Read the November 20th, 2024 Green Bay Innovation Group Newsletter here.
November 20th, 2024 Newsletter
Month: November 2024
GBIG’s Sponsor Appreciation Night: Recap
GBIG’s Sponsor Appreciation Night: A Grand Gesture of Thanks
Thanks to everyone who attended the GBIG Sponsor Appreciation event on Nov. 14 at The Automobile Gallery in downtown Green Bay. It was great to get together in person to socialize with others in the 5P Industries.
Since its start in 2017, GBIG has grown to 180 sponsors. More than 50 sponsors and guests attended the Appreciation Night. We had a chance to enjoy a buffet prepared by Olive’s Pizza and Sandwiches and chocolate brownies by Naturally Delightful Specialty Bakery. We also had an opportunity to network, reconnect with others in the industry and meet new people involved with the 5P Industries: Paper, Pulp, Plastic, Print, Packaging and Converting.
The Automobile Gallery was the perfect place to meet. We had an opportunity to see the gallery’s amazing collection of cars – antique gems, beautifully restored classic cars, awe-inspiring luxury automobiles, and all kinds of fun vehicles! The vibrant colors and wide variety of styles are really impressive!
Thanks to Bill Koehne, owner of Packerland Websites, for his presentation midway through the Sponsor Appreciation event. Bill spoke about GBIG’s purpose: to bring Wisconsin 5P Industry companies together for networking, collaboration, and innovation; offer educational opportunities; and support the community. He also highlighted GBIG’s activities, like the golf outing, Swing Big with GBIG, Children’s Museum Green Bay events, and educational meetings at UW-Madison. Additionally, Bill talked about the difference GBIG makes in the community. GBIG supports about 20 professional, charitable, and educational organizations – and the list keeps on growing.
Packerland Websites manages the GBIG website and works with Marty Ochs to publish the GBIG News. Bill and Marty encouraged sponsors to submit their company updates to reach a broad audience via the GBIG website and GBIG News.
So, be proud to be a GBIG sponsor, and get involved! We look forward to supporting and growing the 5P and Converting Industry in 2025 and beyond.
GBIG NEWS | 91 Stories and Links on the Internet 11/20/2024
GBIG News
Get links to the latest news, events, stories, and interviews from our 5P news sponsors. Our goal is to remind the decision-makers in Wisconsin of the importance of our industry both historically, and more importantly, into the future.
Read the latest 91 Stories and Links on the Internet below.
Featured Stories
- Bullish Amcor swoops to buy Berry Global in huge $8.43bn deal
- UW Stevens Point: WIST receives $4 million grant for Forestry.
- International Paper announces closure of Kansas City packaging facility
- International Paper closet layoffs at multiple plants
- PCA Reports strong growth and plant expansions
- Amcor unveils 2024 sustainability report
- Paper Excellence adopting Domtar name. Opinion is China taking over Canada Pulp & Paper Industry?
- Paper Excellence announces operational unification of Domtar and Resolute Forest Products
- International Paper cutting about 650 jobs, 400 in Memphis
- Infinity De Pere, WI launches warehouse automation division.
- EK Machine opens third manufacturing facility in Fall River
- Kate Burgess elevate97 named Titan 100 honoree
- Amazon’s inflatable plastic pillows are officially a thing of the past.
- Another huge milestone Georgia Pacific produces 2 billion padded and unpacked mailers
- Quad enters into definitive agreement to sell the majority of its European operations.
- Wisconsin based Corporation sale to Addev Material
- Kimberly-Clark huggies Promotes safe sleep during sleep awareness month.
- Wisconsin based Rockline Industries donates wipes to aid hurricane disaster relief efforts.
- Quad Graphics closes printing plant in Waukee Iowa
- 14th Annual Manufacturing Expo shines light on culture community.
- Mutually beneficial partnerships drive Georgia-Pacific social initiatives in Green Bay
- Orbis Corporation acquires Creative Technologies and expands custom packaging capabilities.
