Foundation of FTA To Partner with PIA on Conference

Published: December 22, 2010

RONKONKOMA, NY | Foundation of Flexographic Technical Assn. (FFTA), a leading technical society dedicated to supporting and advancing the flexographic printing industry, will co-sponsor Printing Industries of America’s (PIA) 2011 Continuous Improvement Conference.

The event, set for April 10-13 in Kansas, City, MO., now in its 22nd year, is claimed to stand as the only conference for the printing and packaging industry focused on operational excellence and Lean Manufacturing. While the strategies for achieving operational excellence apply to all printing/converting companies, the conference will feature a few key sessions delivered by FTA-member companies specifically engaged in the flexographic print process.

The sessions will focus on the tools, tactics, and strategies being employed to reduce operational expenses, reduce lead-time, engage employees, and increase customer satisfaction. In addition, the conference will also delve into how to apply continuous improvement and Lean Manufacturing principles to transactional operations, such as sales, marketing, customer service, and finance.

The 2011 Continuous Improvement Conference includes an optional tour of Hallmark’s Leavenworth Production Facility, which will take attendees through the Hallmark facility that produces party supplies and gift-wrap. There, they will spot many examples of how the company has developed innovative solutions to cut costs and improve the quality of its production operations.

Another will offer attendees a firsthand glimpse into how the Harley-Davidson factory, a world-class practitioner of Lean thinking, is using Lean thinking to take advantage of the down economy when things rebound. New to this year’s program is the “How-To” Tutorial Track. These sessions teach those new to continuous improvement the basics—spotting waste, implementing 5S, performing a Kaizen event, and establishing effective standard work.

Through its partnership, FTA has secured its members discounted registration rates of $795. For more information and early bird incentives, go to www.printing.org/ciconference.