Amy Howard Promoted to Partner at Kaufman Global
Effective 01 May 2008 Ms. Amy M. Howard has been promoted to the level of Partner. This is a significant accomplishment for Ms. Howard and an important milestone for Kaufman Global.
Ms. Howard began with Kaufman Global on 01 May 2000 - eight years to the
day of her designation as Partner. "Today, “Amy's knowledge
of our operations and what makes Kaufman Global really work is comprehensive,"
said Kaufman Global President Jerry Timpson. "Her unfailing belief
in our people, understanding of the importance of teams and single-minded
client focus is unparalleled. She has a gift for working with others and
possesses essential leadership traits that deliver predictable results.
Amy's pursuit of the highest standards coupled with her intrinsic good
judgment will well serve our clients, colleagues and the firm as we pursue
future growth opportunities." Read
Entire Press Release
Kaufman Global Attracts Top Business Development Talent
Kaufman Global announced today that Mr. Michael Plageman has joined the firm as Vice President of Business Development. Michael brings proven skills and results in client relationship management, market identification and development and new account acquisition. Michael first worked with Kaufman Global in 2002. After a brief break (2006-2007), he rejoins the firm inside of the Marketing, Business Development and Sales organization, reporting to Amy Howard, Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
"We are tremendously excited to have Michael rejoin our team."
said Howard. "He brings a wealth of experience to the organization
and has a solid understanding of our clients, our services, our people
and our firm." Read
Entire Press Release
Valerie Brown Joins Kaufman Global Marketing Department
Effective 19 May 2008 Ms. Valerie Brown has joined Kaufman Global as Marketing
Coordinator. Valerie's background includes marketing, advertising and
project management experience in the real estate and marketing industries.
Ms. Brown will play a key role in the planning, development, management
and execution of marketing strategies and targeted plans / campaigns.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and Journalism
from Indiana State University.
New Headquarters Address
June was a busy and exciting month for our Indianapolis headquarters staff as we moved into our new and highly modernized office space on the northeast side of town. Please make a note of our new mailing address, effective immediately for all types of correspondence:
5975 Castle Creek Parkway, Suite 440
Indianapolis, IN 46250 USA
Telephone: +1 317 818 2430
Fax: +1 317 818 2434
We have always gotten tremendous feedback from our readers on the case studies we feature in our newsletters. Despite the many variables that exist between products, services, and industries, the lessons of continuous improvement learned from someone else's experience help propel all of us to approach our own initiatives with new perspective.
Plant Layout Analysis - A Case Study in Lean Manufacturing in China
A world leader in the manufacture of wireless communication products and communication network equipment wished to conduct a pilot project applying Lean principles to relocate and reconfigure production equipment at one of their facilities in China. Kaufman Global was engaged to evaluate the current Lean plan and the planned capital expenditures, determining whether the full amount was necessary and if the reconfigured cells would meet operational and financial objectives. Results included: a revised Lean layout that would support PLB
demand up to 50,000 units per month, potential reduction in production lead time of 65%, and a 30% space reduction. Read
More
Increasing Coffee Extraction Capacity - A Rapid Improvement Event in Thailand
A leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer goods was operating at near capacity in their coffee extraction process at one of their Thailand facilities. The team worked to re-optimize the extraction process for yield and productivity while maintaining quality standards, resulting in a 19% increase in volume.
Read More
Simplifying Production Planning - A Rapid Improvement Event in Indonesia
The Indonesian production facility of an industry leading manufacturer of cleaning products was suffering from an overly complex production planning process. The team wished to streamline the planning process, reduce process steps, develop a formal planning process, use JD Edwards as the only planning tool and to formally define "Planner" roles and responsibilities. Read More
Feathering the Nest - Lean and Implementation in China
By John Claussen and Alex Teoh
This past weekend, the world's elite track and field athletes began pushing their personal limit for glory at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The world's latest architectural marvel, Beijing Olympic Stadium, (affectionately known as the "Bird's Nest" by locals) is a focal point of the games. While various nations' Olympic teams take their turn on the field, many leading global companies have already arrived in China, the world's hottest growth market. And while this month it is the competition on the field that is the talk of millions, for years corporate managers have spent long hours in their boardrooms debating and analyzing the opportunities and threats that competitive China offers.
While costs are still lower than many neighboring markets, especially those in the West, over the past two decades China has mostly outgrown its reputation as a source of cheap products and low-cost labor. A sizable industrial sector in China has transformed itself into a successful and competitive producer of high-value and innovative products. Early bird companies into China such as Volkswagen and Motorola are realizing significant benefits from their investments, and many more firms are following suit. Foreign direct investment projects in China continue at a dizzying rate as companies seek even greater access to this huge and growing economy. As companies continue to invest in China they would be wise to understand the playing field, especially when it comes to management of their operations.
As China continues to attract manufacturers from around the globe, it becomes a melting pot of different management styles and cultures. Dominating the mix is China's own regional traditions and working behaviors which are deeply rooted in ancient Confucius thinking. Of particularly strong effect are two profound social values; respect for hierarchy and seniority. "Old" ways are often considered “wise” custom and are not to be defied - for many western firms looking to invest in this environment, this creates an interesting challenge.
Click here to read the entire article.
Asia-Pacific Team Member Profiles
Mr. Claussen has more than a decade of experience designing
and implementing sustainable Continuous Improvement initiatives for clients
in North America and Asia. His work experience includes chemicals, semiconductors,
energy, automotive, pulp and paper, logistics, metalworking and assembly,
with specific expertise in the area of chemical supply chain and use optimization.
John has managed international development programs throughout Asia-Pacific
for clients such as the International Finance Corporation and a variety
of private companies and foundations. Work in this area includes assessments,
feasibility studies, economic development and biodiversity conservation
programs.John Claussen - Manager, Asia-Pacific Region
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Email John
Mr. Teoh is an expert Lean practitioner and trainer with over 13 years of experience. A strong coach and mentor, Alex applies his knowledge to accelerate various forms of implementation in both manufacturing and business processes. He has conducted analysis, Office Kaizen, Lean manufacturing, productive maintenance and industrial engineering improvement projects across a variety of industries including: engine assembly, PCB assembly, automobile and computer component manufacturing, food and bottling, garment, footwear, furniture, and rubber and plastic molding.Alex Teoh - Director, Asia-Pacific Region
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Email Alex