Host Company: Blount International

1. PDCA: The Core of Sustained Improvement EffortsLearn by using practical hands-on tools: Hoshin Kanri, A3’s, Visual Controls, and Leader Standard Work; July 25 – 26, 2012 | Portland, OR Host Company: Blount International Blount is a global manufacturer and marketer of replacement parts, equipment and accessories for the forestry, lawn and garden; farm, ranch and agriculture; and concrete cutting and finishing markets and is the market leader in manufacturing saw chain and guide bars for chain saws. Blount sells its products in more than 100 countries around the world. Who Should Attend • CEO’s, Presidents, Vice Presidents • Executive Leaders, General Managers • Managers, Lean Leaders • Those facilitating change within theircompany’s will benefit greatly from this workshop The success of Blount’s business starts with their people, who create innovative, quality products and provide outstanding operational and service performance, creating sustainable growing profit, which allows them to reinvest in their people, products, and performance. Blount launched a worldwide continuous improvement initiative in the spring of 2010 focused to make continuous improvement a core piece of Blount culture, so the company is constantly driving to reduce costs and eliminate waste across all aspects of their organization. Blount’s CI focus continues into 2012 with added emphasis to establish Value Stream flow lines that will further reduce lead-time to their customers. COURSE DESCRIPTIONThe purpose of this hands-on workshop is to develop participants Lean thinking abilities and to build their skills in creating Lean processes throughout their organizations, while facilitating continual learning and improvement. This interactive workshop spends equal time in the classroom and learning through hands-on application exercises. The exercises will teach attendee’s how to incorporate the concepts of PDCA and problem solving into daily practice to drive continuous improvement and learning in both manufacturing and administrative processes. Throughout both days, attendee’s will participate in shop floor activities to refine and create visual controls to manage, monitor, and improve processes. Additionally, attendee’s will participate in exercises creating A3’s and Leader Standard Work. Participants will be provided with an electronic version of all workshop materials. This 2 day workshop is held at Blount International’s Milwaukie, Oregon location. Past Workshop Attendee’s Have Said: “One of the best AME workshops I’ve attended. Excellent mix of presentation, participation of group, and break-out activity.”  “Excellent participation, great hosts, and I came away excited to spread my learning in this Workshop to my organization.”  “Great presenters – all were passionate about the topic and have relevant expertise to teach. Easy to be inspired to be a life-learner…” Each participant will learn and practice the following during this workshop:  • Plan-Do-Check-Act Thinking:Define each component and understand how to apply PDCA as a foundational element of all Lean tools • Refine and create Visual Controls to manage, monitor, and improve processes • Develop and use A3’sas a problem solving tool to structure continuous improvement activities and to facilitate learning • Create and use Leader Standard Work to manage and hold the gains of process improvements • Effectively connect Policy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri) to improve the effectiveness of kaizen events and daily continuous improvement activities

2. PDCA: The Core Sustained Improvement Efforts; July 25 – 26, 2012 | Portland, OR Wednesday, July 25th Workshop Speakers 6:30 – 7:15 a.m. – Continental breakfast at hotel 7:15 a.m. – Travel to Blount International (AME hosts will provide shuttle service) 7:30 a.m. – Welcome and Introductions 7:45 a.m. – PDCA: The Core of Sustained Improvement Efforts Workshop 11:30 a.m. – Lunch 12:15 p.m. – Continue PDCA: The Core of Sustained Improvement Efforts Workshop 5:00 p.m. – Adjourn and travel back to hotel 5:15 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Networking Social at hotel: Light appetizers & drinks This workshop and seminar is presented by three Executives who have over 45 years of combined experience leading change within their organizations: Phil Steklenski is a Vice President with Woodgrain Millwork and is responsible for the operation of six manufacturing facilities in the United States. Phil has a broad hands-on background of Lean tools/principles and has actively worked to implement, manage, and sustain Lean efforts in a variety of manufacturing and supply chain environments. Phil is currently a Director on the West Regional Board of AME. Scott Simmons is the Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Climax Portable Machine Tools (CPMT) and has extensive experience in Lean tools and Lean Management Systems. In his current role, Scott is leading CPMT’s Lean transformation and is focused on operational excellence through developing people as leaders, utilizing Lean thinking to transform the organization, and teaching the organization to “see.” Scott’s previous roles as machine designer, quality inspector, manufacturing and process engineer, manager, and Lean consultant have allowed him to hone his extensive skills in the area of Lean Systems, Demand Based Manufacturing, and Root Cause Analysis. Scott is currently a Director on the West Regional Board of AME. Julie Simmons is the Executive Director for the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (NWHPEC) in Portland, OR. In this role, Julie is responsible for promoting the vision, mission, and purpose of the consortium, planning and organizing Lean learning events, coordinating benchmarking and sharing between consortium members, and meeting the learning needs of the membership. Julie is currently a Director on the West Regional Board of AME. Thursday, July 26th 6:30 – 7:15 a.m. – Continental breakfast at hotel 7:15 a.m. –Travel to Blount International (AME hosts will provide shuttle service or attendees can drive themselves) 7:30 a.m. – PDCA: The Core of Sustained Improvement Efforts Workshop 11:30 a.m. – Lunch 12:15 p.m. – PDCA: The Core of Sustained Improvement Efforts Workshop 5:00 p.m. – Complete evaluations, adjourn, and travel back to hotel Hotel & Meeting Location: Marriott Courtyard – Portland Southeast 9300 SE Sunnybrook St. Clackamas, OR  97015 P:(503) 652-2900 Ask for the Blount rate of $98/night, includes a continental breakfast PDCA - July 25th– 26th, 2012 REGISTRATION FEES AME Member$400.00Non-Member$600.00 AME Student Member: 25.00 Non-Student Member: 50.00Payment (please check one) __ Check Enclosed __ Purchase Order Account Number:_________________________________________ Expiration Date:__________________ Security Code:____________ Signature:_______________________________________________ Purchase Order Number:___________________________________ AME Payment Policy – Payment or purchase order must be received by the AME office five days prior to the event start date. If no payment or PO number is received, you will be asked to pay with a credit card or check at the event before entry. Cancellation Policy – Enrollment fee less a $100 non-refundable registration charge will be refunded up to one week before the event. Substitutions may be made any time prior to the stat of the workshop. This event may be cancelled by AME for any reason. AME is not responsible for incidental costs incurred by registrants. Purchasing refundable airline tickets is recommended.