Learning Tours Archives

02May 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

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

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…

29Mar 2026 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour: Danner Boots – April 28th

Events, Learning Tours

Host Company: Danner is known in the industry for its high quality, rugged footwear, which is a result of their strong commitment to customer value. This commitment is deeply rooted in their approach to engaging and inspiring employees to actively participate in continuous improvement. Tour Summary: At Danner one of their goals is to drive down the cost of manufacturing and boost efficiency, so they identified a need to have a clear process for understanding staffing and machine needs, product flow, bottlenecks, and sources of quality problems. This provided a standardized way to build a case for automation through an ROI analysis. Learn about how Ashton integrated these key techniques into her ROI and listen to the unique way she built this into a "story arc" to sell the benefits…

08Dec 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour: A-dec – Feb 11th

Events, Learning Tours

Tour Focus: Technology Integration in Manufacturing Host Company – A-dec website A-dec designs and manufactures dental equipment at their headquarters in Newberg, Oregon. The A-dec vision began with a simple idea: make the best better. From their simple beginnings, A-dec has emerged as one of the most respected names in the dental industry. In 1964, founders Ken and Joan Austin made the biggest choice of their lives: risk it all to start a company of their own. Little did they know that an invention and a dream would help revolutionize the world of dentistry. 60 years later, A-dec is an employer of choice and the world’s leading manufacturer of reliable dental operatory equipment. They continue to work for the betterment of dentistry and embed their values into the work they…

23Nov 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour @Smith Gardens – Nov 14th

Events, Learning Tours

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…

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…

30Jan 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

Benchmarking Tour: Coherent – Feb 18th – FULL

Learning Tours

Tour Summary: Discover how the Wilsonville team has embraced an “Always Tour Ready” mindset, ensuring their operations are ready anytime, for anyone, whether it’s corporate leadership or major customers. This tour offers a firsthand look at their CI practices, tools, and team engagement strategies. What You’ll See and Experience Inventory Management Explore how their site optimizes inventory control to reduce waste and improve efficiency: · Kardex Auto Store Machine: Witness high-tech stocking efficiency and accuracy for part replenishment · Min-Max Kanbans: See how they minimize floor inventory while ensuring part availability · Point-of-Use Materials: Discover how supplies are strategically placed for optimal productivity · Milk Runs: Observe their efficient internal logistics system · Asset Tags: Learn how they keep a precise record of assets Employee Engagement Experience a culture where…

27Jan 2025 by Jennifer Ayers

5S Gemba Walk – Feb 20th

Learning Tours

Oregon Tool has invited us out for an onsite visit to see their 5S program in action. What we’re doing… To gain a deeper understanding and generate new ideas for implementing 5S in your facility, observing how other organizations have successfully applied these principles can be invaluable. Oregon Tool has generously invited NWHPEC members for a Gemba Walk at their facility. This event, similar to an in-person Special Interest Group meeting, will include introductory remarks, a walkthrough to observe their 5S practices (including sustaining tools), followed by a group discussion. Date: Thursday, Feb 20th Time: 2-3:30pm Location: Oregon Tool 4909 SE International Way, Portland, OR 97222 (Map link) Interested? Members can email jennifer@nwhpec.com, include name, email, job title. Initially limited to two attendees per company. PPE: Close toed shoes are…

Category: Learning Tours