“Lean Thinkers” to Gather in Indianapolis

March 19, 2012 - PRLog -- “Lean Thinkers” to Gather in Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN – March 20, 2012 – A number of lean manufacturing authors and practitioners are scheduled to speak at an Indianapolis event May 1-3. Indianapolis-based Lean Frontiers, LLC is organizing and hosting the 7th Annual Lean Product and Process Development Exchange (LPPDE) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. David Meier, former Toyota Manager and author of Toyota Culture and The Toyota Way Fieldbook, will kick off the event as opening keynote speaker. Jim Morgan, Ford Motor Company and author of Toyota Product Development System, will keynote the second day of the Exchange.

According to Dwayne Butcher, Lean Frontiers VP, lean product development is an extension of lean thinking in operations, “Companies that apply lean principles only to operations miss out on the true cost savings often associated with lean. If you look at Toyota’s business model, the greatest impact on their business is product development.” Butcher noted that speed to market and cost savings through lean design are key results of lean product development.

Company case studies make up the largest share of presentations and are represented by Johnson & Johnson, HP, Steelecase, Ford, Goodyear, Bombardier, Watlow, SAAB, and National Instruments among others. Each presentation includes a description of implementation before, during, and after lean product development practices were put in place along with the resulting outcomes.

LPPDE makes a stop in Indianapolis after past events were hosted in San Diego, Hilton Head, Denver, and Sweden, with a Fall 2012 event in Berlin, Germany. Butcher commented, “This is a unique opportunity for companies in Indiana and around the mid-west to take part in a truly global event. There is no event in the world that draws together this number and caliber of lean product development proponents.”

Expected attendees of the event consist of individuals in product development, engineering, research and development, operations, lean champions, and executive leadership.

The LPPDE event fee is $1895 and includes two days keynote presentations, a choice of three concurrent breakout sessions, breakfast and lunch, and conference materials. An optional workshop can be added for $795 and is held on May 1.

LPPDE is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to expand the depth and breadth of lean product development principles and practices. LPPDE can be found at www.lppde.org.

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