High Performance News
Regional WIRED project is now wired.
Representatives of the Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington region have launched a Web site to highlight their progress in implementing a $5 million federal workforce grant to drive economic growth through workforce development.
Training Within Industry: Everything Old is New Again
Industry Week June 1, 2008 -- A training program dating back to World War II is gaining renewed life these days among lean aficionados in the United States. Called Training Within Industry, the program was once widely deployed in the U.S., and is said to have influenced the development of the Toyota Production System. While some companies -- like Toyota -- never forgot about the program, it largely faded from practice among U.S. manufacturers.
Today, however, Training Within Industry, or TWI, is enjoying something of a resurgence in the U.S. among proponents of lean.
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OMEP’s Award-winning H-1B Advanced Manufacturing Training in Lean Manufacturing Grant Project Concludes on High Note
From 2004 through 2007, the Advanced Manufacturing Training grant provided Lean Manufacturing training to employees of the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (NWHPEC). Providing a "Lean boost" to NWHPEC member manufacturers, the project helped to increase NWHPEC consortium membership as well as the global competitiveness of the region. Serving more than 100 companies, the grant provided training for 3,784 employees.
Consortia: an idea whose time has come.
In addition to new high-performance consortia formed last year with support of the Oregon Manufacturing Workforce Strategy, existing strategic alliances are gaining ground and obtaining funding to achieve manufacturing gains.
Members of manufacturing community wrap up year-one activity on workforce strategy, set action items for coming year
A cross-section of manufacturers, education and training providers, workforce development professionals and state agency representatives came together Nov. 13 at the Northwest Viticulture Center to review the major accomplishments of the first year’s execution of the Oregon Manufacturing Workforce Strategy (OMWS) and to chart a course for the second year.
OMEP surpasses goals in use of $3.2 million DOL Grant
The $ 3.2 Million Department of Labor Grant awarded to Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership to bring Lean Manufacturing to regional food processors’ operations is concluding its third and final year. The grant has delivered an innovative combination of Lean Manufacturing technical training coupled with targeted English language training for the Limited English Proficient workforce and cultural training for the entire workforce—all to aid the processors in becoming more competitive in the global marketplace.
Food processors promote innovation, productivity, talent pipelining
PORTLAND—New center will help position Oregon industry to compete in the global marketplace:
The Northwest Food Processors Innovation and Productivity Center (IPC), fueled by a $3.4 million investment from the state, is now being launched by the parent organization Northwest Food Processors Association (NWFPA).
State supports growth of high-performance manufacturing
SALEM — Of Oregon’s 6,000 manufacturers, only 16 percent report working at or near maximum efficiency, according to a survey conducted by Riley Research for the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP). A surprising 30 percent aren’t even familiar with the high performance practices that can get them there.
High Desert Enterprise Consortium trains 100 in lean manufacturing
BEND — The High Desert Enterprise Consortium (HiDEC), a new organization that supports the adoption of high-performance/lean strategies among Central Oregon manufacturers, has gotten off to a fast start with more than 100 manufacturing workers participating in training classes since April.
NWHPEC expands to 80+ member companies from Oregon and SW Washington
PORTLAND — Established in 2002 by a handful of companies interested in lean manufacturing, the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (NWHPEC) continues to increase its membership and programs for sharing high-performance best practices among manufacturers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. More than 80 member companies represent a cross-section of industries as diverse as semiconductors and electronics to marine barges and railcars to metals and precision machined parts.