Madras Door Frame Plant Nails All Box Score Targets in March

(June 2006) Perhaps the best analogy to explain how Plant 2 met or exceeded all their performance goals in March, is that of blocks stacked one on top of another. The blocks represent little improvements made over the last year and teamwork is the glue holding them steady when tremors hit.

“I want to say thanks to Plant 2 people for their attitude and effort,” Keith Housden, plant manager, said. “When I came here a year ago, there was a lot to be changed in the plant. The crew was receptive and made the changes necessary to solve many problems. Their teamwork helped out the most.”

Teamwork has taken many forms. It is the individuals who have moved up to operator positions and “shined” in the words of swing shift supervisor Tim Dahlke. It is the support staff’s growing experience helping with changeovers, patching, etc. It is Allen Hurley, Plant 2’s designated scheduler since August.

5S promoted teamwork by pulling both shifts together to create a visual workplace. A new plant-wide goal board is also helping. “It makes the whole plant a team because we know that together we need to get this amount of throughput,” Tim said. “If one line is having problems, others help out with banding to keep them going.”

“The primelines have made the biggest impact on throughput,” Keith said. “Most of last year we were giving away runs that would get us high footage because we were behind. We’ve made small improvements to gain us enough time so we can keep these higher footage runs now.”

Other Newsletter Articles:

Take the Steering Wheel with Diabetes (June 2006)

2P + 2 Products + 2 Crew Members =
2 Percentage Points to Run Time Goal (March 2006)

Consolidation Idea Rejuvenates Skid Row (March 2006)

In-Plant Mill Supplies Keep Drivers Home (March 2006)

Bright People Donate $11,742 to Central Oregon Charities in December (March 2006)

Bright Wood to Close Bend Facility (Company announcement released February 17, 2006)

Madras Door Frame Plant

9% Improvement in
Lineal Feet per Payroll Hour
YTD over 2005
Equivalent to an additional 30.5 miles of finished product in the same amount of hours

8% Improvement in
Total Labor Cost per MBF
YTD over 2004
Equivalent to $13,385 (or 19,540 board feet of #3 Shop lumber at today's prices)

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