Sustainability
- Kimberly-Clark Reports Progress Toward Sustainability Goals
- How social sustainability contributes to business success.
- Paper bags and Sustainability leading the charge in eco friendly packaging
- Sustainability trends in the food industry.
- Sustainable Beautiful Packaging: The Future is Now.
- Sustainable product development in the food industry and packaging.
- Sustainability legislation drives packaging innovation for recycling
- Sustainable deliveries: How cities and companies can lead the way.
- 6 Sustainable Packaging trends 2024-2025
- Ahlstrom Joins the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- Amcor releases 2024 sustainability report highlighting key achievements and progress.
Packaging
- Thermoformed packaging market to grow boosted by food delivery and market evolution.
- Paper and paper board container market to grow driven by food packaging.
- Smithers forecasts packaging print market growth.
- The Future of Packaging is Bright
- Paper Packaging innovations and companies that are leading the way.
- Food Packaging should have labels on front about health impact.
Plastic
- Companies move away from single use plastics in packaging
- Designing Out Plastic Pollution
- Here’s the problem with recycling plastic
- 700 million plastic bottles work out how much microplastics in Moreton Bay
- Plastic
- California Governor signs law banning all plastic bags in grocery stores.
- Flexible Packaging Overview
- How recycled plastics made into bricks.
Food
- Fresh food container market poised for significant expansion
- Grief launches a recycled recyclable barrier Coated paperboard for the food industry
- Rigid plastic packaging to grow with rising demand from food packaging and beverages.
- Nestle trials quality street paper tub for Christmas treats.
- Global Water cycle off balance threatens food production
- Wisconsin is a large producer of food products with 10 of the largest food producers with plants in Wisconsin
- Avery Dennison expands RFID adoption in grocery industry.
Forest
- International Paper works with Forest Landowners for conservation.
- From Forests to Oceans nature in dire shape.
- The Forest Service is losing 2,400 jobs with cut backs.
- National Parks and other protected areas often fail to conserve earth’s forests.
- Forest business in Wisconsin Economic Benefits
- Controversial push to thin forests to prevent forest fires.
- 10 million hectares forest could grow back if we leave it alone.
Sponsors
- Appvion expands the earth Chemical portfolio with alpha 185.
- All Printing Resources providing solutions for the printing industry
- Welcome to Paper Dimensions your premier converter for paper products.
- The Future is ark: State of the art data storage infrastructure.
- Precision Roll Solutions: How corrugated manufacturers control costs.
- Wikoff Inks for the Packaging Industry
Dignify: Dignity in the Workplace
With workplace stress on the rise, dignity becomes more important
What’s in the books for 2025?
As leaders, people are number one priority. People’s wants and needs for everything, including in their career, are fluid and dynamic. They change and evolve based on who they are, where they are at in their lives, and the conditions surrounding them at any given time. This is why we’re always presented with new and emerging challenges with each passing year.
You can look back and find examples of this pretty easily. You might find things about the Great Resignation, or the emergence of hybrid work, quiet quitting, things of that nature. Over the years, we’ve had to grapple with these trends, the reasons behind them, and cut through to the core of what keeps employees satisfied, fulfilled, engaged, and motivated in their roles.
With 2025 right around the corner, I wanted to take some time to sit down and think about the things that we can project will shape the workplace of next year and beyond.
The data shows us that 2025 is building up to be a year of intense turnover. Matt Becker provided some interesting insights in his article on the topic. A Gallup survey shows that over half of U.S. employees are actively watching or seeking a new job. Becker also shared a Glassdoor report as recent as July of this year that employees reviews are mentioning “burnout” at the highest rate since 2016, and an Upwork report that found that 33% of employees are likely to quit their jobs in the next half year due to the pressure of increased productivity.
It seems that the risk of a high turnover rate is a reality that a lot of organizations are going to be dealing with this coming year. Stress in on the rise. People are becoming dissatisfied enough with their jobs that they are starting to look for out routes. Employees are fed up with all the pressure at work (which compounds the pressure in their personal lives) and are experiencing burnout at historically high rates. Organizations are going to need to find some kind of solution to de-stress their employees, or they will be putting themselves at risk of experiencing turnover that might be too much to handle.
