Scanlon February 2006 E-zine

Greetings!

In this E-Zine we announce that Myron Marsh has been chosen as the newest Scanlon Steward. The Stewardship Award is the Network's highest honor. Thank you Myron for all you have done to make workplaces better and for your leadership to this Network! Hold May 1-3, 2006 for Servant Leadership: The E.P.I.C. Way. At this year's conference you'll be able to learn from a Leader whose company is one of only twenty to make the Fortune "Best Places to Work" Business Hall of Fame. You'll learn how West Point trains Leaders and you'll have opportunities study some of the best ideas to make your organization more competitive. This E-Zine also introduces our newest Scanlon Plan at TimberRoots-Wadena where 93% of the employees voted to follow their "C.O.O.L." Plan. We also give you a first look at our 2006 Lean Tours program where we have located the best Teachers, Tools, and Tours to help you successfully implement lean systems. A brochure will be emailed before the March E-Zine.


Marsh Receives Stewardship Award
Myron Marsh, President/CEO of Thomson-Shore, Inc is the 2006 Scanlon Leadership Network’s Stewardship Award recipient, the Network’s most prestigious honor.

Marsh was selected for this award based on his contribution of more than 20 years to the Scanlon Leadership Network and demonstration of the Scanlon Principles through both his profession and community.

“I am overwhelmed with being chosen as the recipient of the Stewardship award,” explained Marsh. “I have great respect for the past recipients and consider them as mentors. Being chosen for this award shows me that it is now my turn to teach and share my Scanlon knowledge with others.”

Employee-owners of Thomson-Shore were responsible for nominating Marsh based on his long history with the Scanlon organization and his ability to coach and mentor the philosophy with everyone he comes in contact with. They also cited his enjoyment of discussing the Scanlon principles and the processes and what they stand for.

Marsh explained that being involved with the Network for so many years has given him the opportunity to learn more about himself allowing him to impact others’ lives as well.

“The key of the Scanlon Leadership Network is that it is a network. It is a group of people at all levels that have similar interests and talents to share with one another. This exchange of information and ideas acts as one big support system in an effort to help people and organizations grow. I am happy to be a part of something like this and happy to accept the Scanlon Leadership Network’s highest honor,” said Marsh.

The award will be presented to Marsh at the Annual Scanlon Leadership Network Conference May 1-3, 2006.

Past recipients include Richard Ruch, Dwane Baumgardner, Carl Frost, D.J., Hugh and Max DePree, Buzz Kersman, Bill Greenwood, Pat Thompson, Dick LeVan, John Chipman and Tim Tindall.
To find out more about Thomson-Shore....


Scanlon To Offer Lean Manufacturing Tours
The Scanlon Leadership Network will be offering Lean Tours in 2006. Brochures describing the program will be emailed before the next E-Zine! The Network will provide expert Teachers, Tours of world-class lean facilities and proven Tools designed to make lean implementation easier. By offering Teachers, Tools and Tours the Network will bring together the best resources available to implement lean.

The first Tour will occur in April and will focus on involving front-line employees in lean transformations. Teachers will include a team from Magna-Donnelly. A Tour of Magna-Donnelly's award winning Grand Haven Plant will allow participants to see how front-line employees create standardized work systems...one of the fundamental pillars of lean. The tools provided will include Magna-Donnelly's lean training manuals, and the Network's Lean Sim. Machine.

The second Tour will occur in late August-early September and will focus on aligning organizations through Hoshin Kanri. Failure to practice Hoshin is one of the main reasons organizations fail in lean implementation. However, even those organizations that have discovered the power of Hoshin may not be using it to create the five alignments..that Toyota creates. Teachers will include Dr. Michael Moore and Dr. Bill Mothersell, who will share their findings from one of the largest studies of Hoshin in North America. We hope the Tour will include one of Industry Week's award winning plants. The Tool will be Version 3 of the Network's Hoshin Quick Start Program which will be updated to include all the latest information on creating the five alignments.

The final Tour will be held in conjunction with the 2006 Scanlon Leadership Retreat. Teachers will include two outstanding teacher/leaders. Dwane Baumgardner is the former CEO of Magna Donnelly and a Scanlon Steward. Russ Scaffede is COO of Tiara Yatchs, Shingo Prize Winner and former plant manager of the Toyota Engine Plant in Georgetown. Dwane and Russ will teach how to bridge the gap to lean and innovation for Boards and CEO's. Participants will tour the Tiara Yachts facility. The Tool will be "The Leadership Roadmap" the new book that Russ and Dwane have written that explains how to use the Scanlon Principles, Lean and Innovation to drive organizational success. CEO's and their Boards will not want to miss this event.

The tours will be first offered to Scanlon Leadership Network members and are limited to 30 participants per session to ensure a meaningful learning experience. Preferences for members will be for those who purchase “blocks” to include all three tours. The cost for all three tours will be $1,500. Individual Tours will cost $750 Members will receive the tools for free. Nonmembers will have to pay for the Tools. Now is a good time to join the Network!

