Welcome to the MLC Blog! A blog fueled by the Lean and Continuous Improvement Community!
A few weeks ago we gathered at Grand Valley State University for the 8th Annual Grand Rapids Lean Summit, themed Align & Communicate: Leading with Purpose and Honesty. From a keynote that reframed communication as a human discipline, to breakout sessions connecting Hoshin Kanri and ethical AI, to a student competition that had the room on its feet, this was a summit that reminded everyone why showing up in community matters.
Setting the Stage: The People Who Make It Happen
A day like this doesn’t run itself. Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, Debra Levantrosser kept the energy high, the audience engaged, and the day running flawlessly from start to finish.
We had a dedicated group of MLC Champions in attendance whose commitment to the organization makes events of this scale possible: Brian DeVries, Patrick Adams, Jerry Browne, and Dennis Sergent. A special note on Dennis Sergent: in addition to his champion contributions, Dennis has recently stepped up to help develop and lead the MLC Ambassador Program, a new initiative to extend MLC’s reach and deepen practitioner connections across Michigan.
The summit was beautifully documented by photographer Maggie Rothney. Volunteers Kim Egan and Shawna Alejos gave generously of their time to ensure a smooth and welcoming experience, thank you.
The day would not have been possible without our sponsors, and special recognition goes to Diamond Sponsor Lean Solutions, whose investment in this community exemplifies the spirit of continuous improvement.
The Keynote: Radical Honesty as a Leadership Discipline
Ken Bogard, bestselling author of Know Honesty and self-described "Open and Honest Expert" opened the summit with a session that challenged the room to rethink communication from the ground up. His presentation, "Solving Every Leadership Team's #1 Problem — Communication," drew a sharp and memorable line between talking and truly communicating.
Breakout Sessions: Tools You Can Use Monday Morning
Three breakout sessions each offered a distinct and practical perspective on alignment, communication, and continuous improvement.
Jennifer Schoenherr, Lean and Six Sigma Manager at Ford Motor Company, introduced cartooning as a surprisingly powerful problem-solving tool.
Christopher Davis, Technology Analyst at Consumers Energy and founder of Country Roads Data Consulting, tackled one of the defining questions of the AI era: Is your organization using AI to amplify human capability or as a crutch masking systemic weakness?
Dawn Armfield, Senior Director of Operational Diligence Services at Hilco, brought more than three decades of manufacturing expertise to her Hoshin Kanri session. Her premise was pointed and practical: most organizations don't lack strategy — they lack traction.
The summit also brought exciting news for the MLC community. We are thrilled to announce that Dawn has accepted the role of MLC Outreach Director for 2026.
Student Competition: The Future of Lean Is in Great Hands
If one activity captured the spirit of the day, it was the Lean Student Competition. Teams from Grand Valley State University, the University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University went head-to-head in a live Kaizen-style challenge, building towers from marshmallows and spaghetti while iterating through rapid PDCA cycles under real constraints and a ticking clock.
Western Michigan University took home the top prize, earning well-deserved recognition for their performance across the competition. But the contest revealed something richer than a single winner. The University of Michigan team achieved both the tallest final build and the highest performance improvement across iterations, demonstrating the power of disciplined learning cycles. Grand Valley State University brought fierce creativity and energy throughout, representing their home institution with pride.
Watching students adjust, experiment, and improve in real time was, for many in the room, the high point of the summit. The future of Lean is in great hands.
Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, volunteer, student, and practitioner who made the 8th Annual Grand Rapids Lean Summit a day to remember. The Michigan Lean Consortium is a membership-based nonprofit in its 17th year. To learn more or become a member, visit www.michiganlean.org/join.
There’s a good chance you encountered something Fibre Converters made today. You just didn’t know it and that’s exactly the point.
The Constantine, Michigan-based manufacturer has spent more than 75 years perfecting the art of the invisible, producing laminated paper, die cut components, and extrusion-coated materials that quietly hold the world together. The paperboard tucked behind your car seat. The structural panel behind a dresser drawer. Fibre Converters makes all of it, and more.
Founded in 1949, the company has grown into a privately held operation with just over 100 employees, large enough to carry serious technical expertise, small enough to stay nimble and responsive. And if there’s one thing they’ve committed to, no matter where they are in the journey, it’s continuous improvement.