The responsibility for finding and executing these solutions is going to be placed on us as leaders, so we’re really going to be in the hot seat in 2025. If I were a betting man, I would put a lot of money on the possibility that a little bit of dignity would go a long way towards keeping stress at a minimum.
Dignity – the ultimate stress reducer
Our research and experience has shown us that the number one cause of stress among people, especially at work, is what we call a “dignity violation.” A dignity violation happens when someone, knowingly or unknowingly, acts in opposition of someone’s unique dignity. Dignity violations can come in all different shapes, sizes, and severities, ranging from direct and purposeful actions to small habits that happen to bother someone else.
We know that the vast majority of dignity violations that occur happen unintentionally and unknowingly, so it’s really hard to pick up on when this is happening. Making it worse is the fact that people usually don’t make it explicitly make it known when they feel their dignity has been violated – they bottle it up and live with the stress.
You very likely won’t know that something you are doing or affecting as a leader is violating someone’s dignity until you deliberately seek that information. It’s hard for people to tell others, especially their leaders, that their work is too much, that they need flexibility, that they are getting fed up with something or someone. Many people will simply let themselves struggle before they offer up their thoughts and opinions on what’s happening.
With this in mind, the solution is clear – be proactive, don’t wait. Go out of your way to give your people the tools they need to cope with strses! Check in with them frequently and actively listen to what they have to say. Let them know that they are safe to express what’s stressing them out without consequence so that you can take action to remedy it.
Do one better and take the time to learn about your people as people, not just employees. Learn about what motivates them. What keeps them going every day? What’s going on in their lives? How do they prefer to communicate and be communicated with? These are all questions with answers that will help you build a team member up. You can configure their role, workload, and environment in a way that fulfills their dignity and minimizes overall stress. You never know – what might seem trivial to you could be the deciding factor in keeping another person around in the long-term.
The bottom line
As a leader, the best thing you can have in your toolbox is information that will help you adapt and respond to changing circumstances. The information going into next year shows that stress and burnout are major problems for today’s employees. They stand to become major problems for employers should their people decide to jump ship. As leaders, it’s our time to shine. Let’s get active in understanding who our people are, how to support their dignity, and how we can relieve their stress by reducing dignity violations.
Rocket Industrial Unveils Zenith: The New Benchmark in Private Labeled Packaging Products
Rocket Industrial, a leading name in packaging innovation and solutions, proudly announces the launch of its new private labeled product line: Zenith. The Zenith line, designed to meet the highest standards of performance and reliability, includes a comprehensive range of packaging essentials.
With over 60 years of experience in the packaging industry, Rocket Industrial continues to uphold its commitment to providing top-tier products that help businesses package more efficiently and sustainably. The Zenith line represents this commitment, offering unparalleled quality and value.
“We are excited to introduce the Zenith line to our customers,” said Chris Boudreau, Category Manager at Rocket Industrial. “These products are the result of our deep understanding of the packaging needs across the various industries and clients we serve.”
Key Features of the Zenith Product Line
Zenith Hand and Machine Stretch Wrap: Engineered for superior stretchability and puncture resistance, ensuring secure and stable loads during transportation. Offers exceptional performance at a low cost, making it an affordable choice for businesses. Available in multiple sizes and thicknesses, as well as standard, mid, high, and ultra film performance.
Zenith Polyester Strapping: Offers high tensile strength and is an eco-friendly alternative to steel strapping, perfect for securing heavy loads. Combines durability with affordability, delivering great value. Available in multiple widths, lengths, thicknesses, and break strengths.
Elevating Packaging Standards
Rocket Industrial’s “Package With Less” initiative underpins the Zenith line, emphasizing reduced waste and improved efficiency in packaging processes. Each product in the Zenith line has been sourced with sustainability in mind, ensuring minimal environmental impact without compromising performance.
