Scanlon March 2006 E-zine

Greetings!

In this E-Zine we announce the 2006 Best Practices Winners. Thanks to all who took the time to submit their ideas. Sharing ideas is what makes the Network so unique. Best Practice books including the best of the best from the last ten years will be available in May. In this issue we also preview Bobby and Steve's AutoWorld. Recently featured in the National Associaton of Convienience Stores Magazine, Bobby and Steve's will be presenting a workshop on their Service Culture at our Annual Conference. Those that attended the 2006 Coordinator's Conference rated it among the highest Conferences. Thank you Thomson-Shore for being such a wonderful host.



2006 Best Practice Submissions In, Winners Chosen
Every year the Scanlon Leadership Network collects, evaluates, documents and prints a book of Scanlon members’ Best Practices. This year 40 Scanlon Network Best Practice submissions have been made and will be included in the 2006 Best Practices Book. Twenty of these are also being recognized as outstanding Best Practices.

“Although the Best Practices Book is only one of the many advantages of belonging to the Scanlon Leadership Network, it is one of the most effective methods of exchanging great ideas,” said Marjorie Holata, Director of Associate Involvement, SGS Tool Company and Member of Scanlon Network’s Best Practices Team. “For example at SGS Tool Company we have used the Best Practices for everything from developing our suggestion program to teaching lean principles.”

Every year the Best Practice Team, composed of members of the Network, evaluate and present awards for outstanding Best Practices that use the Scanlon Principles and Processes...are proven effective...and are applicable for all member organizations.

The Best Practices Team members include Paul Davis and Majel Maes, Scanlon Leadership Network, Marjorie Holata, SGS Tool Company, Laura Dybevik, Landscape Forms, Tammy Adkins, Spring Engineering, Tim O’Neil, A. Raymond, and Tom Haddock, Wescast.

“The Best Practices Team has an efficient method of reviewing and judging all the submissions. We have definite criteria to judge them against and our team works very well together making the process successful,” said Holata.

“The Best Practices Book is a ‘treasure chest’ of great and proven ideas. Practices can be used to increase awareness and use of the Scanlon Principles and Processes regardless of the organization,” said Holata. “The idea of this program will never grow old. All of the Scanlon companies are innovative and able to supply the Scanlon Leadership Network with great new ideas each year.”

This year’s Best Practices Book will be a special “solid gold” edition celebrating ten years of printing. In addition to the new content, the Book will feature all of the gold Best Practice winners since the beginning of the program.

The award winning ideas for 2006 are: Gold: Design and Development of EPIC Classes: Watermark Credit Union, Scanlon HEART Jeopardy: Wescast Industries ,HEART Recognition Board: Wescast Industries, 7-Minute Leadership Stretch: SGS Tool Co., EPIC Plan: Watermark Credit Union • Silver: Sales Personnel Web Introductions: Landscape Forms, Executive Communications: Magna Donnelly, Meeting Icebreaker Web Page: Wescast Industries, Open-Book Management: Timber Roots/Wadena, HEART Leadership Team: Wescast Industries • Bronze: Equity Café: Thomson-Shore, Scanlon Conference Presentation: Wescast Industries, “What Day Is It” Speech: Spring Engineering & Mfg., Consolidation Mentoring: Spring Engineering & Mfg., Elimination of Performance Appraisals: Watermark Credit Union, Scrap Awareness Package for Suppliers: Wescast Industries, CAR System: Spring Engineering & Mfg., National Customer Service Week: SGS Tool Co., SGS Suggestion System Special Promotion: SGS Tool Co., COOL Plan: Timber Roots.

The Best Practice Award recipients will be recognized at the Annual Scanlon Leadership Network Conference Reception. If you are a member and would like to find out more about the 2006 Best Practices Book contact Majel Maes, Director of Programs and Administration by calling 517-332-8927 or emailing majel@scanlonleader.org. Members may download Best Practices through 2005 in the Member-Only area of the Scanlon web site.

To download Best Practices in the member-only area....




Scanlon Coordinators Focus On Resources, Ideas and Networking
Scanlon Leadership Network Coordinators had the opportunity to obtain an overview of resources, exchange information and gain ideas to better their Scanlon plans by attending the annual Coordinators Conference on February 22- 23 at Thomson Shore Inc in Ann Arbor, MN. The topics included a discussion of Scanlon resources, an exchange of information about their Scanlon plans and a presentation about servant leadership.

All participants in attendance were presented with a case study of the hosting company, Thomson Shore Inc. They also received an overview of the Scanlon Network’s resources along with how to use them. The two-day event wrapped up with a presentation on servant leadership and a round table discussion. Coordinators were able to do some additional networking at a bowling event held during the Conference as well.

