Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/389272
w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m O c t o b e r 2 0 14 • I NSIGH T | 9 FROM THE EDITOR MAYBE IT'S NOT AN "OLD SAYING," but it's one I've heard: "You need this done? It will take three weeks." We both know it will actually take maybe three hours to do the job, but because systems are not in place to handle the request efficiently, it will probably take more time than is truly necessary. Bob MacIntosh, president of Nicolet Plastics and this month's Face Time subject (page 17) calls this time when you're not actually producing a given item "white space." It involves the adage, "time is money." e strategy he uses to shrink this amount of time is called quick response manufacturing, or QRM. He says it can be used in most any business. "e actual time when activities are taking place in any business is relatively small compared to the overall time it takes to get an order through," he says. e solution, of course, recognizes that reducing the white space is not an easy fix. QRM starts with cultural change and improving the system for getting things done. It's a process, one that he has successfully tackled with the help of Rajan Suri, emeritus professor at UW-Madison, author of "It's About Time – e Competitive Advantage of Quick Response Manufacturing." You may be thinking about how you can apply such a strategy to your own business. If you want to learn more, MacIntosh and Suri will deliver a presentation on QRM at Manufacturing First on Oct. 22 at the KI Center in Green Bay. is will be the fourth year that First Business Bank and NEW Manufacturing Alliance, in partnership with Insight, will host this event. With 160 exhibitors and an expected turnout of about 800 manufacturers and service providers, we couldn't be more excited about the impact Manufacturing First is making in Wisconsin. For details and a thoughtful conversation with one of our keynotes, turn to Connections on page 20. Evidence that different industries can draw expertise from manufacturing emerges in the lean principles that Holy Family Memorial, Manitowoc, has implemented in the health care arena. In our cover story, HFM CEO Mark Herzog talks about how he gleaned ideas from John Toussaint and the edaCare Center for HealthCare Value. Toussaint brought lean into the edaCare health system several years ago, aer spending time with Dan Ariens and others at the manufacturing company that makes snow throwers and lawn equipment. Lean principles and a commitment to a culture of continuous improvement has resulted in dramatic, measurable improvements to patient care and outcomes at HFM, and earned the organization one of the first Insight Innovation Awards last May. Clearly, successful organizations rarely move forward without team effort. Recognizing they would all do better by collaborating on best practices, six health care organizations in Wisconsin recently announced they have formed a coalition to work towards cost transparency and lowering the cost of health care (see "Healthy options," page 37). It's a great idea, one that many of us will be watching. Collaboration is also at the heart of the state Department of Workforce Development's Fast Forward program (page 33). More than $35 million in grants have been announced under the initiative's Blueprint for Prosperity, designed to help bridge Wisconsin's skills gap. K-12 schools, technical colleges, employers and workforce boards are working together to pave pathways for young people, the underemployed and people with disabilities to receive training in industries with the greatest need for workers. Fall begins the season of events, and we like to give our readers an idea of the don't-miss dates to mark on the calendar. Besides Manufacturing First, also coming up is the season kickoff to the St. Norbert CEO Breakfast & Strategy Series Oct. 14 (see page 42). On its heels are the annual chambers of commerce events, including Green Bay's on Oct. 20 and "e Event" with the Fox Cities on Nov. 5. At Insight we're already working on the New North Report to the Community, gearing up for the New North Summit on Dec. 2 in Sheboygan. In keeping with our Insight mission, "Connecting Minds, Creating Insights," we hope to see you there! Coming together to get it right