The Fibre Transformation System (FTS), as the team calls it, is the backbone of how improvement happens across the organization. It isn’t a poster on the wall or a quarterly initiative. It’s a structured framework with tools, governance, and clear processes for identifying opportunities, prioritizing work, and sustaining results. It’s designed so that employees at every level can engage with it.
Leading that effort is Kayla Rudy, FTS Manager and the person responsible for both building and deploying the system. Her role sits at the intersection of structure and people: making sure the right tools are in place while building the kind of cross-functional collaboration that makes lasting improvement possible.
But Kayla is quick to point out that none of it happens without the people around her. The operators and team members on the floor are the ones who bring the system to life every day, problem-solving, asking questions, and doing the hard work of improvement in the middle of everything else on their plates. FTS is built for them, and because of them.
In the fall of 2024, Kayla attended the Lean Leadership Summit on the advice of their Green Belt instructor, Jerry Browne. It was her first MLC event, but it wasn’t her last. Since then, she’s attended the Grand Rapids Lean Summit, participated in Gemba Tours, and became a regular at the virtual coffees that MLC hosts throughout the year.
What started as one person exploring a new community has grown into something more meaningful for the organization. Fibre Converters has since added their FTS Technician and three engineers to their MLC membership, with those engineers currently enrolled in the MLC Green Belt Course this spring.
That kind of expansion isn’t accidental. It reflects a deliberate decision to invest in the people who will carry the improvement work forward.
One of the things that keeps Fibre Converters coming back to MLC events isn’t just the content, it’s the conversations that happen around it.
Through the MLC, the team has connected with organizations across industries, gaining real-world insight into how other practitioners apply Lean principles in very different environments. That cross-pollination matters. When you see how a completely different operation has solved a problem you’re wrestling with, it opens up possibilities you might not have considered on your own.
Fibre Converters has taken that seriously. They haven’t just attended events, they’ve actively adapted what they’ve learned, incorporating ideas from other organizations into their own continuous improvement efforts. There’s still plenty of road ahead, but that willingness to borrow, adapt, and apply is exactly what the MLC is here for.
“To say my fate is not tied to your fate is like saying, ‘Your end of the boat is sinking.’”
That quote cuts to the core of why they approach continuous improvement the way they do. Every role matters. Every process is connected. Every decision ripples outward to affect what gets delivered to customers.
For Fibre Converters, building a stronger organization means building better systems and stronger people simultaneously. The Fibre Transformation System provides the structure. MLC provides the community, the tools, and the broader perspective that helps the team keep growing.
We’re proud to have Fibre Converters as part of the MLC community. Here’s to the continuous improvement journey, one that, as they know well, is always better traveled together.
About Fibre Converters
Based in Constantine, Michigan • Founded 1949 • Specializing in laminating, die cutting, and extrusion coating
www.fibreconverters.com
Please join us in congratulating Jim Willems on his retirement after many years of dedicated service to the State of Michigan and his meaningful contributions to the Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC).
Throughout his career, Jim has exemplified a genuine commitment to making life better for others. His work has consistently focused on improving how government serves its residents—ensuring processes are not only efficient but also centered on people. His leadership and dedication have touched countless lives, both within state government and across the communities we serve.
Jim was a champion of the recently launched mentor program for the MLC Green Belt certification, a reflection of his passion for developing others and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
His unwavering dedication to public service and ability to inspire those around him have left a lasting legacy. While we will miss his insight and guidance, we celebrate the tremendous impact he has made and the example he has set for all of us.
As we look toward 2026, the Michigan Lean Consortium is focused on deepening connection, expanding access, and strengthening capability across Michigan’s Lean community. Building on the momentum of 2025, the year ahead brings renewed leadership, the return of favorite programs, and thoughtfully designed learning experiences that support both people and systems.
At its core, 2026 is about creating spaces where Lean practitioners can learn together, challenge assumptions, and build lasting relationships—while continuing to grow the skills needed to lead meaningful improvement.
We are honored to welcome Dr. Debra Levantrosser as MLC’s Higher Education Programs Director in 2026.
A full-time faculty member at the University of Michigan College of Engineering (Industrial & Operations Engineering), Dr. Levantrosser brings more than 35 years of executive and international leadership experience spanning global supply chains, Lean strategy deployment, executive education, and leadership development. As the founder of the Michigan Lean Consortium, her return to Board leadership represents a meaningful full-circle moment. Her passion for student engagement and real-world application of Lean principles will play a key role in developing the next generation of Lean leaders across Michigan.
