Expansion Management

With These People in Charge I Feel Better

April 8, 2011

I spent the last three days with the most interesting people. At the IW Best Plants conference, held in Atlanta this week, I met people who had succeeded during the tough times. They were innovative, hard-working and smart. They give me great hope. ...

Adrienne Selko Blog

I spent the last three days with the most interesting people. At the IW Best Plants conference, held in Atlanta this week, I met people who had succeeded during the tough times. They were innovative, hard-working and smart.

They give me great hope.

Leaving their factories and offices they were willing to trade in valuable time to improve their skills at this conference. How can we provide better programs for our employees they asked each other? What best practices do you have for improving your processes, environmental compliance, educating your workforce?

And during the plant tours, which included WIKA Corp. Siemens, HON, Millken, Caterpillar Griffin Engine, Philips Respironics, Interface and Carrier, plant managers and continuous improvement leaders were very forthcoming about how they improved their processes, became more efficient and opened new markets.

It was however their enthusiasm that most impressed me. They are proud of their accomplishment and confident that whatever will be thrown at them, them will succeed.

Manufacturing's future is safe in their capable hands.

Here are some of the keynote speeches from IW Best Plant Conference:
Manufacturers Need to Speak Up

Staying True to the Toyota Way During the Recession

Taking the Gemba Walk

About the Author

Adrienne Selko Blog | Senior Editor

Focus: Expansion Management & the Biotech & Life Sciences Industries

Email: [email protected]

Follow Adrienne on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Call: 216-931-9235

Senior Editor Adrienne Selko manages IndustryWeek’s Expansion Management, delivering ideas and information about how successful manufacturers leverage location to gain competitive advantage. She explores the strategies behind why companies located their headquarters, research institutes, factories, warehouse and distribution centers and other facilities where they did, and how they benefit from the decision.

Adrienne is also the editorial coordinator of the IndustryWeek Expansion Management Roundtable events, which unites economic development professionals to network and discuss the latest trends in site location.

As well, Adrienne tells the stories of successful companies in the biotechnology and life sciences industries.

In the past, Adrienne has managed IndustryWeek’s award-winning website, overseeing eNewletters, webinars, and contributed content. Before joining the staff, Adrienne was managing editor of corporate publications at a large regional financial institution. She also ran a public relations and marketing company that published a best-selling healthcare book.

Adrienne received a bachelor’s of business administration from the University of Michigan and is especially interested in wellness and natural health.