Events

September 8, 2022

Harsco Rail is driving a lean transformation at its West Columbia facility by empowering employees as problem solvers. Through disciplined A3 problem-solving and daily management, the team has delivered nearly $3 million in improvements without capital investment. The focus is simple and effective—build capability, follow the process, and sustain results.

August 23, 2022

This visitvisit to Allied Air Enterprises drew one of the largest turnouts of the year, with thirty-five participants from fourteen member companies. The team shared how standard work, visual management, and PDCA-driven execution have significantly improved performance on their air handler lines. The visit highlighted strong alignment from Hoshin strategy deployment to shop-floor execution, with visible results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people metrics. Attendees were particularly impressed by the visual factory, takt discipline, and measurable gains achieved through focused kaizen activity.

July 8, 2022

South Carolina continues to see strong momentum in manufacturing expansions, driven by reshoring, workforce shifts, and capital investment. A panel of industry experts shared practical guidance on navigating site selection, real estate trends, workforce strategies, automation decisions, incentives, and construction planning. A consistent theme emerged: early planning and cross-functional collaboration are critical to controlling cost, schedule, and long-term performance during expansion projects.

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.