Lean manufacturing project receives recognition of excellence award from Department of Labor
In July 2007, Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership received a Recognition of Excellence award from the US Department of Labor Education and Training Administration for its performance on the Advanced Manufacturing Training in Lean Manufacturing project. This is the second Honorable Mention Award the project has received since the project's inception in 2004.
The Advanced Manufacturing Training in Lean Manufacturing project provides lean manufacturing training to employees of the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (HPEC), a group of nearly 90 companies in Oregon and Washington that share best practices and facilitate education for their employees.
The training is provided on an employer “pull system” in which employers request to host or send employees to various types of lean manufacturing training classes based on the needs of their organization. The classes involve a combination of theory and hands-on training that occurs in actual workplace settings. By working together with other employers, participating manufacturers are setting the foundation for an enterprise-wide and industry-wide culture change resulting in an increase in global competitiveness.
Comprising almost 15% of the state's total economic output and employing over 200,000 workers, the manufacturing industry plays a critical role in Oregon's economy. However, factors such as low production rates, high waste factors, and poor management skills have prevented the industry from reaching its full potential. These are the issues address ed through the grant project which has exceeded its projected performance measures in many areas.
As of June, 2007:
- A total of 3,636 NWHPEC employees have received training.
- 385 training courses have been offered.
- 123 people have been hired due to growth and the result of Lean training and practices.
- 224 people have received wage increases totaling a collective increase in annual income of $705,497.