General Motors Benchmarking Event on September 15, 2011:

The Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) and General Motors (GM) partnered to offer a benchmarking and training event on September 15, 2011 at GM Grand Blanc Weld Tool Center in Grand Blanc, Mich. This exciting event featured a first-hand experience in GM's approach to lean, such as identifying and eliminating waste, material optimization principles, and much more. The MLC was excited to offer access to this GM facility and their excellent approach to lean.

Organizations such as CertainTeed Corp., ClinicTechnologies, LLC., Pawley Institute, Henry Ford, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, Brown Square Consulting, Genesys, GM, Saint Mary's, Track Systems Inc., Compone, Nichols, Rapid Line Inc., Trinity Health, PMC-Dearborn, Quest Diagnostics, Industrial Signs LLC., DTE Energy, Robert Bosch LLC., ABB, Bartech Group, Traverse City Area Public Schools, Oakland University, FDR Safety, and Northwestern Michigan College attended this all-day event.

"GM did a great job organizing the event. The upper management showed a total commitment to their lean journey," said Willie Brown, ad hoc board member of the MLC.

The attendees also found this benchmarking event very useful and interesting. Here's what a few attendees had to say about the event:

One attendee who works in Health and Safety for a manufacturing firm said that she had not made the connection between safety/ergonomics and lean until today.

Another attendee commented on the emphasis on simplicity when implementing lean practices and that sometimes we just over-complicate things.

Lastly, another attendee commented on GM's emphasis that this is a journey and it continues and that you never get to an end point.

The MLC gives a big thank you to GM for allowing us into your facility and sharing some of your lean practices with us.

For more information about the MLC and upcoming benchmarking events, visit www.michiganlean.org.

The mission of the MLC is to offer a diverse network of knowledgeable lean professionals who come together to share innovative practices. The organization aims to create a lean culture in Michigan to ensure sustainable competitive advantage, which could translate into healthier businesses that offer more job opportunities leading to economic growth in the state.

The charter members of the MLC include: Amway, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DTE Energy, Johnson & Johnson, The Lean Learning Center, Northwestern Michigan College, the Oakland University Pawley Lean Institute and the Michigan Shingo Prize through The Right Place. For more information, visit www.michiganlean.org.