Kaizen Process Improving
Productivity at The Hope Group
Northboro , MA – (9-1-2004) The introduction of the “Kaizen” process at The Hope Group has proven to be very worthwhile according to CEO Carey Rhoten. “Our involvement was initiated as a result of an invitation from Mike Marvin of Parker Hannifin to The Hope Group to attend a three-day training session in February 2003 in Florida ,” said Rhoten.
“We attended along with other Parker distributors. The process continued in November 2003 in Orlando, Florida . We participated in an intense three-day orientation and training session that further reinforced our understanding and commitment to the Kaizen process,” he added.
According to Rhoten, during the past two years, through Kaizen “events” The Hope Group has experienced a tremendous change in the way it performs some of its basic procedures, from billing to fabrication.
Since April over 40 Hope Group employees have participated directly in either a Rapid Improvement Event (RIE) or Value Stream Mapping (VSM) event. Jon Mitton, Kaizen Core Team leader, reported that over the past three months the committee has received many RIE or VSM suggestions from Hope Group employees. Employee participation is an essential requirement for a successful Kaizen event, according to Mitton.
The current Kaizen calendar at The Hope Group has over 25 approved topics for either an RIE or VSM event scheduled in the near future. In addition, its HELP program has been revitalized, which is designed to provide quick fixes to simple problems.
Rhoten also said that the annual Employee Evaluation process recently adopted a change in the “quality” section to acknowledge and reward active participation in the Kaizen process. The commitment to Kaizen has become a core element in how business gets done at The Hope Group according to Rhoten.
The Hope Group is the leading independent industrial distributor in New England. It has locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It features motion control and products from Parker, Kaeser Compressors, GE Fanuc, Cutler-Hammer and other manufacturers. Its principal product lines include hydraulic, pneumatic, automation, fluid connector, fluid power, seals and o-rings for industry.
