Photo Gallery: 2011 IW Best Plants Conference slideshow

2011 IW Best Plants Conference slideshow

Apr. 30, 2011

Turner Field Welcome

Turner Field provided a warm welcome to IW Best Plants conference attendees during one of several networking opportunities.
Gregory S. Babe

"History teaches us that prosperity really is a choice. We can encourage the factors that encourage economic growth or we can discourage them. The only question is whether we have the determination and the political will to keep it alive in America," said keynote speaker Gregory S. Babe, president and CEO of Bayer Corp. and Bayer MaterialScience.
Harley-Davidson

A large audience gathered to hear about and learn from lean transformation efforts under way at Harley-Davidson's York, Penn., manufacturing plant.
Solutions Hall

Solutions Hall provided an intimate setting for attendees and exhibitors to meet.
Solutions Hall Reception

A happy group enjoys the conference's opening night reception in Solutions Hall.
Maj. Gen. John Batiste

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste, president of Klein Steel Service, urged attendees to create a "team-member-centric organization" instead of a top-down leadership model. "In my experience," he said, "team members can call the shots. I rarely had to put my fingers in somebody's chest."
Carrier-Carlyle Compressor Facility Tour

2009 IW Best Plants winner Carrier-Carlyle Compressor Facility was one of several Atlanta-area manufacturers that graciously hosted tours. Here, Augustine Chacko stages crankshafts in the remanufacturing operation.
Wilbert W. James Jr.

Keynote speaker Wilbert W. James Jr., president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, said he developed a mindset early in his career that "decisions we make should not only benefit our team members in the short term but in the long term" as well.
James P. Womack

Keynote speaker James P. Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute, urged audience members to "take the gemba walk." Ultimately, the purpose of a gemba walk is to grasp the situation, Womack said. Once the situation is understood, improvement is possible.
Panel Discussions

The 2010 IW Best Plants winners shared their expertise and experiences via a variety of presentations. They included panel discussions, such as this one about driving supply chain excellence. From left to right are Rolf Mantei, operations support manager, Oils Division, Bunge North America (he was plant manager at Bunge Oakville, Ontario, when it won its 2010 award; Todd Fournier, IADC lean lead, Raytheon Integrated Air Defense Center, Andover, Mass.; Mark Goodman, plant manager, Carrier Charlotte (N.C.) Chiller Operations; and moderator Jill Jusko, IW senior editor.
Panel Discussions

"Knock It Out of the Park!" was held at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves. Attendees to this special event were able to have personalized baseball cards created with them as the stars.
Turner Field Batting Cages

Also at Turner Field, IndustryWeek's own Michael Madej took his turn at the pitching machine -- and also gave the batting cages a try. Many attendees spent considerable time trying to outdo each other.