Alongside Dr. Levantrosser, the MLC is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors committed to strengthening the organization, expanding access to Lean learning, and supporting members across the state:
Chair: Pamela Burgess
Vice Chair: Melissa Sherman
Treasurer: Dr. Patricia Malone
Secretary: Chenoa Reyes
Membership Director: Kim Ziegler
Training Director: Josh Smith
Together, this leadership team brings a wide range of experience across industry, education, healthcare, and the public sector.
As we grow, so does the opportunity to lead. The Michigan Lean Consortium is currently seeking three engaged members to serve as Interim Directors for Events and Outreach, with terms running through December 31, 2026.
These volunteer leadership roles are well-suited for members who enjoy building community, shaping programming, and strengthening relationships across the Lean ecosystem.
Open Focus Areas Include:
Large Events (Conferences & Summits)
Small Events (Virtual Coffees & Gemba Walks)
Outreach (Relationship Building & Partnerships)
If you’re interested in giving back, growing as a leader, and helping shape MLC’s future, we encourage you to learn more and apply. Details and application instructions are available on our website.
Back by popular demand, the MLC Book discussions now called Lean Reads & Reflections returns in 2026 as a space for shared learning, reflection, and thoughtful conversation. Designed to connect theory to practice, these events offers a relaxed, community-centered way to explore ideas and learn from one another.
Friday, March 6, 2026 GVSU L.V. Eberhard Center
In a time of constant change, alignment and communication are not optional—they are essential. The 2026 Grand Rapids Lean Summit will focus on how organizations can move strategy into action through hoshin kanri, while cultivating transparent, trust-based communication that drives engagement, innovation, and sustainable results.
Participants will gain practical tools and real-world insights to:
Translate strategic goals into clear, actionable priorities
Strengthen alignment across teams, departments, and leadership levels
Practice honest, purpose-driven communication that builds trust
Reduce confusion, silos, and rework through clearer execution
Lead change with integrity in complex, people-centered systems
Navigating Lean: Anchored in Connection August 4–7, 2026 VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center 460 W Western Ave, Muskegon, MI
Set along Michigan’s lakeshore, the 2026 Annual Conference will bring Lean practitioners together to explore how connection—between people, strategy, and purpose—anchors sustainable improvement. Expect immersive learning, meaningful networking, and inspiration grounded in real-world practice.
For those ready to deepen their practice, the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Course returns in 2026, facilitated by expert instructor Jerry Browne.
This blended learning course runs February–July 2026 and is designed to meet the requirements of ISO 18404 certified Lean Practitioner & Six Sigma Green Belt. Participants gain hands-on experience, practical tools, and coaching support to apply Lean Six Sigma methods directly within their organizations.
From leadership development and student engagement to statewide events and professional certification, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of connection, clarity, and capability-building.
We look forward to continuing this work with you—strengthening Michigan’s Lean community, one improvement at a time.
Building Community. Strengthening Systems. Advancing Lean Across Michigan.
As we close out 2025, we’re proud to reflect on a year of growth, connection, and intentional progress at the Michigan Lean Consortium. This year marked an important chapter—defined by thoughtful change, renewed energy, and a deepened commitment to serving Lean practitioners across Michigan.
Here’s a look at what we accomplished together.
Strengthening Our Foundation
In early 2025, the MLC Board took meaningful steps to better align our structure with our long-term vision. We clarified board roles, aligned a more intentional and transparent election cycle, and began updating our bylaws to reflect who we are today and where we’re headed.
One of the most impactful shifts was aligning the Board Call for Nominations with the Annual Conference—giving members greater transparency and the opportunity to hear directly from Board leadership before applying. This change reinforces our commitment to openness and member-driven governance.
Operations, Technology, and Brand
Behind the scenes, we leaned into continuous improvement—strengthening operational systems, improving communication, and enhancing professionalism across the organization. Members can now opt in to receive text updates for events and membership reminders, expanding how we stay connected.
Click Here to opt in for Text Messaging
Visually, we refreshed our brand with the return of the MLC blue and orange logo, inspired by Michigan’s open skies and fresh water. The updated look reflects clarity, growth, and inclusivity—core to who we are as a statewide Lean community.
