Advance Your Career in Seattle: SME Annual Meeting May 29 - June 3

    DEARBORN, Mich., May 21 A high powered technical program
will highlight Society of Manufacturing Engineers' 2001 Annual Meeting and
Manufacturing Leadership Forum, hosted by Boeing, at the Westin Hotel in
Seattle, Washington, May 29 - June 3.
    In addition to workshops and training geared to leadership issues, this
year's Annual Meeting will focus on two technologies that are changing the
face of manufacturing: Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing.
    "These are essential technologies for manufacturers intent on improving
quality, productivity and cost-cutting measures," said Peter Z. Bulkeley,
Ph.D., FSME.  "And with recognized experts as the presenters -- the people who
are successfully using these technologies -- these programs offer tremendous
value."
    Two technical programs have separate registration fees and are open to
nonmembers as well as SME members.
    The Six Sigma Manufacturing Challenge is scheduled for May 30 with Don
DeFossett, president and CEO of Walter Industries, Inc., making the keynote
presentation.  Attendees who are new to Six Sigma are urged to come a day
early -- May 29 -- for a Six Sigma management Overview by Mario Perez-Wilson,
formerly with Motorola and now principal consultant with Advanced Systems
Consultants.
    Six Sigma is a quality improvement business strategy, first developed by
Motorola.  It emphasizes the identification and avoidance of variation and the
reduction of cycle time and costs by using statistical problem solving tools
in a methodical and systematic fashion.
    The Lean Manufacturing Challenge, scheduled for May 31, will feature
keynote speaker, Hajime Ohbaas.  As general manager of the Toyota Supplier
Support Center, Ohbaas directs the Center's efforts to assist North American
manufacturers in implementing their own versions of the Toyota Production
System.
    Again, new comers to Lean Manufacturing are invited to come a day earlier
-- May 30 -- for a three-hour Management Overview by John Allen, principal of
Total Systems Development (TSD).  Allen will clarify lean manufacturing and
identify best practices for understanding and implementing the technology.
    Registration fees for the Overview sessions are $295 for members or $325
for nonmembers.  For the all-day Challenge events, fees are $495 for members
and $545 for nonmembers.
    Attendees at the two Challenge programs are invited to SME's Resource Open
House, 4 to 6 p.m., Thursday, May 31, for a first-hand look at SME's products
and services and also to talk with staff members representing SME's various
departments.

    Other events include:
    *  The Board of Directors Spring Meeting with leadership training and
other executive level sessions -- offering chapter and region leaders the
opportunity to network and meet formally and informally with their
counterparts as well as with other SME leaders and members, the executive
committee, the board of directors and the staff.
    *  Leadership sessions, workshops and activities to assist SME Members
sharpen their management, communication, and team building skills.  At the
breakfast, keynote speaker and futurist Edward Barlow Jr. will discuss
Creating the Future.  The luncheon keynote speaker, James Morris, Boeing
executive vice president for supplier management, will speak on manufacturing.
    *  Informal networking reception at the Pacific Science Center.
    *  The Society's prestigious Annual Awards banquet.
    *  The SME Annual Business Meeting.

    For more information or a detailed brochure, contact SME Customer Service
at 800-733-4763 or log on to the web site at http://www.sme.org/annualmeeting .
    SME, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., is the world's leading professional
society serving the manufacturing industries.  Through its publications,
expositions, professional development resources and member programs, SME
influences more than 500,000 manufacturing executives, managers and engineers.
Founded in 1932, SME has members in 70 countries and supports a network of
chapters worldwide.

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