At NWHPEC, we believe continuous learning extends beyond our own offerings. On this page, you’ll find a curated selection of webinars and conferences from trusted external sources that align with our mission to support your efforts to foster a culture of continuous improvement. These recommendations are chosen for their quality and relevance and to compliment our offerings.
ALL TIMES PACIFIC
AME International Conference - Oct 26-29, Milwaukee WI
AME hosts one of the most impactful and influential lean conferences each year. This year’s theme is People First, Progress Together.
Join other NWHPEC members in October as we learn together. Reach out to Jennifer for information and use this discount code when you register: NP-NWHPECSPECIAL.
AME Webinar:
MORE ROI: Closing the Technology Adoption Gap That's Costing Manufacturers Performance - Nov 18 @10am
Manufacturers are investing in automation, robotics, and digital systems faster than ever. In survey after survey, executives report the same frustration: the productivity and output gains the business case promised aren’t showing up. In Deloitte’s 2025 smart manufacturing and operations survey of 600 manufacturing executives, workforce readiness to capture the value of these investments was the single most-cited concern in the industry, ahead of cost, supply chain, and demand volatility.
This isn’t a technology problem. It’s a leadership problem, and it’s solvable. In this webcast, Kathy Miller, Shingo prize recipient and author of MORE Is Better: Leading Operations with Meaning, Optimism, and Relationships for Excellence, draws on three decades leading global operations and business transformations at GM, Parker Hannifin, Rolls-Royce, and Vertiv to show AME leaders exactly which leadership practices close the gap between installing new technology and actually getting the performance results from it. Using her MORE framework — Meaning, Optimism, and Relationships — Kathy translates the science of human flourishing into specific, practical moves leaders can make during a technology rollout: how to redesign roles so automation elevates skill instead of eliminating purpose, how to build workforce confidence and follow-through using a structured goal-setting method, and how to surface adoption problems before they show up in a performance report.
This session is built for leaders who have already made the technology investment and need it to pay off, not another argument for why the human side of change matters, but a working playbook for what to do about it this quarter.
Learn more and register here
AME Webinar:
Organization Clarity: Why is it a key requirement for standardization? - Dec 1 @1pm
‘Organizational clarity’ is a frequently used term, tended to be said quickly, often overlooked. What is really meant by ‘organizational clarity’? What’s the benefits of establishing it? What’s the risks when not considered deeply enough?
Emily Swaney (OhioHealth) will note ‘organizational clarity’ during her presentation at the AME conference. But, due to time constraints, she won’t be discussing it deeply.
Join this conversation Emily will have with Oscar Roche to dig deeper into this vitally important topic which deserves a much deeper understanding than it currently has.
Learn more and register here.
AME Webinar:
Employee Engagement Through Daily Management System Huddles - Dec 8 @10am
What if your daily huddle could be more than a quick exchange of information? Discover how the Daily Management System can transform everyday huddles into powerful opportunities for employee engagement, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
Learn how USPS uses standardized huddle boards, key performance indicators, and the Three Rs—Recognition, Reflection, and Readiness—to create meaningful two-way communication and connect frontline employees with leadership. Explore practical approaches for building a culture where employees feel heard, valued, and empowered to identify challenges and contribute to solutions.
You’ll also learn how Gemba, board walks, coaching, and a mindset of support help leaders follow through on what they hear and turn daily conversations into action. Whether you are new to Operational Excellence or looking to strengthen your existing huddle process, this session will provide practical insight into creating more engaged teams, improving communication, and keeping the focus on what matters most—delivering value to the customer.
Learn more and register here
AME Webinar:
Standards are the key to respect for people (or should be) - Dec 16 @1pm
It seems that when people think about standards they think in terms of compliance. It’s largely in our language …
- “They didn’t follow the standard.”
- “Are we dealing with a training issue or a compliance issue?”
- ‘Process audits.’ (‘Audit’ tends us toward ‘compliance’.)
This impacts many of the usual things seen in organizations striving for continuous improvement. Leader Standard Work (LSW), tier meetings, problem solving and the likes will have a strong ‘are you complying?’ flavour if we look at standards as something to be enforced. There is an alternative to thinking of standards in terms of compliance. It will probably feel confronting; it’s a paradigm change.
Join and participate in this conversation Oscar Roche will have with Mark Rosenthal, a deep practical thinker in the real world of operations.
Learn more and register here
KSC Webinar: When the People Who Hired You Won't Engage - Recording link below
You were brought in to lead change. Now the same people who hired you have gone quiet — meetings get rescheduled, decisions stall, momentum leaks.
Improving a process is one problem. Getting the people who sponsored the work to stay engaged is a very different one.
Let’s talk about what’s actually going on in these moments, and what change agents can do to keep the work alive past the launch. Join our coaches, Mark Rosenthal and Tilo Schwarz for this informal conversation.
What you’ll leave with:
- A clearer read on why sponsor engagement collapses after the kickoff
- Two or three coaching moves to test in your next stakeholder conversation
- A pattern you can recognize before momentum leaks
Who this is for: Internal change agents, Lean and CI practitioners, and coaches working with sponsors who started strong — and then went quiet.
Presenters: Mark Rosenthal & Tilo Schwarz
AME Webinar: Digital Transformation in Manufacturing - Recording link below
ICYMI: Recording link (available until July 18)
In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, the lines between traditional manufacturing and cutting-edge technology are blurring. This presentation, “Digital Transformation in Manufacturing” explores how Roche not only adapted to this change but thrived by embracing a digital-first mindset. We will demystify the concept of digital transformation and illustrate why every company, regardless of its industry, is becoming a technology company and every leader is taking on the role of a tech CEO. We will dive into actionable strategies for seamlessly connecting digital initiatives with operational goals, ensuring that technology that includes AI serves as a powerful accelerator for efficiency and growth. The session will feature practical, real-world examples of projects that are driving tangible improvements.
Join us to uncover how digital tools and strategies can elevate your operational excellence and secure your company’s competitive advantage in the new era of manufacturing.
Presenter: Dhruv Bhatt is the Head of the Digital Transformation Office at Roche, Branchburg. With over five years dedicated to shaping the company’s future, Dhruv has been instrumental in transforming traditional manufacturing processes into a highly efficient, data-driven enterprise. His work centers on implementing a unified digital platform that leverages advanced technologies such as Snowflake, Tableau, and automated data pipelines. This initiative is designed to enhance reporting, improve data accessibility, and foster a culture of continuous improvement across all functions. Dhruv’s focus is on harnessing data as a strategic asset to streamline operations, reduce errors, and ultimately boost the company’s responsiveness and profitability.
Learn more and register (free)