Scanlon March 2007 E-zine

Greetings!
The 2007 Scanlon Conference will be one of the best in our over 40 years of hosting the conference, judging by the caliber of the speakers and workshops. Please take a look at our brochure and join over 250 Scanlon practitioners on May 1-3 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. If you are interested in Scanlon, Leadership, Lean Systems, and Innovation you won't want to miss this year's conference.



Ideas Are Contagious
As a former Director of Marketing Communications for a Fortune 300 firm, I had to approve requests for staffers who wanted to attend a conference or symposium of some sort. (Tony Adolfi pictured) Usually it was routine because the conferences were related to advertising, public relations and/or sales promotion, all disciplines under my jurisdiction and clearly work related.

Invariably I approved the requests until I decided to “measure” the value my staff was getting from the conferences. I used a simple, one-question test. “Tell me about one new idea you learned at the conference and how you intend to apply it to your job?”

I was chagrined and they were embarrassed when they hemmed and hawed and made it obvious they didn’t have one. They followed the practice that some of my students used when I taught at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut and the University of Nebraska. When they didn’t know the answer to an essay question they wrote about everything they could think of whether it was on target or not. Needless to say I continued to approve requests for staff to attend work-related conferences but they returned to work more than prepared for my question.

It was amazing how many good, new ideas they came back to work with, many of which were helpful and practical for application in our department. We quickly sorted out which meetings offered the greatest substance and which were more sound and fury with an abundance of social activities and sports than serious topics with top keynote speakers and excellent leaders in the workshops.

I have been writing about the Scanlon Leadership Network and its member firms for the past decade and one theme that repeatedly surfaced in the dozens of interviews I have conducted with CEOs and other top management and front line employees is why they value the Network.

They have all learned from other managers and employees in member firms especially at the Annual Conference where CEOs and front line employees rub shoulders and mingle freely to talk about how they are implementing the Scanlon principles. Every member puts its own spin on the principles with customized plans designed to fit the goals of their own firms.

When I interviewed employees in the workplace after they attended the Conference, they took great pride in telling me about the new ideas they picked up and were implementing at their companies. They took equal pride in sharing their ideas with others at the Conference. This exchange of ideas is one of the real benefits of the Network’s Annual Conference. Some member firms bring anywhere from one to a dozen employees to the Conference. SGS Tool is bringing 25 employees to this year's conference.

It clearly passes my test with honors with top management and front line workers going home from the Conference brimming with new ideas to refresh and renew their Scanlon Plans.

It is this excitement and interest that has made the Annual Conference a success for more than 50 years. It is one of the oldest, continuing Conferences of its kind with a packed agenda that includes outstanding keynote speakers and workshops and ample opportunity to share information and gather new ideas from other members. (See the other articles in this e- zine about the Conference.) Plan now to attend and invite several of your colleagues to join you. Forward this e-zine to others in your firm and share the information about the Conference.

(For information call 517-332-8927 or visit the Scanlon Web Site at www.scanlonleader.org or call your Conference Coordinator.)

(This article was written by A. J. Adolfi, President of Marketing Communications Inc in Washington, PA, 15301. His e-mail is tadolfi@marketingcomm.net)



Lean-Scanlon Authors Present Roadmap for Successful Leadership
Two renowned business leaders with decades of experience at the top of two very diverse firms and industries will share their Leadership Roadmap in their keynote presentation at the Network’s Annual Conference May 1-3 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo.

Former Donnelly Corporation Chairman and CEO and the President of the Scanlon Foundation, Dwane Baumgardner and Russ Scaffede, President of Lean Manufacturing Systems Group, LLC and the former VP Manufacturing of Tiara Yachts are co-authors of a new book The Leadership Roadmap which focuses on their leadership experiences and how Scanlon Principles, lean and innovation can drive organizational success. (Dwane-top, Russ-bottom)

“We will layout a leadership roadmap for attendees integrating Scanlon Principles, lean and innovation. In our opinion these are the only three processes that really matter when trying to achieve success,” said Baumgardner.

Scaffede and Baumgardner will also define their meaning of success and give attendees a broader sense of how Scanlon and Lean manufacturing principles and innovation contribute to both short-term as well as success over a long period of time.

“We will be presenting beneficial information that can be effective for any organization,” said Scaffede.

Conference attendees will receive handouts during the keynote speech and will have an opportunity to participate in a question and answer session with Baumgardner and Scaffede.

