Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/11935-tbm-names-carlisle-interconnect-technologies-tukwila-plant-winner-of-2011-perfect-engine-site-award

TBM Names Carlisle Interconnect Technologies' Tukwila Plant Winner of 2011 'Perfect Engine' Site Award

October 21, 2011

TBM Consulting Group presented the Tukwila plant of Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CarlisleIT) with the 2011 “Perfect Engine” Site Award recognizing the organization for its commitment to a continuous improvement philosophy and its success using operational excellence to drive value creation. The award was presented at the TBM LeanSigma® Global Summit in Las Vegas, NV, on September 22, 2011.

The “Perfect Engine” refers to the precision interworking of human resources and physical assets to achieve outstanding productivity results that create business agility, growth and profitability. It is also the title of a book authored by TBM Consulting Group’s CEO Anand Sharma, who has consulted with hundreds of companies worldwide in implementing the principles, tools and management processes of the Toyota Business System. The award recognizes individual plants or offices that have successfully implemented a LeanSigma transformation and demonstrated innovation and outstanding teamwork. LeanSigma is the fusion of the two most powerful business systems from Toyota (Lean) and GE (Six Sigma). Accepting the award on behalf of Carlisle Interconnect Technologies was Ryan Boyce, Carlisle Operating System and Manufacturing Manager. CarlisleIT designs and manufactures high performance wire and cable, fiber optic cable and RF/microwave connectors, complex cable assemblies and integrated structures for applications in the aerospace, military and defense electronics, and test and measurement industries.

Since 2008, the CarlisleIT management team has embraced the Carlisle Operating System to accelerate operating earnings improvement and attract new business by providing customers with the lowest product lead times, best-in-class on-time delivery and superior flexibility in service.

The CarlisleIT Tukwila plant was the first of 68 sites within Carlisle to receive internal recognition for its operating improvements which include:

• Over 54 percent of plant associates engaged in continuous improvement events (kaizens)

• Improved productivity per full-time associates by 40.5 percent

•Reduced inventory by 26.5 percent

• Completed two plant consolidations while maintaining consistent output levels. The consolidations were validated by a seamless transition of capabilities that was invisible to customers while maintaining on-time delivery, quality and customer services.

“CarlisleIT-Tukwila earned this award because they are aggressively leveraging a comprehensive LeanSigma business system to achieve their long-term growth and performance objectives,” said Anand Sharma, Founder and CEO of TBM Consulting Group.

John Berlin, President, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies said, “The CarlisleIT organization has tapped its employees’ creativity and operational experience to create best-in-class performance that has resulted in accelerated growth. Our customers have recognized our commitment to LeanSigma and have responded by awarding CarlisleIT more business.”

This is the second time in a year that Carlisle has been recognized for its focus on operational excellence. In June, TBM recognized Carlisle Companies Incorporated with the “Perfect Engine Corporate” Award for its accomplishments using the LeanSigma approach as part of a strategic roadmap for enterprise-wide value creation and growth.