Events

January 16, 2020

OpExChange members toured Komatsu America’s Newberry facility last week to see firsthand their industry-leading safety culture and energy improvements. The team shared their six-tiered safety program, including a near-miss reporting system, Safety Dojo, risk assessments, and “Point & Call” practices, resulting in zero lost-time accidents in the past five years and a 67% reduction in recordables. Members also learned how Komatsu reduced their carbon footprint by 55% through data-driven energy management. The visit highlighted Komatsu’s engaged management, lean principles in action, and strong community involvement, offering valuable peer-to-peer insights for attendees.

December 12, 2019

DISH Network hosted a plant visit in Spartanburg showcasing Industry 4.0 projects developed largely in-house by their engineering and operations teams. Highlights included vision systems with OCR for automated cosmetic inspection, collaborative robots improving productivity and reducing material costs, and a redesigned returns process that cut floor space by 30% with a sub–two-year payback. The visit also demonstrated how lean principles, IoT sensors, and workforce training are tightly integrated to drive continuous improvement.