Dwane Baumgardner is a Scanlon Steward award winner and serves on numerous Boards including president of the Scanlon Foundation. He has a lifetime of experience in developing participative, lean and innovative cultures.

Russ Scaffede is a winner of the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing and former plant manager of the Toyota Engine Plant in Georgetown. Russ is also an exceptional Lean Sensei.



Six-Sigma/Innovation Author To Speak On Innovation for Profitable Business Growth
At this year’s Scanlon Annual Conference Praveen Gupta, President, Accelper Consulting will be addressing attendees on the topic of Innovation for profitable Business Growth during his Keynote speech. (Praveen pictured)

Gupta will speak to Scanlon members about aiming for business growth through innovation and creating jobs in the community they operate. Through delivering his speech he hopes the audience will see the process to achieve growth, learn about basic tools, become inspired to take action in their workplace to achieve excellence and plan to grow new business.

“We need to create new opportunities for employees to grow and do better, rather than dwelling on keeping jobs or losing employment,” said Gupta.

During his Keynote address he will touch on topics such as measures of performance improvement, acceptance vs. excellence, learn what customers love to have, continual creativity and innovation on demand, importance of employees having fun at work, and value of recognizing employees for excellence.

“Everyone is affected by the current state of business. Managers are having a tough time keeping up with the bottom line and employees are having a tough time meeting the growing demands for quality and productivity. Aiming for growth will solve many problems that organizations face today. Innovation is the way because it requires employee participation, which is also one of the principles of the Scanlon Philosophy,” said Gupta.

During his speech Gupta will demonstrate acceptance vs. excellence; and participants will each receive a Performance wristband, and handout. To conclude there will be a question and answer portion.

Gupta has gained extensive experience in the filed of business management over 25 years. He has been a pioneer of Six Sigma methodology at Motorola and of optimizing business performance by using his Execution Map consisting of Business Scorecard, Six Sigma, innovation and process management. He also writes a monthly column,” Six Sigma Sense” as well as has authored and co-authored several books. He holds a BSEE from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MSEE from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Gupta teaches at DePaul University, and Illinois Institute of Technology. Gupta is a Fellow of AS



People! People! People! That’s What It’s About at SGS
“That is what Scanlon is all about, making people understand how important they are to their organization. Attending the Annual Conference also creates a better understanding of the Scanlon Principles and Processes resulting in stronger, more profitable organizations,” said Marge Holata, Director of Associate Involvement, SGS Tool Company.

For the past nine years SGS Tool Company of Munroe Falls, OH has sent attendees to the Scanlon Leadership Annual Conference so they can benefit from the personal and organizational development it has to offer.

Every year this increases the overall number of employees who understand Scanlon and the importance of learning, participating, being accountable and committed.

Representing SGS this year at the Annual Conference will be Tom Haag, President, Jeff Burton, Executive VP of Manufacturing and 25 other employees.

“The more participants SGS sends, the better. For every person that understands the value and contribution of Scanlon to our organization the more our business can get out of it,” said Holata.

SGS also uses the Annual Conference to bring employees together who may never have the opportunity to interact at work. All seven SGS company buildings are located in a ten-mile radius. The four- hour bus ride and the three days spent at the Conference has created new friendships and a more cooperative and enjoyable work environment for SGS upon returning home.

"Going to the Conference with an open mind will really help you learn a lot about your own company and how they use the Scanlon Principles and Processes. You get a real WOW feeling,” said Fred Lloyd, SGS Tool Company, 2003 Conference attendee.
To learn more about SGS Tool Company....



Do Good, Get Discounts, Tax Deduction; Foundation Opens Door to Individuals
For the first time, Individuals may now join the Scanlon community! The Scanlon Foundation has created a class of individual memberships for those who do not work for a Scanlon organizations but who want to help create better organizations through the Scanlon Principles.

There are significant benefits for those who join. The first is knowing that membership fees will be tax deductible and offer a discount on the fee for the Annual Conference and discounts on current and new products and services offered by the Foundation.

The memberships are geared toward those who do not work for a member company but are interested in being part of the Scanlon community.

“There has always been interest in individual memberships but until now we have not been able to make them available. We’re excited that individual members are now able to be part of Scanlon and what it has to offer,” said Majel Maes, Director of Programs and Administration, Scanlon Leadership Network.

For more information on how to become an individual member of the Scanlon Foundation contact Majel Maes at 517-332-8927 or email office@scanlonleader.org.
To download the Scanlon Foundation brochure....