“Our aim with the Zenith line is to offer our customers not just superior products, but also solutions that align with their cost saving and sustainability goals,” Boudreau added. “We believe in packaging with less — less waste, less hassle, and less impact on the environment.”
More private-labeled product lines are planned to be released and expanded over the next few years.
About Rocket Industrial
Rocket Industrial is a packaging solutions company dedicated to providing innovative products and services that help businesses streamline their packaging processes. With a rich history spanning over six decades, Rocket Industrial continues to lead the industry with its commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation.
For more information about the Zenith line and other packaging solutions, visit www.rocketindustrial.com or call (800) 826-4405.
VPI Breaks Ground on New Community Programs Collective, Expanding Resources and Support for Individuals with Disabilities
[Appleton, Wis.] – [October 28, 2024] – VPI is excited to announce the groundbreaking of the new Community Programs Collective, a facility designed to meet the rising demand for inclusive services and serve as a hub for programs that support children, adults, and families with disabilities throughout Northeast Wisconsin. This new facility, opening Spring 2025 at 2350 N. Casaloma Dr. Appleton, brings together VPI’s Early Intervention, Adult Day Services, and Education and Employment Programs, expanding both the scope and quality of services available to individuals with disabilities and their families.
The Community Programs Collective introduces a dedicated Family Support Center, serving as a reliable venue for families to engage with their Birth to Three support team. The Family Support Center will offer a consistent and secure location for services, especially valuable for families without housing or whose homes are not available for visits. It will also function as a versatile area for private counseling sessions, parental workshops, and trainings.
For adults in VPI’s Day Services, new features include sensory rooms, an accessible training kitchen, and an outdoor patio, all designed to foster independence, skill-building, and social engagement. With these enhanced spaces, VPI Day Services will immediately double one-to-one service capacity, and serve more than 100 additional individuals annually, providing a welcoming, accessible environment tailored to diverse needs.
This investment in centralized services will also create operational efficiencies, improve safety and accessibility, and provide development opportunities for staff.
“This new VPI Community Program Collective will allow us the ability to serve more individuals and their families with the services they are in need of in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Tim Riebau, VPI, Inc President and CEO.
The groundbreaking ceremony is Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 10:30 a.m. at 2350 N. Casaloma Dr. Appleton, WI 54915. Media representatives are invited to attend to interview VPI leaders as they celebrate this milestone.
For more information on how you can support the Community Programs Collective and help us build a brighter future for individuals differing abilities, please visit vpiwi.org/donate.
PHOTO/VISUAL/INTERVIEW OPPS: Photographers and videographers are asked to arrive no later than 10:15 a.m. VPI staff will be available to show you where equipment can be set up and where the event will take place.
For more information, please contact:
Allie Lucht
Marketing & Development Manager
alucht@vpiwi.org
(920) 749-5859
VPI’s mission is to promote the dignity and worth of individuals who have disabilities or are disadvantaged and to assist them in developing their optimum level of social, vocational, and economic independence in the community.
VPI, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization provides a variety of community programs and services – including education, early intervention, employment, mental health, and social and recreational services, and packaging solutions to the Fox Cities and surrounding areas. By providing efficient contract packaging and production services to private industry with an integrated workforce, VPI has been able to deliver community programing and services to support the changing needs of community members with disabilities or disadvantages.
Domino Customers Celebrate Best-in-class at TLMI Awards Dinner
At the TLMI Annual Meeting September 29 – October 2, 2024 at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida USA, TLMI Announced this year’s Best-in-Class Winners of their Printing Excellence Awards on the last night of the event at a beautiful Awards Dinner attended by over 400 converter and supplier members.
The TLMI Printing Excellence Awards celebrate the outstanding printing and converting achievements in the North American Label and Packaging Industry. This program creates a visible connection between labels that are produced daily on press and label award-winning submissions. The TLMI Printing Excellence Awards recognize all print processes including digital, flexography, gravure, offset, rotary screen, and multi-process and is open to all converter members. Winners are recognized at TLMI’s Annual Meeting in the Fall and eligible for entry in the World Label Awards.
