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2007 Highlights 2006 Highlights 2005 Highlights About IW Best Plants 2008 Nominations Open
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2007 IW
Best Plants Conference Brandt combines two decades of experience in marketing, management, and consulting with a passion for journalism that has earned him more than 20 awards for reporting, writing, and editing. Most recently he served as president, publisher and editorial director of the Chief Executive Group, publisher of Chief Executive, where his leadership transformed it from an also-ran into one of publishing's most surprising comebacks. Prior to joining Chief Executive, Brandt was publisher and editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek, the definitive source of current information and analyses of the world's foremost manufacturing organizations. Under his leadership, the once troubled IndustryWeek (the magazine had lost money for more than a decade) won more than 70 editorial awards for excellence while more than doubling its revenues, putting it solidly in the black. Most prominent among the numerous initiatives he launched at IW is IndustryWeek.com, an award-winning (and profitable) web venture that serves senior executives around the globe. Brandt also led the development of several pioneering, large-scale research efforts at IndustryWeek, including the IndustryWeek Census of Manufacturers, the IW Value Chain Survey, the World-Class Communities Project, the IndustryWeek 1000, and the World's Best Managed Companies Program. Brandt was also involved in the IndustryWeek Best Plants program. He continues to write an award-winning column for IndustryWeek. Brandt is also an internationally recognized expert on management and technology, lecturing frequently in the U.S. and abroad on topics including Leadership, Customer Value, Management Best Practices, Economic Outlook, Building World-Class Communities, and Manufacturing Strategies for the New Millennium. Brandt's unique access and relationships with CEOs and top executive teams gives him an exceptional understanding of how traditional and non-traditional organizations can reinvent themselves through the intelligent use of advanced management theory and leading-edge technology. In both his speech presentations and advisory activities, Brandt combines these assets with his wit, research and insights to help organizations position themselves for a long and profitable future. In addition, Brandt has been a lifestyle columnist for The Plain Dealer, one of the nation's largest newspapers, and a humor columnist for Shaker Magazine, an award-winning regional publication. A recipient of the prestigious Neal Award in 1998, Brandt has also served as a Neal Awards judge. He has also served as a judge for the National Association of Manufacturers Awards for Workforce Excellence, as an advisory board member of both SupplierInsight.com and Ken-Tool Manufacturing, and as a director of the Ohio MEMS Association and the Work in Northeast Ohio Council. Co-chair of the Northeast Ohio Product Innovation Initiative, Brandt is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he held the James Dysart Magee Economics Fellowship.
Tom FallonVP of Mission Assurance for Technical Services Northrop Grumman Corp (2004 Best Plants Winner) ![]() Tom Fallon has executive responsibility for sector-wide mission assurance and Six Sigma functions to improve quality, increase productivity and provide predictable program performance. Since joining Northrop Grumman in 1974, Fallon has held a variety of professional and management positions of increasing responsibility in quality, engineering, manufacturing and program management. He served most recently as the director of quality assurance at the company's Electronic Systems sector. Fallon earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Northeastern University and a master's degree in business administration from Babson College. He also completed the Six Sigma Green Belt certification program at the University of Michigan.
Ron
JohnsonDirector of Global Manufacturing Batesville Casket (2004 Best Plants Winner) ![]() Ron Johnson is the director of global manufacturing for Batesville Casket Company, a Division of Hillenbrand Industries. He is responsible for the overall operation of sites in Batesville, Ind.; Manchester, Tenn.; Batesville, Miss.; Vicksburg, Miss.; Chihuahua, Mexico; and Mexico City, Mexico. Johnson is a Certified Quality Engineer with a master's in manufacturing management from GMI and a bachelor's in industrial technology from Middle Tennessee State University. He is a graduate of the AMCIP, Advanced Management Continuous Improvement Program, which is an advanced leadership program in Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. Johnson has held various positions of increasing responsibility throughout his career. This includes positions with the U.S. Army, True Temper, Murray, Comfortzone and Batesville since 1984. He served as the general operations manager in the Manchester, Tenn. facility for the six years. Under Johnson's leadership and direction, the Manchester Operation grew into one of the top manufacturing facilities in North America with its recognition as a Top 25 Best Plant finalist in both 2002 and 2003, and a Top 10 winner in 2004. The Manchester Plant has recently received the AME National Award for Manufacturing Excellence. This is the highest award given by AME and considered Manchester to be the "Best of the Best." Johnson's primary focus in his current role is the implementation of Batesville's manufacturing and talent development strategies to remain competitive as they face the challenges from domestic and overseas competition.
