San Diego Chapter
Institute of Industrial Engineers

Date:       April 8
Location: University of San Diego, Loma 220

Time: Networking and Dinner at 6:00
         Presentation 6:30 – 7:30

Cost:  $10 for IIE members
$20 for Non-members
A light (non-pizza) dinner is included in the cost of the meeting.

There is a strong sense that American manufacturing is in “trouble”.  More and more things that have traditionally been made in the U.S. are now made abroad and American factories more offshore to remain viable in the global marketplace.  Here in San Diego we see production shifting to Mexican maquiladoras.  These same global forces have also caused companies such as Buck Knives and Olhausen Billiards to leave San Diego for other U.S. locations to remain competitive against imports. 

 At the April chapter meeting, Michael Collins will offer his viewpoint of what small and midsize manufacturers (SMMs) can do to "save themselves" and compete in the globalized economy of the 21^st Century.  The presentation will highlight the key ideas put forth in his book Saving American Manufacturing where he describes a new method of growth and turnaround plans that lead to a process of "Strategic Renewal." Michael outlines specific changes and actions necessary for manufacturers to not only survive and compete but to develop profitable growth strategies.  He provides manufacturers with a framework for action and transforms the complex problems facing manufacturers into clear concepts that offer a path to success.  

Michael P. Collins is President of MPC Management, a consulting company that focuses exclusively on the problems and challenges of small and midsize manufacturers (SMMs) of industrial products and services. He has worked with a wide variety of job shops including foundries, machine shops and fabrication shops on a wide variety of management, marketing and manufacturing issues. Mr. Collins has had a highly successful career in manufacturing both as a General Manager and now as a consultant, writer, and trainer, focusing on small and midsize manufacturers.   He is committed himself to devoting the rest of his working years to helping SMMs and make the issue of a declining manufacturing base more public.

Please contact Lenny Perry (laperry@sandiego.edu) to register for this event.

Upcoming Events

May Chapter Meeting
What Makes You Say That? – Converting Conflict into Results
Presenter: Gregg Oliver

Date:       May 15
Location: University of San Diego, Loma Hall Room 220
Time:       Networking and Dinner at 6:00
               Presentation 6:30 – 7:30
Cost:        The presentation is free to IIE members.  Pizza is optional for members at a cost of $5.
                Non-member will be charged $15 for the presentation and pizza.

There are a number of reasons we don’t get good business results, and most of them are under our control – we decide to do things that we shouldn’t do. The worst part is that we usually have the information at the time of the decision that would have kept us from making the mistake. This workshop will help you to be more effective by offering models, methods, and tools that allow you to:

• Get all the available information and data out on the table, so that it is available for analysis

• Conduct and analyze controversial discussions as they occur, test the soundness of a given position, and score the position in order to rank it with competing positions

• Maintain the relationships involved and preserve safety and trust in the work group

• Develop influence, and mentor others in developing influence

• Raise the level of their interpersonal problem solving skills so that sensitive but widely known topics can be dealt with (“why don’t we stop developing plans that can’t be implemented” or “how can we stick to the priority setting process”)

In the one hour, these you will be introduced to these communication tools, be shown how they interface to make high performance communication system, and gain insight and suggestions for how you can can start fixing communication issues right away.

Gregg Oliver has worked as an individual contributor and manager in engineering and manufacturing businesses for over 30 years. He is certified as a Quality Engineer, Reliability Engineer and a Software Quality Engineer by the American Society for Quality. He also serves as the Vice Chair for the San Diego section of the American Society for Quality. His passions are problem solving and communication.