Tour
X Bison Gear & Engineering - FULL
Tour Code: WT-03
Day and Time: Bus leaves 8:20 AM, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012
Length Including Travel Time: 4 ¾ hours
Tour Code: WT-09
Day and Time: Bus leaves 12:00 PM, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012
Length Including Travel Time: 5 hours
Process Visibility for Communication and Team Engagement
Making lean tools part of the business conversation
Communication has been a main theme for Bison Gear & Engineering's lean continuous improvement journey. It has allowed them to share plans for improved future operations, draw a roadmap to get there and put support systems in place to sustain new best practices. And lean tools are hard at work: 1) value-stream mapping is used in redesigning core business processes in both plant and office; 2) 5S is practiced in everyday operations; 3) "pull" methods have simplified how Bison orders production; 4) standard work documentation is being upgraded; and 5) visual process management boards are part of daily work-team huddle meetings. Making the process visible is the common communications element. This tour will show you this works at Bison.X Bison Gear & Engineering - FULL
For over 50 years, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. has designed and manufactured fractional horsepower electric motors, gear motors and gear reducers used in industrial and commercial OEM applications worldwide.
Jim Parejko
Jim Parejko is vice president of continuous improvement and engineering at Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. Jim has over 15 years experience in the power transmission industry, including as chief of engineering for Emerson Power Transmission (Bearings) and as program manager for the turbo diesel engine development at International Truck and Engine Corp. Jim joined Bison as engineering manager in 2006. He has five U.S. patents, received a master's in mechanical engineering from Northern Illinois University and attended the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT.
No competitors allowed
No cameras or other recording devices


Captain Mark Kelly
Mike Abrashoff
Jason Jennings
Doctor Patricia A. Gabow
Daniel T. Ariens
Once again, the Idea Exchange Café will be open for the interactive sharing of best practices among all participants. There will be six facilitated sessions on a variety of relevant topics taking place over two days. Come for the coffee - stay for the ideas! (read more...)