Of the nine Best-in-Class category winners announced and celebrated on stage, Domino customers brought home three of those Best-in-Class awards! Amherst Label, an Inovar company; ASL Print FX, an AWT Company; and International Label & Printing.
Amherst Label, an Inovar company was awarded Best-in-Class in the category ‘Beverage – Alcoholic’ for the label 13 Below Cold IPA – Baxter Brewing Company. The label was produced on one of their two MPS-Domino hybrid presses. Nye Hornor, President of Amherst Label, accepted the award on stage. In addition to this Best-in-Class award, Amherst Label was also a First-Place winner with two other labels… All Times Sparkling Cider – Citizen Cider in the ‘Beverage – Nonalcoholic’ category, and Gusto – Seven Birches Winery in the category ‘Wine & Spirits – All, including neck label’. In addition, Amherst Label earned Second Place in ‘Wine & Spirits – All, including neck label’ for their label Essential Vermont Hopped Gin – Appalachian Gap Distillery – Switchback Brewing Company. Says Nye Hornor, “The three Domino presses allow us to service our customer with the highest quality product. The Domino difference has made an Amherst Label difference. We appreciate the support and partnership we have had for over 7 plus years.”
ASL Print FX, an AWT Company was awarded Best-in-Class in the category ‘Industrial & Automotive’ for the label East Penn Traveller’s Choice RV Care. The label was produced on their Domino N610i digital UV inkjet label press. Charlie MacLean, president of ASL Print FX, accepted the award on stage and after the event reflected on this special moment. “This TLMI Best-in-Class award truly reflects ASL’s commitment to excellence. From an equipment standpoint, the precision and reliability of our Domino press played a crucial role in achieving this recognition. We look forward to continuing our partnership and pushing the boundaries of label printing together.”
International Label & Printing was awarded Best-in-Class in the category ‘Promotional & Extended Content’ for the label Laconic Foods Orange Blossom Honey. This label was produced on their Nilpeter-Domino hybrid press. Mark Turk, president & CEO of International Label & Printing, accepted the award on stage and later spoke of sincere gratitude. “We are very appreciative of TLMI and its judging team for bestowing this award to us. We are also extremely grateful for the support of the entire Domino team in receiving this honor. Special thanks also go out to our team at International Label and to our customer, Laconic Foods. We are very proud and happy!”
In addition, Domino customers Label King and Macaran, a NextGen Label Group Company, were award winners as well with labels printed on their Domino N610i digital UV inkjet label press.
Label King was awarded First Place in the category of ‘Household – UTC’ for the label Elum Designs Disco Cowgirl Boot; First Place in the category of ‘Wellness, Pharmaceutical, & Nutraceutical’ for the label Grizzly Peak Grateful Dave; First Place in the category of ‘Beverage – Nonalcoholic’ for the label Kavahol Alcohol-Free Kava Spirit; and Second Place in the category ‘Wellness, Pharmaceutical, & Nutraceutical’ for the label Hydropro Chocolate Whey Protein.
Macaran, a NextGen Label Group Company, was awarded Second Place in the category of ‘Food’ with their label SAP JACK.
TLMI’s nine Best-in-Class winners, as well as a group of North American First Place Winners individually selected by the Awards Judges, will go on to compete in the International World Label Awards.
David Ellen, Domino Global Divisional Director – Digital Printing, sums up the TLMI Awards Dinner with the feeling of proud partnership. “It’s wonderful to be part of such an amazing association as TLMI, and witness the profound way they are honoring the label industry and the excellent achievements of converters. And in doing so, it’s exciting to celebrate the tremendous success of our customers. The partnership between Domino and converters goes far beyond providing technology to meet the everyday need to produce beautiful, durable labels for the brands. It’s a relationship built on trust, commitment, and longevity. Watching our customers grow their business, win awards, and celebrate… I could not be prouder.”
