World Class Manufacturing I: Manufactured Solutions for Discontinuous Change

Monday Morning, August 6, 8:00 a.m. - Noon

Intense competition and shifting markets leave many traditional manufacturers grasping for solutions.  Companies that have not advanced rapidly are finding themselves out of the ball game with fewer and fewer options. Globalization is one solution that can reduce costs and, in some cases, increase innovation and competitiveness. However, globalization is more than seeking low-cost countries for their cheap labor. Evolving factors like collaborative labor arrangements, lower-volume manufacturing, rapid technology advancements, flexible manufacturing systems, and more elaborate, specialized supply chains have raised the bar and clouded the future in terms of manufacturing strategies that will allow us to compete successfully.  The linkage between business planning and manufacturing strategy is increasingly important.

This seminar will focus on automotive manufacturing strategies and game-changing production technologies with strategic impact. We will discuss successful case studies from manufacturers and review several developing technologies.

World Class Manufacturing II: Driving to Lean Product and Process Development

Tuesday Morning, August 7, 8:00 a.m.-Noon

Innovation and rapid product development are pillars to success in hyper-competitive markets, as seen in North America. Successful auto makers and suppliers emphasize lean product and process development to most fully leverage their resources. Without lean product and process development, organizations are left to compete on cost-invariably a short-lived strategy. Co-development helps improve collaboration and ensures rapid and effective deployment for both product and process innovation.

This seminar will review methods and case examples of lean product and process development. Several examples will be discussed involving different automotive materials (e.g., steel, aluminum and composites), product applications, and associated processing technologies.

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