Events Archives

23Nov 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour @Smith Gardens – Nov 14th

Theme: Lean Management System Framework in Action Host company: Smith Gardens grows annuals and perennials at five locations in the PNW and Southern California for retailers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Western Canada. Their local nursery in Aurora, Oregon opened in 1997. The site has 38 acres of greenhouse and 12.5 acres of field space. The Aurora facility produces and ships year-round. This tour occurs at peak Poinsettia season, which will provide a beautiful backdrop to our tour. Tour Summary At Smith Gardens, an important foundation for creating a culture of continuous improvement included building out their Continuous Improvement Management System (CIMS), modeled after the Lean Management System framework. Leadership at the Aurora site have fully embraced this framework and have been steadily rolling out new components over the…

22Nov 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Lean Happy Hour – Nov 18th

Events

It’s time to connect, socialize, and network while enjoying some tasty apps and beverages! Please join us. This is a great opportunity to get to know others in the consortium better and to continue geeking out on lean topics. Drop in any time after 4pm, we’ll be there until 6 or 6:30…depending on how social everyone is. NWHPEC will provide appetizers, you’ll cover the cost of drinks and any additional food. Date: Tuesday, Nov 18, 2025 Time: Happy Hour starts at 4pm (Cooper Mountain Ale Works in Tigard – drop in any time after 4pm) Location: Cooper Mountain Ale Works - 12562 SW Main St, Tigard, OR 97223 (map link) RSVP for a calendar invite RSVP

03Jul 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Webinar: Joy in the Workplace – Aug 13th

Events, Leadership~, Webinar

Overview In today’s fast-paced work environment, achieving a state where work feels as engaging and fulfilling as a hobby is a lofty yet attainable goal. This presentation explores the underlying factors that transform work from a mundane obligation into a source of joy and satisfaction. Central to this transformation is the concept of “flow.” We’ll discuss how the absence of joy is often a signal of underlying waste within processes and systems. Furthermore, we’ll delve into the importance of clear system ownership and thoughtful system design. Effective system design not only supports the elimination of waste but also enhances overall workplace efficiency and employee satisfaction. We will hear about five habits and tools within the Kaas Operating System that help them achieve joy on a daily basis: Kaizen: Literally translated…

08Jun 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking + Happy Hour – July 24th

Events, Member Sharing

It’s time to connect, socialize, and network while enjoying some tasty food and beverages! Join us for either or both activities. First stop: Bob's Red Mill - 13521 SE Pheasant Ct, Milwaukie We'll engaged in a SIG style benchmarking discussion around the topic of "Overcoming Barriers to Implementation & Gaining Buy In". It doesn't matter what lean principle you're trying to implement, there are always barriers, obstacles, and resistance. Join the conversation to learn what other's have tried, and share your own stories to provide ideas for overcoming obstacles. Last stop: Portland Cider Co - 8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Clackamas Please join us. This is a great opportunity to get to know others in the consortium better and to continue geeking out on lean topics. Drop in anytime after 4pm,…

14Apr 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour @Owens Corning – May 13th (FULL)

Events, Learning Tours

Host company: Owens Corning is a leading manufacturer of roofing shingles, underlayment, and components, offering systems that not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of homes but also provide long-lasting durability and a variety of options to suit different projects. Their commitment to quality ensures that customers receive roofing solutions that are both reliable and visually appealing. The Portland roofing plant is one of thirteen facilities across the United States. At Owens Corning, Our People Make the Difference, Portland was recognized by the Asphalt Roofing Manufactures Association for our commitment to Safety last year. Owens Corning earned the 2024 Women’s Choice Award as America’s Most Recommended Roofing Products. Tour Summary Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at Owens Corning, where innovation, technology, and frontline engagement are actively redefining the future of…

14Apr 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Building Your Lean Management System – April 2, 16, & 30th (FULL)

Application~, Deploying Strategy~, Developing People~, Events, Intermediate~

Reach out if you want to join the waitlist. Join us for this 12-hour Lean Management System workshop, spread out over five weeks to provide a fully immersive experience where you design your pilot program, tweak, or revamp your existing LMS. Summary Most initial attempts at lean and continuous improvement focus on tools and improvement events (aka kaizen events). Unfortunately, after a while, people notice that the “lean journey” has lost most of its momentum, energy, engagement, focus, and breakthrough results. The lean management system (LMS) is a framework for building a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning. Its focus is on developing people to solve problems to improve performance. In this environment, improvement is not driven by a few lean champions but by everyone. Now everyone has a…

04Apr 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Brewery Tour & Happy Hour – April 24th

Events

It’s time to connect, socialize, and network while enjoying some tasty food and beverages! What's better than connecting over a happy hour? Going on a brewery tour first, to learn more about the process before we consume the product. Please join us. This is a great opportunity to get to know others in the consortium better and to geek out on lean topics. Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Time: 3pm tour start; followed by Happy Hour Location: Lazy Days Brewing Co. 2326 N Flint Ave, Portland, OR 97227 RSVP link

Category: Events