INTEGRATING COMPANY-WIDE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Lean Six Sigma initiatives are only as successful if they are supported at all levels of the organization, from executive management to the front-lines. The integration of different process types - typical of any MRO company - has to be taken into account as well when defining a company wide transformation approach. In today’s opening keynote discussion, the perspective of a full scope MRO provider on this integration process, how to foster employee support, and strategies for gaining company-wide support for business and operational excellence will be shared.

• Dr. Christian Langer, Head of Lean Production LHT, Lufthansa Technik AG

TACTICS OF LEAN INNOVATION AT KLM ENGINE SERVICES
With LSS implemented in day-to-day operations and administration, KLM Engine Services are continuously striving to meet customer expectations for high-quality performing engines according their specifications, the agreed price and within the agreed TAT. However within the same overall philosophy, different areas of the organization require its own unique, customized approach to executing LSS. Johan Bank, Director of MRO Services, will share strategies on innovating technical/operational LSS to maximize efficiencies, and the extra requirements on personal skills to empower their personnel and management.  Operational examples will be discussed and results shown during the session.

• Johan Bank, MRO Director of Engine Services, KLM Engineering & Maintenance

New Ways of Working Together: Streamlining Collaboration to Enhance Efficiency
In continuing to advance their ACE program, Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has adapted from improving shop floor processes to enhancing business systems, especially by aligning their program with their suppliers to streamline operations and drive business growth. In this session, P&W will share how they collaborate with their suppliers to eliminate disruptions and enhancing quality by changing the rules of engagement, setting mutual goals, measuring progress, and the potential for these strategic alliance initiatives for the MRO industry.

• Mary Anne Cannon, Director of Quality, Pratt & Whitney Large Commercial Engines

LEVERAGING THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS IN HIGH-VARIETY ENVIRONMENTS
As part of Delta’s recovery plan from their 2005 bankruptcy filings, the Engine Maintenance Group was charged with the task of increasing 2006 revenues to $300 million while reducing resources. Here how TechOps has increased its engine volume from external customers to ~50% through the infusion of new management techniques rooted in Theory of Constraints (TOC), and specifically Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) and Drum-Buffer-Rope scheduling methodologies.

• Gary Adams, General Manager, Engine Repair Shops, Delta TechOps

• Robert Weiner, President & CEO, PAS Technologies

OPTIMIZING TECHNOLOGIES TO DRIVE OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
With ever-varying condition of assets inducted into the MRO factories, trying to apply optimizing technologies to a variable environment can lead to frustration, costly investments in labor and equipment, and ultimately failure. In this session, hear how Standard Aero applies Operational Control Systems to remove process variation, and then leverages process data to implement leading-edge technologies to drive preparatory and material events and streamline decision-making processes.

• David Crowley, Director, Technology Development, Standard Aero
• Dan Gonzales, VP Enterprise Services, Standard Aero

Empowering Your Workforce for Optimal Productivity
With the MRO workforce being drastically reduced to forced layoffs and slumping economy, maximizing on the skills and potential of your employees is essential to driving performance excellence. For their quality improvement initiative, DRS Technologies took an innovative approach by forming partnerships with front-line employees and creating cross-functional “employee action teams”. Discover how DRS Technologies optimized their workforce “from the bottom to the top” to drive employee knowledge, workplace communications and productivity.

• Tami Gesiskie, Vice President of Human Resources, DRS Technologies, Inc.
• Bob Novak, Vice President of Manufacturing Operations, DRS Technologies, Inc.

Aligning Lean Six Sigma and Modern ERP Systems for Sustainable Excellence (Panel)
For LSS programs to be fully integrated into the organization, they must interact with current information systems already in place. In this dynamic discussion, executives from leading companies will discuss best practices for aligning their LSS initiatives to their business support systems.

• Joe Bowers, Director, Lean Project Office, Alaska Air Group, Inc. 
• Clint Morley, MRO Alliance Leader for Global Operations, GE Aviation Services
• Moderator: Allan Wilson, VP Lean & Six Sigma, SAP

Day One Closing Comments

Day Two Opening Keynote
Leadership Transformation for Lean Process Improvement
Lean implementation is ongoing in both private and government sector MROs.  Hear Lt. Gen. Don Wetekam (USAF, retired) compare and contrast his experiences in bringing lean process improvement to the U.S. Air Force depot system and now to one of the largest private sector MROs in North America.  The session will focus on the leadership challenges faced by executives who implement lean in the MRO environment.  

• Don Wetekam, Group VP Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul, AAR Corp.

 Interactive Workshop: Lean Value-Streaming for Operational Excellence
Creating a lean flow is only the first step towards achieving true operational excellence. This in-depth learning session will take the concepts of value-stream mapping to the next level by showing you how to apply lean principles in a challenging aviation environment. The workshop will showcase what advanced companies have done, and how they jump started their efforts to achieve Operational Excellence. Additionally, delegates will participate in practical exercises focused on method construction with problem-solving scenarios and knowledge generation to ‘leap frog’ their lean journey by applying the principles of Operational Excellence immediately.

• Jeff Schoon, Senior Faculty Member, Institute for Operational Excellence