Two-day USU seminar on operational excellence planned for September
LOGAN – A two-day seminar at Utah State University will feature top business executives from around the nation who are known as experts in implementing a philosophy that helps companies be more effective.
The Jon M. Huntsman School of Business plans to launch its 38th Annual Partners in Business seminar series with its Operational Excellence seminar on Sept. 19 and 20.
At this two-day seminar, speakers will share insights about a philosophy called "lean." The lean philosophy was originally articulated by Shigeo Shingo, who was an industrial engineer in Japan whose teachings have been key to Toyota's success. The approach emphasizes the importance of showing respect for employees, while eliminating waste, saving money, increasing productivity and improving quality.
In addition to six keynote addresses and three breakout sessions, this will be the first year the seminars will include workshops as part of the offerings. With seven different topics available, attendees may also choose one, three-hour workshop that will offer them in-depth, hands-on practice on how to apply the lean principles they have learned, according to Dan Wood, operational excellence seminar coordinator.
This year's conference will feature respected speakers, including John Kim, senior partner at Lean Horizons, LLC; Colonel Douglas Evans, commander of the Red River Army Depot; Tim Lawrence, vice president of Global Renal Manufacturing at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, and Pamela Dennis, one of the initial team that advised Jack Welsh when he was reengineering the General Electric Company.
Many other top executives will represent companies such as O.C. Tanner, SISU Consulting, The Shingo Prize, Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Medtronic at the conference.
Partners in Business is a non-profit organization that is managed entirely by students under the direction of Robert Miller, the executive director of The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence. The program began in 1970 as a way to bridge the gap between business students and their future employers.
Tickets are still available for the two-day seminar. Interested people may register at its Web site www.partnersusu.org or by phoning (800) 472-9965.