Domino is a leading manufacturer and distributor of digital printing and product identification solutions. Celebrating its 46th year in business, Domino is a global organization with world headquarters in the UK, and North American headquarters in Gurnee, IL. Domino has 25 subsidiaries, representation in over 120 countries, and over 3,000 employees worldwide. As of June 2015, Domino is a Brother Group company. For more information on Domino, please visit dominodigitalprinting.com
Hi-Tech Plastics, Inc. – “Stretching” to Exceed Your Expectations!
Hi-Tech Plastics, Inc. is a proud family-owned business specializing in top-quality cast machine, hand, banding, disposable, and specialty stretch films. Based in Kaukauna, WI, the company’s story began in 1986. In 1999, Bernie Dahlin acquired the business, and in 2020, his son Chip assumed the role of President and CEO. By 2024, Chip’s son Gus had stepped into the role of Vice President and General Manager, continuing the family tradition of leadership.
With over 30 years of expertise, Hi-Tech Plastics has become a trusted name in the stretch film industry. The company offers a wide range of custom solutions, whether it’s incorporating UV inhibitors (UVI) to extend the lifespan of films used outdoors or providing a spectrum of color options to enhance warehouse organization. Their commitment to customer satisfaction shines through in every aspect of their work.
Hi-Tech Plastics stands out from the competition with a stunning selection of 19 colors, available in a variety of gauges, widths, and lengths. Colored stretch film not only aids in warehouse management but also reduces the risk of denied freight claims by making loads easily identifiable when they leave the dock. These films are perfect for enhancing brand identity, increasing security, and protecting products by concealing them and limiting visibility.
At Hi-Tech Plastics, the company’s success is driven by their commitment to teamwork. Their core belief, embodied by the acronym TEAM – Together Everybody Achieves More – is central to their culture. With a dedicated, knowledgeable team, Hi-Tech Plastics consistently delivers quality products while “stretching” to exceed customer expectations.
Quad Plus: From Exploration to Production
From Exploration to Production: The Role of Technology in Enhancing Efficiency in the Oil and Gas Sector
Cutting costs, increasing output, and reducing emissions: three goals that all leaders in the oil and gas industry continuously prioritize. Achieving these goals means optimizing processes that are already highly complex, finding sources of inefficiency and loss, and remaining agile in a volatile and disruptive economic climate. Here are a few ways technology is making waves in the oil and gas industry.
Transforming Oil & Gas Exploration
Technology-enabled exploration and production techniques allow for the fast expansion of production levels. Digital technology has revolutionized seismic imaging and interpretation, for example, and recent advancements allow ultra-sensitive equipment to collect vast amounts of data.
Geophones are ultra-sensitive sound-emitting devices, and seismologists use them to explore underground formations. This information can be used to make precise maps and 3D images of subsurface structures, making it faster and easier to identify suitable drilling locations.
Precise & Environmentally Friendly Drilling
Measurement while drilling (MWD) technology collects information in real-time that allows the drilling process to be optimized while it is in progress. Increasingly accurate sensors in the drill string measure things like pressure, temperature, and vibration, allowing minor corrections to be made throughout the process for the highest levels of accuracy.
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has made drastic advancements in drilling production by providing a way to extract oil and gas resources from previously inaccessible geological locations or areas that were otherwise considered too inefficient to pursue.
Advancements in sensor technology are also being used to monitor environmental conditions and carbon emissions in real-time. This data can be used to identify oil spills and flares or areas where pollutants may be a concern, allowing for fast response times to hazardous conditions. Infrared imaging is also being used to detect gas leaks in real-time.
Pipeline Maintenance & Management
One of the most essential pipeline inspection and maintenance technologies is unmanned devices. Drones take to the air with various surveying devices, such as high-resolution cameras and thermal sensors. Miles of pipeline can be thoroughly inspected without any danger or even inconvenience to human inspectors. It also allows for strategically positioning workers and resources where they are needed for increased efficiency.
