Lean Together™, a working group for operational excellence focusing on concepts of 2 Second Lean, is scheduled to kick-off on April 26, 2017. The kick-off breakfast meeting will be from 8-10am at LindenPointe in Hermitage, PA and will include a special keynote speaker, as well as introduction to the group’s facilitator Craig Corsi, Lean Specialist with Vie Associates.
Keynote speaker for the kick-off is Kelly Goodsel, President and CEO at Viking Plastics, discussing the company’s success with 2 Second Lean. Viking Plastics initiated their journey in 2011 after discovering Paul Akers, author of the book, 2 Second Lean). Soon after, the company implemented Viking Academy and developed a strong employee culture through its daily drumbeat meetings. Goodsel’s team includes Engineering Manager, Shawn Gross, who represented Viking at the 2015 FastCap Lean Summit (hosted by Paul Akers), as well as during a Lean Mission Tour in Japan with Paul Akers, Norman Bodek, and Ritsuo Shingo.
In addition to serving as President and CEO, Goodsel is a member of the ownership group, VPI Acquisition Corp., which purchased Viking Plastics in August 2006. He joined the company in 2000 with extensive experience in the plastics industry. A graduate of Ferris State University with dual degrees in Plastics Engineering and Sales and Marketing, He held various positions with DuPont in sales, marketing, research and development, and management. While at DuPont, Goodsel also earned his MBA from Temple University. After DuPont, he joined the Huron Plastics Group, a major supplier of injection-molded plastic components to the automotive industry and served in sales and general management positions. Following Huron’s acquisition by LDM Technologies, he became vice president and general manager of the Fremont Plastic Products Division of The Plastics Group, a leading blow molding company.
This Lean Together™ working group, hosted by NWIRC, is geared for manufacturers in Mercer and surrounding counties, and is still open for enrollment. Please contact Molly Reichard at (814) 898-6888 for more information or to enroll your company.