Manufacturers in Marshall County are producing more with existing resources by eliminating non-value-added activities (waste), i.e., they're adopting 'lean' principles. And one of the ways that they're learning more about these principles is through the Marshall County Network for the Advancement of Manufacturing (McNAM!)

This network, launching on June 14, 2007 in Plymouth, is comprised of diverse companies seeking to reduce costs, better satisfy their customers, and improve their bottom lines by integrating high-performance methods and techniques.

The goals of the Network are to:

• accelerate learning curves and provide cost-effective ways to integrate lean concepts and principles;
• maximize access to the knowledge and experiences through the mutual sharing of solutions and ideas;
• and leverage the buying power of the Network to reduce training costs.

McNAM participants benefit by networking with other companies that are implementing lean, tapping into resources (from within/outside the Network) on how to increase their competitiveness, gaining fresh perspectives from other Network participants, reducing training costs, sharing real-world solutions and experiences, accessing the latest news and view on lean manufacturing techniques, and touring facilities to see lean tool in action.

The meeting topics were established by the Network's Steering Committee, which currently is comprised of Doug Anspach, Plymouth Economic Development Corporation; Curt Fleece, Crossroads Academy; Hollie Grantz, Hoosier Tire; Tony Lenne, Bay Valley Foods; Don Newton, Hoosier Tire; Bill Schlosser, Plymouth Foundry; and Carol Snare, Ferro Corporation.

The Network calendar through year-end:
June 14	Lean - An Overview
July 12	Value Stream Mapping
August 9	5S/Workplace Organization
September 13	Lean Culture/Culture Change
October 11	Lean Strategy
November 8	Error Proofing

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month (except December) from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. at the Crossroads Academy, 1800 Jim Neu Drive, Plymouth.

For more information, please contact Doug Anspach at 574-936-2323, or Dietra Rosenkoetter, Purdue University TAP (Network facilitator) at 317-275-6812, email dietra@purdue.edu.