Jennifer Ayers, Author at NWHPEC

02Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Lean Happy Hour – June 17th

Uncategorized

It's time to connect, socialize, and network while enjoying some tasty food and beverages! Our "westside" Happy Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2024 from 4:15-6:30pm. Please join us! We’ll be getting to know each other better through conversations about summer, lean, and beyond. It’s a fun way to connect and network with others in the lean community. Open to everyone! Location: Lazy Days Brewing Co. 4505 SW Watson, Beaverton NWHPEC provides appetizers, attendees cover their own drinks and additional food (they have amazing pizza!). RSVP link

02Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Leader Standard Work – Aug 7th

Beginner~, Classes, Leadership~

Leader Standard Work: Creating your new leadership routine It’s time to learn and apply Leader Standard Work to your daily routine! The true purpose of leadership is to empower and develop your employees so they can achieve awesome things. To accomplish this, you need a standard way of working that will allow you to maximize your efficiency and impact while fulfilling your most important duty - to your people.As the whirlwind takes over our day, we quickly lose control of our priorities. Once we fall into firefighting mode, our ability to improve and sustain processes and activities becomes secondary. This is where Leader Standard Work (LSW) comes into play. LSW is the foundation to creating new leadership habits that will allow you to spend more time listening to your team,…

01Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

TWI Job Instruction – Aug 17-20

Application~, Classes, Developing People~

Title: TWI Job Instruction (JI) Training Description: This four-day (~3.5/4 hrs/day) hands-on class teaches the process for creating effective Job Instructions. Participants will learn this four-step method using a part or process they bring to the class. They will walk away with a complete Job Instruction Breakdown sheet for the part/process of their choice. Date: August 17-20, 2026 Time: 8am – noon Location: TBD (Clackamas Oregon) Cost: $500 per person Overview: The Training Within Industry (TWI) programs were developed in the United States sixty years ago and played a major role in boosting industrial production to the levels required to win the Second World War. After the war, they were introduced around the world and, most notably, are still in wide use in Japan today. The Toyota Production System approach of going to the source, observing…

01Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Webinar: Expanding 3H “In Action” – Aug 26th

Events, Webinar

Expanding 3H in Action: Practicing Connection & Consent Webinar Summary: The instrumental brain has no capacity for connection; when we, as leaders, move into "fix it" mode before connecting, we lose the trust and relational safety needed for people to speak up. Consent is how you get permission to enter into someone's relational space rather than assuming access to it. Kari Penca and Dan Miller will facilitate a hands-on activity about connecting before advising and asking for consent before entering someone's space, the two skills that make it possible for you to engage people in applying continuous improvement principles and problem solving in your organization. Did you miss the intro webinar Expanding 3H: What New Research Reveals About the Human Side of Leadership and Improvement on July 20th? View the…

01Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Lean 101 (6-week virtual series) Sept 15-Oct 20

Beginner~, Classes

Lean 101 - Fall 2026 series starting soon... Join us on a journey to discover the basic elements of lean principles and see the impact they make when you put them into practice. This course consists of six, 1.5 hour classes focused on the foundational elements of lean. During this course, you will learn more about the history/background of lean, why these principles are important to creating a culture of excellence, standard work, 8 wastes, 5S, PDCA, and visual management. Each week will include instruction, discussion, and simulations followed by small project assignments between each class to help you practice the concepts in your own environment.Lean 101 is a beginning-level course that teaches participants the basic concepts of Lean Thinking. It is suitable for those who work in office or…

01Jun 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Lean Leadership Skills to Engage the Heart, Head, and Hands (3H) – Starts Sept 23rd

Application~, Classes, Developing People~, Leadership~

A day in the life of a Leader can be challenging. Leaders are faced with pressures from the business (quality, delivery, productivity) along with the often highly emotional demands of managing people. Your people are the foundation and critical link to the success of your business. To be an effective leader, one must first develop an understanding of and a system for building and maintaining relationships (engaging the heart 💜). Culture begins with us. If we are not primed to emulate the core values and culture of our organization, we can’t expect our team members to consistently perform and respond to situations and problems in ways we expect by engaging their critical thinking skills (using their head 😊). Unleashed potential is a hidden gem within your team/organization. The leading indicator for morale and engagement is the willingness of our employees to step…

02May 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour: OHSU Hospital – June 8th (FULL)

Events, Learning Tours

Host Company: OHSU is Oregon's only public academic health center, encompassing a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and southwest Washington. As an institution of higher learning, they offer schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, and public health. They are a national research hub, Portland's largest employer, and a statewide economic engine. As a public organization, they serve vulnerable Oregonians and work to improve health across the state. OHSU has been focusing on performance excellence through our own performance Excellence system – OPEx. OPEx is OHSU's approach to performance excellence. Grounded in respect for people and continuous improvement, our true north is to deliver excellent care for our patients, today and tomorrow. OPEx methods, management systems and mindset empower OHSU members and teams to identify and solve problems, improve…

Author: Jennifer Ayers