Expanding Reach Across Michigan
In 2025, MLC continued to expand its reach by bringing Lean learning to more corners of the state. Rotating the Annual Conference to different regions increased accessibility while showcasing the diversity of Michigan’s industries, communities, and improvement stories.
We also strengthened our presence within the broader continuous improvement community by sponsoring and participating in events such as the Crusaders Connection Event and the Lean Solutions Global Summit, building new relationships and deepening existing partnerships.
This year marked the launch of several new learning opportunities, including the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Course, facilitated by Jerry Browne. Running January–June 2025, the course meets ISO 18404 requirements and supports practitioners ready to advance their Lean capabilities.
In addition, MLC hosted its first-ever Lean Excellence Student Competition in partnership with Lean Solutions, engaging 14 students and faculty members, and highlighting the next generation of Lean leaders.
2025 By the Numbers
12 Monthly Virtual Coffees connecting practitioners statewide
6 In-Person Gemba Tours offering hands-on learning
Grand Rapids Lean Summit with 80 attendees
MLC Annual Conference with 120+ in-person participants
Average event rating: 4.6 (goal: 4.25)
Membership: Gained 140 new members
Hosted 38 Students and Faculty at no cost across virtual and in-person events.
Net revenue: Achieved a positive net financial outcome, exceeding initial financial expectations
Leadership & Volunteers
2025 brought leadership evolution, including a new board structure that expanded the Vice Chair role and added an Outreach Director—further supporting community engagement and statewide growth.
We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, whose dedication makes everything possible. This year, Heidi Sheffield was honored with the 2025 Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding contributions to the MLC.
Membership & Partnerships
We were excited to welcome new bundle members including Consumers Energy, Sebright Products, Orchid Orthopedic, and the University of Michigan, reflecting continued investment in Lean learning across sectors.
We also extend sincere thanks to the many sponsors and partners who supported MLC programming throughout the year—your partnership fuels learning, connection, and impact across Michigan.
This past year we launched the featured organization program for our members. This allowed our members to increase their reach and promote lean opportunities to the MLC community. We are excited to continue this program for 2026.
Learn More about the Featured Organization Program
Thank you to everyone who made 2025 such a meaningful year. Stay tuned for Part Two, where we’ll look ahead to what’s coming in 2026.
Six members of Gentex Corporation’s Continuous Improvement team brought home first place honors from this year’s Global Lean Excellence Competition, held during the Lean Solutions Summit in Detroit this September.
Team Gentex—made up of Jeff Miles, Leslie Householder, Steve Burgett, Jordan Kimble, Justin Karsten, and Trent Davison—rose to the challenge in a fast-paced, hands-on test of Lean thinking and teamwork.
The competition tasked teams of process improvement professionals with transforming a broken process into one that was both efficient and high-quality, all under intense time pressure. This year’s challenge: create a streamlined system for assembling and delivering notoriously tricky IKEA cabinets.
Gentex’s team impressed judges with their ability to quickly analyze the problem, eliminate waste, and implement a standardized, efficient workflow—all while maintaining precision and collaboration. Their efforts earned them the top spot in the competition.
But the event wasn’t just about process improvement—it was about purpose. Once the challenge was complete, all of the assembled furniture was donated to House N2 Home, a nonprofit organization in Washtenaw County that helps furnish homes for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness.
By combining Lean excellence with community impact, Team Gentex exemplified the heart of continuous improvement—making things better, not only in the workplace but also in the world around us.
Congratulations to Team Gentex on their well-earned victory and for representing Michigan’s Lean community with innovation, teamwork, and heart.
Last month, the Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) had an incredible experience at the Lean Solutions Global Summit in Detroit! The Lean Excellence Student Competition brought Lean learning to life as students showcased their commitment to continuous learning, scientific thinking, and teamwork.
The energy in the room was electric as two University of Michigan teams went head-to-head in a catapult systems challenge designed to test their Lean knowledge, collaboration, and problem-solving under real-world conditions. Each team worked to standardize processes, reduce variation, and demonstrate measurable improvement—all while having a blast.
In the end, it was the Blue Team that took home the victory—but the competition was incredibly close, with just a razor-thin margin separating the two teams.
“It was inspiring to watch these students bring Lean to life,” said one of our judges. “Their creativity, discipline, and collaboration show just how bright the future of Lean really is.”
