NAM Awards Work Teams For Efficiency Improvements

The National Assn. of Manufacturers (NAM), Washington, has awarded two plant work teams with the 4th Annual NAM Awards for Workforce Excellence. NAM awarded the Stockton Kan Ban Kaizen Team, a Stockton, Calif., Dana Corp. plant, for improving the plant's parts delivery system to its assembly line. "The new system eliminated parts shortages, cut waste out of the process, and reduced wrong parts deliveries by 75%," NAM says. Two shifts of cross-functional teams drove the process, which has been deployed in other areas of the plant. The Battery Team, Plant No. 4, of Superior Graphite Co. won in the small company category. The Chicago plant's team responded to a customer's request by developing a new type of graphite for use in high-drain AA and AAA alkaline batteries. "The materials the team developed enable a high-drain battery to last 31% longer than conventional batteries," NAM reports. Each team will receive $10,000 and a trophy. Award sponsors include NAM, the Center for Workforce Success, and Arthur Andersen. For a complete list of finalists, see the NAM Web site at http://www.nam.org/workforce.