours focusing on set-up reduction and pull-kanban techniques. To prepare for next year’s activities, the MWHPC steering committee will survey its member regarding their needs beginning this fall.
MWHPC serves the central Willamette Valley.
For additional information about programs or membership, contact Karen Litvin, EEE workforce program manager, at 503-581-4272.
Oregon Biosciences Association High Performance Consortium (OBA HPC)
OBA has been extremely busy in 2008. With funding accessed through Worksystems, Inc., (WSI) OBA has provided its members in the greater Portland Metropolitan Area members many training classes on a host of topics including FDA regulations, project management, cleanroom maintenance, and lean manufacturing. As if all the training classes were not enough to keep OBA busy, the group also managed to expand into different regions and form three new regional bioscience industry consortia (BICs) The new chapters are
- Willamette Valley BIC (WVBIC)
- East/Central Oregon BIC (ECOBIC)
- Southern Oregon BIC (SOBIC)
Over the next year, OBA will help these new chapters work with local companies and organizations to develop their own regional training programs and Lean/High Performance Consortia. Funding for additional training is also expected from WSI this fall. So OBA and OBA HPC will need to fasten their seat belts as they speed headlong into the next year!
OBA serves bioscience companies throughout Oregon.
For additional information about programs or membership, contact Donna Chambers, OBA office manager, at 503-261-3960.
Southern Oregon High Performance Enterprise Consortium (SOHPEC)
SOHPEC, a 501(c)(6) non-profit, has attracted an impressive 37 members ranging across a variety of industries and market sectors. A dues-paying organization, SOHPEC is approaching self-sufficiency and hopes to achieve this goal in 2009. Working closely with economic development, education and workforce partners, SOHPEC has provided a host of training events, learning exchanges, and executive forums for current and prospective members. In addition, SOHPEC recently launched a computer academy in cooperation with Rogue Community College to teach basic and advanced computer skills.
To promote its activities and to grow its membership, SOHPEC has developed a Web site and marketing materials, and it has retained a marketing consultant to develop a marketing and sales strategy and program.
SOHPEC serves Southern Oregon.
For additional information about programs or membership, contact David Matthews, SOHPEC executive director, at 541-941-0433.