Events

June 29, 2022

IFA Summerville shared its phased Industry 4.0 journey, highlighting how digitizing production orders, implementing an MES, and enabling traceability are driving real operational gains. The team demonstrated how real-time data, FORCAM MES, and Power BI are being used not just to visualize performance, but to drive better decisions on the shop floor. Early results include improvements in WIP, inventory accuracy, and productivity, with traceability and predictive analytics next on the roadmap.

June 9, 2022

During an OpExChange plant visit, Dish Network’s Spartanburg facility shared how a strong lean foundation and deep trust-based culture enabled a major operational transformation. As the site transitioned from set-top box remanufacturing to supporting Dish’s 5G network buildout, leaders emphasized workforce engagement, visual management, and transparent career pathways as critical success factors. The visit reinforced how disciplined lean practices and intentional people development can help organizations navigate significant change while strengthening culture.

May 17, 2022

BOMAG Americas shared how they use Hoshin Kanri and the X-Matrix to align long-term strategy with daily execution across the organization. The Ridgeway, SC site demonstrated how safety, standard work, and PDCA turn strategic goals into measurable action on the plant floor.

April 19, 2022

Why did dozens of manufacturing leaders travel to a remote site in Abbeville? To see how Stoll Industries combines strong leadership and lean manufacturing to achieve world-class retention. Despite beginning their lean journey only a year ago, Stoll has reduced floor space by 30%, cut hours from 65 to 40 per week, improved flow, and boosted first-pass yield to 80%. Even more impressive is their long-standing culture—anchored in servant leadership—that has sustained roughly 95% retention. Stoll’s focus on people first has created a foundation where continuous improvement thrives.

April 5, 2022

During this visit, VELUX shared how their Greenwood, South Carolina facility is advancing an ambitious commitment to become Lifetime Carbon Neutral by their 100-year anniversary. Through aggressive recycling initiatives, renewable energy investments, and partnerships focused on forest conservation, the site demonstrated how sustainability can be embedded into daily operations while delivering real business value. The visit highlighted VELUX’s belief that responsible manufacturing, continuous improvement, and environmental stewardship are inseparable.

March 16, 2022

AFL Accessories in Duncan, SC has achieved 22 years without a lost-time accident and more than 6.5 million safe work hours in a machining-intensive environment. The team combines a strong people-first culture with practical technology, including real-time locating systems, 3D printing, robotics, and data analytics. Their focus on flexibility, hands-on learning, and employee engagement supports both retention and operational excellence. AFL’s approach shows how simplicity, leadership, and smart technology can work together on the shop floor.

March 10, 2022

Polydeck Screen in Spartanburg hosted a plant visit focused on two critical priorities: caring for employees and safety. The team shared how a deeply rooted caring culture—supported by dedicated Caring roles and a company-funded Caring Fund—drives engagement and supports their goal of zero safety incidents. Attendees experienced hands-on safety practices, including observational audits, onboarding, and employee-led safety programs. Polydeck demonstrated how genuine care for people can translate directly into stronger safety performance.

February 18, 2022

BorgWarner’s Seneca team hosted a plant visit showcasing logistics and inventory improvements at their Shiloh warehouse, featuring drone-based cycle counting from Gather AI and autonomous trailer-loading robots from Slip Robotics. Attendees saw live demonstrations led by warehouse employees, highlighting gains in accuracy, safety, and dock efficiency with rapid implementation timelines. The visit underscored how targeted automation can quickly reduce waste and deliver measurable operational value.

February 10, 2022

Veteran manufacturing leader Mike Ungar shared how Industry 4.0 should be viewed not as a standalone initiative, but as a set of tools that strengthen an existing Lean culture. Lean remains the backbone—focused on flow, waste reduction, and PDCA—while digital technologies can dramatically accelerate improvement cycles. The key message: start with a clearly defined problem, then apply the right Industry 4.0 tools to support Lean, not the other way around.

January 20, 2022

SCMEP introduced its Workforce Development Playbook to help manufacturers address today’s labor challenges through a strategic focus on Recruitment, Retention, and Reputation. During the OpExChange broadcast, Bill Bliss and Susan Whitehead highlighted that engagement and culture—more than compensation alone—are the strongest predictors of retention. The playbook provides practical, short- and long-term actions across 21 workforce topics, reinforced by SCMEP’s “Smart Talent” approach, which applies systematic leadership development to drive engagement and reduce turnover. A full recording, tools, and resources are available on the Portal.