Pipeline integrity gauges (PIGs) have been used for decades as cleaning systems for pipelines, and recent innovations have made them even more useful. The attachment of sensors that detect corrosion, cracks, and other defects ensures the pipeline’s integrity, and GPS technology makes it easy to pinpoint areas that need attention.
Advancements in data transmission, management, and processing allow for even more conclusions to be drawn from the vast amounts of data collected. For example, analytics and forecasting software can predict the lifespan of a pipeline segment based on measurements from a PIG device and aerial photos.
Renewable Energy Incorporation
The oil and gas industry may be primarily interested in producing fuel from nonrenewable sources, but operations can use renewable energy sources to improve their sustainability and reduce carbon emissions.
For example, solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources can power operations in remote oil and gas fields, reducing the need for diesel-powered generators on offshore platforms. These energy sources are lower in cost and reduce the industry’s overall emission of greenhouse gases.
The Future of Oil & Gas
Resisting the implementation of digital technologies to improve operations can hinder success in the oil and gas industry. Wide-scale change and the learning curve associated with new processes and practices are frequently at the heart of this resistance.
When new technologies can be integrated with existing systems and upgrades and changes rolled out in a way that makes sense for both management and workers, the benefits of change can be seen more clearly.
Quad Plus puts its industry experience to work every day to integrate new technologies and retrofit equipment in every industry. When you’re ready to maximize the efficiency and productivity of your operations with a price tag that makes sense, contact Jim Woulf at jwoulf@quadplus.com or call (920) 515-4155.
SPL Consulting: Are Team Building and Results Independent Initiatives?
In today’s challenging business climate, there is ongoing pressure to find employees, build a strong team and generate results like lower waste, greater efficiency and increased profitability. Often team building and results are thought of and managed as two separate objectives. Human resource or operations focused. What if there was a proven approach to combine the two and achieve both objectives at the same time? Let me show you how.
What if we shift our focus slightly from the desired outcome or result to the inputs that ultimately drive the outcome? Many of the issues that hold us back from achieving the results we have targeted are hidden in plain “sight”. They often are veiled in the frustrations of our teams coming from circumstances or processes that make it hard for them to do the job we ask of them. What if we took on an initiative to seek feedback from the team on issues they face that cause frustration or lead to feeling overwhelmed? This can set the stage for how we go about achieving results. Let me share a real-life example.
I was recently approached by two clients to facilitate Kaizens on front-end processes. One was focused on reducing errors and the other was focused on creating capacity. As we worked our way through the process, we trained in new tools, observed processes, captured 75-100 issues that were opportunities to improve, worked as a team to generate solutions and created new standardized processes (standard work). Through working together, team members who work in these processes ultimately felt heard. Team members from other departments gained an understanding, and appreciation, for the complexity of other team member’s processes.
As we summarized each event, many participants in the Kaizen shared their thoughts on the process. A number of them are below:
- “I felt validated that our process was broken and was the real cause for a lot of our issues”
- “Team members who will utilize the new standard work are doing backflips they’re so excited about how it will improve their work life!”
- “I knew there would be waste opportunities but was shocked by the amount of opportunities we found!”
- “It brought us all together as a team”
- One CEO shared the impact after numerous events, “This was the best team building exercise we have ever done. Employees who never talked to each other before have ongoing relationships now”
As evidenced by feelings shared by participants, their takeaways captured the personal impact on them as a team and as individuals. But let’s not forget the results. These two events resulted in a combined 4,426 hours of capacity created and a reduction of over 96,000 touches! SPL’s approach helped the teams identify front-end process changes that also greatly reduced and even eliminated the potential for errors (Poka-yoke ポカヨケ).
To summarize, Lean Processes properly applied, not only generate bottom line improvement but become one of the best team building and morale-boosting actions you can take for your team. So, let’s put the horse before the cart and hear our team’s needs. When we do this, Team Building and Achieving Results become one in the same.
Brian Van de Water
CEO
SPL Consulting, LLC.
brian@splconsultingllc.com
splconsultingllc.com
