Gaining the Competitive Edge –
The Institute For World Class Manufacturing

The manufacturing environment is more competitive than ever and companies are searching for ways to gain an advantage over their competitors. Many organizations have come to realize that they must take action now or they will be left behind as their competitors eat up their market. A proven way to gain that competitive edge is through the adoption and implementation of World Class Manufacturing principles and methods.

World Class Manufacturing is when a company dedicates its resources to a never-ending improvement process of quality, cost, lead-time and customer service that enables them to effectively compete in their marketplace. World Class Manufacturing practices provide the foundation on which an organization can improve their profits, strengthen their competitive position, and grow their business. The benefits of World Class Manufacturing practices include:

• Increased profits
• Outstanding customer service
• Minimization of non value-added activity
• Improved quality
• Employee involvement that leads to job satisfaction and the retention of the workforce
• Stronger position to compete in regional, national & international markets

The Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center (DVIRC), the Manufacturing Extension Partnership center in Southeastern PA, created the Institute For World Class Manufacturing (IWCM) in 1997 to address the growing needs of area manufacturers for lasting improvements. Once only available to large manufacturing companies, the IWCM is the first educational center in the Greater Philadelphia region devoted exclusively to the instruction of World Class Manufacturing methods and principles. The goal of the Institute is to accelerate the adoption of WCM practices by area manufacturers in the face of growing opportunity and competition.

Together, New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP) and DVIRC bring the leading-edge concepts of World Class Manufacturing to small and mid-sized manufacturing firms. Workshops are structured around the core disciplines of World Class Manufacturing:

Lean Manufacturing, Quality Systems, Employee Involvement, Information Technology/Product Development, and Growth Strategies. Seminars include Principles of Lean Manufacturing, Value Stream Mapping, Pull/Kanban Systems, Visual Workplace, Lean Accounting, Progressive Supply Chain Management, Introduction to Quality Systems, Implementing Human Resources, Team building, Strategic Business Planning, Tactical Marketing, Selling Skills for Manufacturers, Design for Manufacture & Assembly, and Lean Product Development. Workshops are conducted via public seminars or customized for on-site, company specific delivery.

To find out more information about the Institute For World Class Manufacturing, or to register, contact NJMEP at 973.642.7099 or check World Class Manufacturing on the fax back form and fax it in.

Controlled Environment Production Area at
Captive Plastics, Inc.