This event would not have been possible without the incredible individuals and organizations that supported it:
Special Thanks To:
Debra Levantrosser – U-M Team Coordinator
Coaches: Ray Muscat, Mary Duck, and David Hyatt
Judges: Josh Smith, Pamela Burgess, and Jon Kuipers
Partner: Lean Solutions
Sponsors: ZFS Solutions, Mike Dixon (Utah State University), and S Post Consulting
Your dedication and support gave students a meaningful platform to learn, collaborate, and lead the Lean way.
The success of this year’s competition highlights the importance of connecting students with real-world Lean experiences. The MLC is excited to continue building this program—expanding opportunities for students across Michigan and beyond to engage with Lean thinking, industry mentors, and the wider continuous improvement community.
The future of Lean is bright—and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of it.
Brittany Parks Process Consulting (BPPC) and Energy Control Power Lockout (ECPL) exemplify how Lean thinking and safety excellence work hand in hand to create stronger, more resilient organizations.
At BPPC, the focus is on strengthening standard operating procedures through process improvement and organizational change management—helping teams drive consistency, efficiency, and long-term success. ECPL complements that work by delivering customized safety program solutions, including lockout/tagout placards, evacuation maps, and compliance signage. Together, BPPC and ECPL equip organizations with the systems, tools, and culture needed for safe, efficient, and sustainable operations.
As the Owner and Principal Consultant at BPPC and Owner and President of ECPL, Brittany Parks leads both companies in partnering with clients across manufacturing, government, healthcare, nonprofits, and small businesses—helping each create workplaces that protect people and perform at their best.
Brittany has been an active member of the Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) for several years, serving as a speaker, workshop leader, and participant. Both BPPC and ECPL have supported MLC events through sponsorship and thought leadership—particularly in advancing conversations around building strong safety cultures, applying Lean principles, and bridging the gap between compliance and continuous improvement.
“Our ‘why’ is rooted in people,” Brittany shared. “We believe every worker deserves to return home safely and every organization deserves processes that work for them—not against them.”
The MLC provides a network where BPPC and ECPL can both learn and give back, exchanging best practices in Lean, safety, and leadership. Membership creates opportunities to connect with peers, spark collaboration, and stay at the forefront of improvement practices that benefit Michigan’s industries and communities.
“Through the MLC, we’ve seen firsthand how Lean principles not only improve efficiency but also create safer, more sustainable workplaces. That’s why both BPPC and ECPL are proud to be supporters—we are committed to shaping systems that protect people and improve performance.” — Brittany Parks, Owner & Principal Consultant, BPPC; Owner & President, ECPL
At BPPC and ECPL, strong systems are built with people at the center. Their work integrates human-centered design with Lean and safety principles to ensure solutions are not only effective—but also intuitive, practical, and embraced by the teams who use them.
Beyond tools and templates, both organizations partner with clients to design and implement change management strategies that align operational efficiency with safety compliance. By focusing on how people interact with systems, BPPC and ECPL help create processes that last—driving meaningful, sustainable improvement.
As active members of the Michigan Lean Consortium, BPPC and ECPL embody the spirit of Lean leadership—combining innovation, safety, and collaboration to make Michigan’s workplaces safer, stronger, and better connected.
Pamela Burgess, Chair of the 2025 Annual Conference, summed it up best: “The MLC community showed up. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
As the team, board members, sponsors, and presenters arrived, what could have been chaos turned into a masterclass in collaboration. “No joke—anyone that was around just did what was needed,” Pamela shared. “I don’t think I carried anything beyond my luggage… actually, someone grabbed that too!”
✔️ 3 days of learning and Lean energy
✔️ 12+ breakout sessions across industries
✔️ High-impact keynotes and panels
✔️ Gemba Walks across Frankenmuth, Saginaw, and Bridgeport
✔️ White Belt Certification track
✔️ Interactive sessions that brought play and practice together
✔️ A room full of Lean learners, leaders, and legacy builders
We kicked off with Alexandra Suchman, CEO of Barometer XP, who reminded us of the power of play in workplace culture. Her interactive session had us reflecting and thinking differently about how we approach continuous improvement.
Mark Cruth, Principal Modern Work Coach at Atlassian, took us into the future with a keynote on Lean + AI. His message: before you make a process faster, make the system better.
And throughout the week, Debra Levantrosser, MLC Founder, guided us with humor and heart as our conference emcee. A Lean legend who kept the flow moving—and the energy high.