Each company that participates in the Progressive Lean Tours will also receive $100 of on-line computer aided Scanlon University training.

Brochures will be available soon and will include more detailed information. Those interested in learning more should call Paul Davis at (517) 332-8927 or email him at pdavis@scanlonleader.org.


Timber Roots Has a COOL Plan
Timber Roots In Wadena, MN received an over 90 percent approval vote from employees to begin a trial period of their Scanlon COOL Plan beginning in January 2006.

The plan is meant to keep Customers, Owners and Operators on a Level playing field (C.O.O.L.) and is based on the four Scanlon Principles of Identity, Participation, Equity and Competence. Timber Roots will be using the plan as a guideline in facing challenges and realties of the industry they compete in.

“Timber Roots is in a tough business market and has fierce competition influencing its success,” explained Paul Eidenschink, Timber Roots, MN, Manager. “The implementation of the COOL plan and adapting to this much needed change is Timber Roots’ best chance to succeed as individuals, employees and as a company.”

Since April 2005 the COOL Plan has been developing with Office Assistant/Scheduler, Ben Aagard, acting as the plan Coordinator. Aagard holds the responsibilities of organizing and running meetings, acting as a liaison between management and staff as well as being the information source for anyone with questions.

“Trying to get everyone on the same page and keeping everyone informed has been a major challenge,” explained Aagard. “I think this plan will get everyone working together and help them realize their input is welcome at Timber Roots and they can help make a difference.”

The plan has brought about suggestion, fairness review and incentive systems and has opened up communication throughout Timber Roots giving employees more opportunity for input.

The only costs Timber Roots faced associated with completing the COOL Plan were hours spent by the design team members and employees, creating, sharing and revising the plan. The Frost Center at Hope College provided an intern that helped support the development of the Plan and the Network provided support as part of United Building Center's membership in the Network.

“The entire process Timber Roots has experienced in preparation for our COOL plan has positively impacted the way employees think,” explained Eidenschink. “Our entire staff is now aware that everyone’s needs can be met successfully and not at the expense of employees and customers.”

"The C.O.O.L Plan is state of the art" said Paul Davis President of the Network. "They have created a fairness system as part of their Equity Section and their Competence section includes training for many of their critical production jobs." Members can download the C.O.O.L Plan from the Member-only area of the Network web site.
C.O.O.L. Plan...found in the Members-only area....



Servant Leadership: The E.P.I.C. Way
Servant Leadership is practiced by one third of the 100 Best Organizations to work for in America. Organizations like Synovus, TD Industries, Southwest Airlines, and Starbucks have recognized that the best leaders serve their followers. The Network with the support of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership will bring together servant leaders, tools for developing servant leaders and workshops from servant led organizations to the 2006 Scanlon Conference.

You'll be able to learn how West Point trains cadets to become servant leaders, how TD Industries uses servant leadership to become one of the 20 orgainzations to be a Best Place To Work every year the list has been published, and how Bobby and Steve's Autoworld has developed legendary customer service. You'll also be able to assess your servant leadership skills using the same tool Synovous Financial uses to develop their servant leaders. Plus you'll be able to study best ideas and network with Scanlon organizations from throughout North America!
To download the Conference Brochure as a pdf file....


As I See It
M. Peter Scontrino, Ph D. is an Industrial psychologist & consultant and owner of Scontrino & Associates in Sammamish, WA. He has been involved with the Scanlon Leadership Network for the last 38 years, helping design, implement and evaluate Scanlon plans in manufacturing, government and financial organizations.

“I was afforded the opportunity to attend the Scanlon Leadership Network Conference with Carl Frost in 1968 during my graduate studies at Michigan State University,” explained Scontrino.

“For the next couple of years I was able to shadow Carl Frost as he worked with many of the Scanlon member companies. I fell in love with the work Carl was doing and decided that I had found my life calling.

“Being a Scanlon consultant enables me to work with a wide range of companies that are interested in the Scanlon approach. I continue to be impressed by the profound impact the Scanlon Leadership Network has on so many lives.

“The Scanlon Leadership Network provides a unique opportunity to share information. The Best Practices Publication is a perfect example of that sharing,” stated Scontrino.

“Companies that have Scanlon Plans in place have a tool that allows them to address each of the Frost- Scanlon principles in a practical, hands on way. Having a plan gives companies the confidence of using a process that has worked for over 60 years.”
To learn more about Peter...


Ray Terwilliger is the owner of Ray Terwilliger and Associates and has been involved with the Scanlon Leadership Network for the last 10 years.

“One of my clients wanted to pursue the concept of employee involvement and through this I became acquainted with Paul Davis,” explained Ray. “I have been a follower of the Scanlon Leadership Network ever since.

“The Scanlon Leadership Network is a perfect opportunity for organizations to share unlimited amounts of information. The access members have to others Best Practice ideas is exceedingly beneficial as well.

“Having a Scanlon plan in place is positive, motivating and inspiring experience for the entire workforce. When people have positive experiences at work and are able to have input in their day to day activities it creates internal enthusiasm from which the organization can benefit as a whole.”
To learn more about Ray....