Dr. Peter MartinVP & GM Performance Management Invensys ![]() Dr. Martin joined The Foxboro Company in the 1970's and has worked in a variety of positions in training, engineering, product planning, marketing and strategic planning. He left Foxboro to become vice president at Intech Controls and also at Automation Research Corporation before returning to Invensys in 1996. Since his return he had been VP of marketing for Foxboro and chief marketing officer for Invensys Manufacturing and Process Systems prior to moving into his current position. He has authored numerous published articles and technical papers and has written two books: Bottom Line Automation and Dynamic Performance Management: The Pathway to World Class Manufacturing. Dr. Martin holds multiple patents including the patent for Dynamic Performance Measures, Real-Time Activity-Based Costing, Closed-loop business control, and Asset and Resource Modeling, which are the basis for Fortune recently naming him a Hero of U.S. Manufacturing. He was also recently named as one of the 50 Most Influential Innovators of All Time by the Instrument, Systems and Automation Society (ISA). Dr. Martin has a bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics and a master's in administration and management, a master's in biblical studies, a doctorate in industrial engineering, and is in the process of completing his doctorate in biblical studies.
Bill SchwartzVP Business Development TBM Consulting Group ![]() A partner with TBM since 1991, Bill Schwartz is head of worldwide business development. He has introduced lean principles at dozens of companies over the years and often launches LeanSigma® initiatives for new clients. Schwartz has a widely recognized expertise in translating lean principles for business processes in manufacturing and service industries. He is currently responsible for marketing and new client development for TBM Consulting Group worldwide, and has consulted with such leading companies as Freudenberg-NOK, the Critikon Division of Johnson & Johnson, and Hill-Rom Company. Schwartz's expertise in streamlining and optimizing business processes makes him much sought after as a consultant. Earlier in his career, Schwartz was a senior consultant with Howell Management Corporation and was vice president of sales and marketing for Medallic Art Company. A graduate of Colgate University with a degree in mathematics, Schwartz earned his master's in business administration from New York University's Stern School of Business.
Kyle
SolomonVP of Marketing Activplant Corporation ![]() Kyle Solomon provides 20 years of industry experience to Activplant Corporation. He is a passionate leader with a proven track record of building and managing high performance teams that deliver relevant software solutions for some of the largest software companies in the world such as Microsoft and Oracle Corporation and others. Most recently he was the world-wide industry manager at Microsoft Corporation serving the global automotive and industrial equipment marketplaces. In this role he architected and led the team that and delivered Microsoft's Peak Performance Automotive solution and go-to-market strategy, launching globally in 2005. Solomon offers a deep understanding of the challenges facing manufacturers today and a real passion for solutions that deliver value. Solomon brings to the company a deep understanding of both technology and industry issues combined with a unique capability to develop compelling messages and market-focused solutions.
John StefankoManager, North American Molding Engineering Delphi Corp (2003 Best Plants Winner) ![]() John Stefanko was plant manager of Delphi Corporation's Cortland Molding Plant when that operation was awarded IndustryWeek's Best Plants designation in 2003. The Cortland plant boasts world class quality, delivery, and utilization performance, with numerous applications of Lean tools and methods. Currently manager of North American molding engineering for Delphi Packard Electric Systems, Stefanko has been with General Motors and Delphi Corporation since 1984. He has held numerous positions in manufacturing, quality engineering, strategic planning, and product & process engineering. Stefanko holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Cleveland State University, and an MBA from Cornell University.
Linda
TaylorIndustry Consultant FedEx Services ![]() As industry marketing manager at FedEx, and an expert in the electrical manufacturing industry, Linda Taylor is responsible for developing strategic initiatives for FedEx's services in this sector. She serves as a liaison between FedEx and electrical manufacturers and brings insight to innovative uses of transportation products. FedEx is a major player in this industry with a customer base of over 100,000 and a half billion in revenues. Prior to joining FedEx, Taylor had over 15 years experience at Butler Manufacturing and The Wiremold Company, where she held leadership roles in marketing, product development and manufacturing.
Dr. Rich
WellinsSVP Global Marketing & Business Development Development Dimensions International ![]() Rich Wellins, Ph.D. joined Development Dimensions International (DDI) in 1981 as manager of consulting. He has served as vice president for the southern region, vice president of research and product development, vice president of consulting services, vice president of global accounts and currently serves as a senior vice president of global marketing and a member of DDI's executive coaching and development team. Prior to working at DDI, he served as senior research psychologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute and as an assistant professor of I/O psychology at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. Dr. Wellins' responsibilities include:
His recent accomplishments include: leading DDI's global account program, conducting a global study on leadership best practices, helping new manufacturing facilities select and train highly participative workforces, managing DDI's internal knowledge management function, and introducing a new leadership system. He has written for more than 20 publications, published six books, including the best seller Empowered Teams: Creating Self-Directed Work Groups That Improve Quality, Productivity, and Participation, and made dozens of presentations at numerous professional conferences around the world. His research has been featured in Fast Company, the Wall Street Fournal, CNBC, Fortune and numerouse international publications. In addition to his publishing and speaking responsibilities, Wellins spends time on a number of consulting assignments. A few recent examples include:
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