Expanding Earthwise Group Holds "Operational Excellence Summit"

EVANSVILLE, Ind., Dec. 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty-five operational leaders of the Earthwise Group recently gathered at an "Operational Excellence Summit" in Evansville, Indiana. The purpose of the event was to advance lean manufacturing processes at all Earthwise window and door fabrication facilities across the U.S.

The Earthwise Group (www.earthwisewindows.com) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of windows and doors for residential and commercial use. Adhering to a culture of "collaborative manufacturing," the Earthwise Group is a national network of independent, locally-owned companies. This select group fabricators build Earthwise products for optimum performance in specific climate zones. The Group regularly meets to conduct informational sessions for continuous process improvement across the organization.

This lean manufacturing session was held at Earthwise of Evansville, Indiana (American Window and Glass), a founding member of the Earthwise Group. The group of 25 attendees from across the country took part in training at the Evansville facility. They also toured the nearby Toyota manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana, to see lean manufacturing principles in practice on a large scale. The Toyota plant is a world-class manufacturing facility where over 4,500 people produce nearly 300,000 vehicles per year.

After the Toyota tour, Summit attendees worked in small groups performing Lean Manufacturing audits in concert with the management and production teams at American Window & Glass. The main goal of Lean Manufacturing is the elimination of waste. Waste can be identified in the form of material scrap, inefficient product flow, unnecessary movement, and many other forms. Once learned, Lean Manufacturing principles can be applied throughout an organization. By employing these principles, an organization is able to deliver higher quality products at lower costs and with greater efficiency.

According to Mark Davis, Executive Director of the Earthwise Group, "This event is another example of how far the Earthwise Group has come over the past few years. Our advances in the area of operational excellence may not be as well-publicized as our marketing and purchasing initiatives, but they are equally important to our group and its members. Many talented people contributed to the success of this event."

Collectively, Earthwise Group members are expected to manufacture approximately 900,000 vinyl windows this year. Earthwise window and patio door sales have more than doubled over the past five years. 

For information visit: www.earthwisewindows.com

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SOURCE Earthwise Group, LLC

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