Delphi's 'Journey to Lean' Presented at Annual Conference

    Supplier's 'Change Agent' to detail successful manufacturing practices

    DEARBORN, Mich., April 25 Find a change agent, get the
knowledge, seize or create the crisis.  These three points sound like top
secret steps in a "Mission Impossible" assignment, yet in reality they are the
first three of seven items in an action plan for lean manufacturing, adopted
and implemented by Delphi Automotive Systems .
    
    "Lean principles and practices are inventive, but not impossible -- we
believe successful lean practices are worth sharing," said Edward W. Northern,
director of worldwide manufacturing operations for Delphi Energy & Chassis
Systems.  "To remain competitive and meet future market needs, manufacturing
organizations must continue to evolve."

    Northern is a featured speaker at the 7th Annual Lean Manufacturing
Conference, sponsored by the University of Michigan and the Lean Enterprise
Institute.  This year's speakers will address the theme, "OEMs and Suppliers:
Partners in Lean?"

    The conference will be held at Dearborn's Hyatt Regency Hotel, April 30 -
May 2.  Discussions will be led by manufacturing consultant John Shook, known
by many for his work with Toyota and his affiliation with the Lean Enterprise
Institute and the University of Michigan; and Jeff Liker, director of the U of
M's Japan Technology Institute Program, the unit sponsoring the event.  The
keynote address at this year's conference will be given by Thomas T.
Stallkamp, CEO and vice chairman of MSX International, Inc.

    Besides Northern, James P. Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise
Institute, Graham Loewy, manager of total cost management at Ford Motor
Company, Stephen J. Hesselbrock, director of operations and Michael J. Wright,
general manager of human resources both of Trim Masters, Inc. will address the
conference.

    Workshops will be held on a wide variety of topics including value stream
mapping, creating continuous flow, heijunka planning for internal operations
and supply base, cost and performance measures in a lean system, organization
and leadership for value stream mapping, and working with suppliers in lean
product development.

    "Lean is thinking in a very distinct way," said Donald L. Runkle,
executive vice president of Delphi Automotive Systems and the company's
manufacturing task team leader.  "It's not obvious, it's not common sense and
it's not intuitive.  As a member of the Lean Enterprise Institute, we feel
these information-sharing sessions significantly help promote a better global
manufacturing environment.  Delphi is proud to be represented."

    "Lean works by developing the knowledge and putting that knowledge to work
by involving your leadership in implementing the principles," explained
Northern.  "The role of leadership must be to first learn, then teach and
finally implement the philosophies."  Northern's presentation, "Delphi's
Journey to Lean," will detail the company's manufacturing practices.  Northern
will speak on Wednesday morning, May 2.

    Northern will allow conference participants to experience the Delphi
Manufacturing System, detailing powerful data on improvements in manufacturing
costs and ship window compliance, and reductions in customer returns.

    According to Northern, over the history of production, manufacturing
systems have evolved from craft to mass to synchronous and then lean
manufacturing processes.  He said he believes that each subsequent stage
realizes gains in capabilities within a particular manufacturing operation.
"It's up to the leadership to involve everyone in the adaptation of lean.

    "Empower your people," said Northern.  "That's the first step.  Then, give
them the tools they need and step out of their way.  Real leadership in a lean
environment is both responsibility and involvement."