Meredith Morse has been a plan Coordinator for one year at Watermark Credit Union and has attended two Coordinator Conferences. “The conference is extremely beneficial to Coordinators like me because we are able to compare experiences. The roundtable discussions and also learning about Thomson Shore’s practices gave me some great ideas for improving Watermark Credit Union’s plan,” said Morse.

“The entire conference was interesting and informative. Being exposed to concepts and resources of the Scanlon Leadership Network was very helpful,” said Erwin Barney, Quality Control and Process Improvement Coordinator, Timber Roots, Wadena, MI. “I also find it very beneficial to know what successes and difficulties other companies have experienced in implementing the various productivity gain programs and tools.”

In addition to overseeing their organization’s plan, Scanlon Coordinators have various other responsibilities. They coordinate and facilitate company and committee meetings and serve as a liaison between management and staff making sure everyone’s needs are being met.

“Having resources like the Coordinator Conferences makes my responsibilities much more manageable,” stated Morse. “Being a Scanlon Coordinator is enjoyable because I get to know each person in the organization and have the opportunity to represent the needs of employees in the decision making process.”

Thomson-Shore Teams shared a variety of training-programs and tools. The key elements of Managing Conflict, Providing Feedback, and being Accountable were reduced to business card sized reminders and given to participants.

To download the Thomson-Shore cards as a pdf file....



Bobby and Steve Bring Their World to Annual Conference
Bringing examples of their “Scanlon-like” ways, Bobby and Steve’s Auto World are one of the highlights of the Scanlon Leadership Network Conference to be held this May 1-3, 2006.

“Bobby and Steve will bring a refreshing example of excellent business practices to the Annual Conference. Their participation holds great potential for two-way learning along with the sharing of ideas,” explained Pete Hovde, President, Possibilities Company.

Although Bobby and Steve have been in the business for many years they are far from the traditional gas station and convenience store. They have four stores all located in the state of Minnesota. Over the last ten years father and son owners, Bobby and Steve Williams decided to transform their stores both architecturally and organizationally.

“Scanlon members will have an opportunity to learn the techniques of customer service, participation, energy, and best practices used by Bobby and Steve,” said Hovde.

When Bobby and Steve’s Auto World underwent their organizational makeover employee team members became first priority rather than customers. They now operate on a philosophy of challenging, rewarding, valuing, and engaging their employee team members to an extent that customers are treated well by default and in turn the organization profits.

“Employees enjoy working at the Auto World. Typical turnover rates in the convenience store industry are 100 percent per year, Bobby and Steve’s Auto World has a turn over rate of only 20-30 percent,” said Hovde.

All of the stores have been remodeled and are decorated with collections of Coca Cola memorabilia, crank type gas pumps and fifty’s style booth for customers to sit and eat deli style meals and treats. The 1957 Chevy with baby blue interior and only 26 miles is one of the main attractions at the Minneapolis store also.

“Their stores have become a “destination” for many of their guests, who often are known by name,” said Hovde.

To learn more about Bobby & Steve's AutoWorld...


As I See It
Laurie Schiller, Customer Service Representative, Thomson-Shore, Inc. has been involved with The Scanlon Leadership Network and Thomson-Shore’s Plan since she was hired two years ago.

“I attended a Scanlon Leadership Conference when I was first hired at Thomson-Shore. I brought back knowledge with me about the Leadership Network and now am responsible for educating my co-workers about the Scanlon Network,” said Laurie. “I am excited to have this opportunity because the more knowledgeable Thomson-Shore becomes with the Scanlon Principles and Practices our company will strengthen as a whole.

“Employees who are involved with Scanlon know they have opportunity to make a difference within their organization. Their confidence grows and they are more apt to have pride in themselves and their organization.

“At Thomson-Shore Scanlon has enabled us to work more as a team. Everyone here feels they have more responsibility, which gives them the incentive to put their best foot forward every day with a smile on their face.

“I have obtained a better understanding of the Scanlon Principles enabling me to see the big picture of Thomson-Shore. I have learned to communicate differently with others, organized my workspace and now follow through on ideas. I am proud to be an employee of a Scanlon Company.”

To learn more about Thomson-Shore....



Bethane Gilbertson, Production Coordinator, has been employed by Thomson-Shore and involved with their Scanlon Plan since 1991.

“I enjoy how the Scanlon Leadership Network encourages everyone in the company to participate. Most importantly it enables each and every employee to be accountable for Thomson-Shore’s overall performance as a whole,” said Bethane.

“Having a Scanlon plan in place allows organizations to be run by principle instead of constant policy. All four Scanlon Principles are important, but Participation is what I find most beneficial. Participation has the potential to open many doors.

“In the past few years Thomson-Shore has really made progress with its Scanlon plan. We have done and are continuing to provide all employees with more education on the Principles. I have received nothing but positive feedback from my co-workers. Everyone has been very receptive to what the Scanlon leadership Network has to offer.”

To find out more about Thomson-Shore....