Headquartered in Sewickley, Pa., the Printing Industries of America/Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF), will explain how graphic communications companies can take advantage of two of the industry’s hottest trends—lean manufacturing and green printing—when its National Seminar Tour resumes this spring.
The one-day Lean and Green seminar, being held at eight locations across the country, helps companies trim manufacturing waste and time, and focuses on sustainable manufacturing practices that meet customers’ demands and reduce costs. Ken Rizzo, PIA/GATF’s director of consulting and head of its Center for Lean Practices, and Gary Jones, PIA/GATF’s director of environmental, health and safety, will co-present the program.
The seminar will take place in the following cities:
• Waukesha (Wisconsin), May 6
• Minneapolis, May 8
• San Diego, May 13
• Phoenix, May 15
• Miami, June 24
• Nashville, June 26
• Boston, August 26
• Baltimore, August 28
“Lean manufacturing systematically identifies and eliminates all kinds of waste and non-value-added activities,” said Rizzo. “Companies are using lean concepts and tools like 5S, quick changeover, and visual management to reduce turnaround time and decrease costs. In the last few years printers have started to take advantage of these powerful concepts, and I hope that this tour will help accelerate that trend.”
The event will introduce concepts and drivers of sustainability and lean manufacturing trends, and show how lean tools are used to search for, and eliminate, numerous types of production and environmental waste. The criteria for being considered a green and/or sustainable printer (as established by the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership) will also be reviewed.
For more information, call (800) 910-4283 or visit www.gain.net.