Discover Snap-On's Value-Creation Suite of Processes

Feb. 25, 2015

Here's how Snap-On leverages continuous improvement to manage the complexity of producing thousands of "micro-niche" products.

Patricia Panchak

Nicholas "Nick" Pinchuk, president and CEO of Snap-on (IW 500/277) (SNA), revealed details about the companies approach to managing complexity in this segment of a speech he delivered at the 2014 IW Best Plants Conference.

The IndustryWeek Best Plants Conference Video Collection: One of an occasional series featuring the "best of" excerpts from the event's keynote speeches.

Noting that the company releases an extraordinary number of new products each year -- it had in one year alone introduced 1,274 new products into the aerospace market, 471 into the heavy truck industry, and 271 in oil and gas -- he said the company must work to focus on only the essential processes and that continuous improvement was the core strategy.

He related how Snap-On structured continuous improvement into "The Snap-on Value-Creating Suite of Processes," four critical elements that drive breadth and depth of lean learning, as well as reinforcing the importance of and pride in the system.

Significantly, Pinchuk also shared the results the company achieved leveraging the continuous improvement processes.

Pinchuk was one of five top executives headlining the annual conference, which was held last May at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, Wisc.

The 2015 IndustryWeek Best Plants Conference, slated for May 2015, will be held in Charlotte, N.C. with an equally impressive –- an inspiring -– panel of speakers.

About the Author

Patricia Panchak | Patricia Panchak, Former Editor-in-Chief

Focus: Competitiveness & Public Policy

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In her commentary and reporting for IndustryWeek, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Panchak covers world-class manufacturing industry strategies, best practices and public policy issues that affect manufacturers’ competitiveness. She delivers news and analysis—and reports the trends--in tax, trade and labor policy; federal, state and local government agencies and programs; and judicial, executive and legislative actions. As well, she shares case studies about how manufacturing executives can capitalize on the latest best practices to cut costs, boost productivity and increase profits.

As editor, she directs the strategic development of all IW editorial products, including the magazine, IndustryWeek.com, research and information products, and executive conferences.

An award-winning editor, Panchak received the 2004 Jesse H. Neal Business Journalism Award for Signed Commentary and helped her staff earn the 2004 Neal Award for Subject-Related Series. She also has earned the American Business Media’s Midwest Award for Editorial Courage and Integrity.

Patricia holds bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and English from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in Journalism from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She lives in Cleveland Hts., Ohio, with her family.