The Role of Leadership in a Lean Environment at E-Z-GO

April 1, 2010

Lean manufacturing has more to do with leadership and basic management than it has to do with the application of lean tools. Many companies overly focus on the application of lean tools and forget about the most important and basic aspects of lean. The power and results of lean cultural transformation is achieved thru improved leadership from frontline supervisors and back. This presentation talks about E-Z-GO's journey from a poor performing plant to a 2009 IndustryWeek Best Plant and a 2009 recipient of the Shingo Prize.

In this keynote session at the 2010 IW Best Plants Conference, you realize that Lean manufacturing has more to do with leadership and basic management than it has to do with the application of lean tools. Many companies overly focus on the application of lean tools and forget about the most important and basic aspects of lean. The power and results of lean cultural transformation is achieved thru improved leadership from frontline supervisors and back. This presentation talks about E-Z-GO's journey from a poor performing plant to a 2009 IndustryWeek Best Plant and a 2009 recipient of the Shingo Prize.

In This Presentation You Will See

E-Z-GO and what they're about (in minute 2)
E-Z-GO's vision setting (in minute 9)
E-Z-GO's transformation (in minute 11)
E-Z-GO's continuous improvement (in minute 13)
Change agents: Culture, mindsets and behavior (in minute 14)
How to drive engagement and move on poor performers (in minute 19)
E-Z-GO's pay for performance (in minute 22)
How E-Z-GO achieved a 36% reduction in labor hours per vehicle (in minute 25)
How E-Z-GO achieved a 31% improvement in first-time quality (in minute 31)
How E-Z-GO's performance appraisals support workforce improvement (in minute 40)
E-Z-GO's focus on Office processes (in minute 42)
E-Z-GO's team leader boot camp (in minute 45)
and more

About the Speaker

Industryweek Com Sites Industryweek com Files Uploads 2012 07 11

Ronald W. Draper, Vice President, ISC, E-Z-GORon Draper is Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain for E-Z-GO Textron, responsible for all activity associated with ISC which includes: Manufacturing, Lean Initiatives, Parts & Accessories Distribution, EH&S, Production Control & Materials, Logistics, Procurement, Manufacturing Engineering, and Custom Vehicle Applications.

Prior to being named VP ISC, Draper held the position of Director Strategic Sourcing, responsible for E-Z-GO's Supply Management processes. This included leading and directing all supply chain activities to ensure quality, delivery and cost of all purchased components, materials and services to meet customer expectations.

Ron held various other management positions at Textron among them Director of Procurement for the V-22 program at Bell Helicopter in 2005 and Director of Supply Chain Production Development at Cessna Aircraft in 2003.

Before joining Textron in 1999, Draper was a Captain in the United States Army serving in the Aviation branch as a helicopter pilot and company commander. He earned a master's of business administration from Wichita State University and a bachelor's of science in engineering management from the United States Military Academy.