Wednesday’s Riverboat Cruise, sponsored by HilCo Global, was a chance to relax, reflect, and reconnect on the beautiful Bavarian Belle.
With over a dozen engaging sessions, we covered everything from Lean in government and healthcare to facilitation, communication, team dynamics, and strategy deployment.
Attendees raved about sessions from:
Patrick Adams (Lean Solutions)
Pamela Weiss (Orlans Law Group)
LaShira Champion-King (Walbridge)
Adam Lawrence (Process Improvement Partners)
Jaclyn Badder (State of Michigan)
Troy Tungate (GE Healthcare)
Sarah Tilkens
Liz Gardner
Jamie Noble
And so many more.
The White Belt Certification Track—led by Stephanie Welch and Jerry Browne—welcomed new learners into the Lean community with hands-on training and foundational tools.
One of the most memorable sessions came courtesy of Brian and Allison DeVries, who wrapped up the conference with The Big Thinking of a Small Knight. This engaging, story-driven experience blended creativity with Lean principles and left attendees inspired to take big thinking back to their teams and classrooms.
To close out the week, attendees went out into the field for Gemba Walks at:
Frankenmuth Cheese Haus – Celebrating 50 years of flavorful innovation
Amigo Mobility International – A showcase of people-first Lean improvements
Nexteer Automotive – A Lean leader in driveline technologies
Each location offered a unique perspective on Lean principles in motion, and participants left energized by seeing how continuous improvement thrives in different environments.
Pamela shared it all best: “Was it perfect? No. Room for improvement? Absolutely. But I couldn’t be more proud of our AC Committee and the Lean community.”
That’s what Lean is all about—progress, not perfection. And this year’s conference proved again that when people come together with purpose, practice, and heart, incredible things happen.
To our attendees, sponsors, presenters, volunteers, and the entire MLC Board and planning committee—thank you for showing up, leaning in, and building on the legacy of Lean.
We're already planning for next year—and you can be part of it! Secure your spot at the 2026 MLC Annual Conference with Early Bird Pricing available through January 31, 2026:
️ Member Early Bird – $460.00
️ Non-Member Early Bird – $590.00 (includes 1-year Individual Membership!)
VanDyk Mortgage Convention Center ️ August 4–7, 2026 | Muskegon, MI
Register Today!
Orchid Orthopedic Solutions, a global leader in contract manufacturing for the orthopedic market, exemplifies how Lean principles can drive excellence in high-precision, highly regulated industries. Specializing in implants, instruments, and innovative technologies for joint replacements, spine, and trauma surgeries.
Recently, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions joined the Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) as a Huron Member, formalizing a longstanding relationship with the Lean community in Michigan. While several team members had previously held individual memberships, the decision to become an organizational member was driven by a shared vision: Lean is for everyone.
That vision is championed by Holy Plaga, Operational Excellence Global Leader, who has been involved with the MLC since 2010. Over the years, she has served in a variety of roles, including Chair of the Board of Directors, and has consistently championed the organization.
Orchid’s organizational membership has helped expand access to Lean resources across its global footprint. In addition to U.S.-based participants, the company has team members from around the world engaged with the MLC, including a colleague in Sheffield, England, who actively participates in online programming. This reach demonstrates the power of MLC’s virtual offerings to connect Lean thinkers across borders and time zones.
Since joining as an organizational member, Orchid has taken full advantage of the MLC’s diverse offerings:
✅ Affordable, high-impact professional development ✅ Cross-industry collaboration and idea exchange ✅ Access to Lean tools and thought leadership ✅ Volunteer opportunities for team members in roles that may not traditionally offer them
Team members have already begun collaborating with other MLC member organizations, sparking new ideas and meaningful improvements. Gaining outside perspectives and unfiltered feedback has helped reinforce a culture of learning, experimentation, and shared purpose.
As Orchid continues to build and sustain its Lean culture, the MLC is proud to be a trusted partner.
With a strong emphasis on people, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Orchid exemplifies what it means to lead Lean from within, whether that’s in Michigan, across the U.S., or around the world.
As Pascal Dennis said, “Intensity is the soul of lean production, and team members are its heart.” At Orchid, that belief lives in every improvement effort, every collaboration, and every voice.
Here’s to the next chapter of continuous improvement, powered by people.
