SME Annual Meeting to Take On Challenges

May 1, 2001
A technical program will highlight the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) annual meeting and Manufacturing Leadership Forum, set for May 29-June

A technical program will highlight the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) annual meeting and Manufacturing Leadership Forum, set for May 29-June 3, 2001, at the Westin Hotel in Seattle WA. This year's annual meeting will focus on two technologies: Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.

The Six Sigma Manufacturing Challenge is scheduled for May 30 with Don DeFossett, president and chief executive officer of Walter Industries Inc, making the keynote presentation. Those who are new to Six Sigma are urged to come May 29 for a Six Sigma management overview by Mario Perez-Wilson, formerly with Motorola and now principal consultant with Advanced Systems Consultants. A quality improvement business strategy developed by Motorola, Six Sigma emphasizes identification and avoidance of variation and reduction of cycle time and costs by using statistical problem-solving tools.

The Lean Manufacturing Challenge, scheduled for May 31, will feature keynote speaker Hajime Ohbaas. As general manager of the Toyota Supplier Support Center, Ohbaas directs the center's efforts to assist North American manufacturers in implementing their own versions of the Toyota Production System. Newcomers to Lean Manufacturing are invited to come May 30 for a three-hour management overview by John Allen, principal of Total Systems Development.

Registration fees for the overview sessions are $295 for members and $325 for nonmembers. For the all-day Challenge events, fees are $495 for members, $545 for nonmembers.

Participants in the Challenge programs are invited to SME's Resource Open House, 4 to 6 pm May 31, for a look at products and services and to talk with staff members.

For more information or a brochure, phone 800-733-4763 or log on to the web site at www.sme.org/annualmeeting.