Conference features impressive list of lean speakers

More than 100 of the world’s foremost manufacturing experts will provide case studies and research reports on best practices and solutions for industry at “Lean, Reliable and Lubed,” the international conference and exhibition created by Noria Corporation and its Reliable Plant magazine. It will be held May 15-17 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.

This event unites three very strong education and exhibition programs:

• Lean Manufacturing 2007

• Reliability World 2007

• Lubrication Excellence 2007

This is annually one of the most in-depth and forward-thinking events for manufacturing professionals. More than 1,400 industry leaders from 50 states and 30 countries attended the 2006 conference and exhibition in Columbus, Ohio. The 2005 event in San Antonio attracted more than 1,200. This year, Noria and Reliable Plant anticipates more than 1,500 attendees from around the globe.

Who will be speaking in Louisville?

Confirmed speakers for the Lean Manufacturing track include:

• Mike DaPrile, vice president, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, and executive vice president, SW Manufacturing
• Kevin Caldwell, executive vice president, Juran Institute
• S. Manivannan, quality coach/assessor, Ford Motor Company
• Rick Hoffman, director of specialty engineering, Lyondell Chemical
• Larry Fast, senior vice president of North American operations, General Cable Corporation
• Danny Jones, Rapid Continuous Improvement manager, The HON Company
• Kevin Prouty, senior director of manufacturing solutions, Motorola
• Darrell Dumont, plant engineering manager and lean coordinator, Thomas & Betts
• Jeff Slater, operations leader, sourcing and Continuous Improvement, Owens Corning
• Dan Roberts, Asset CARE director of reliability, Coors Brewing Company
• Chuck Armbruster, corporate reliability engineering manager, J.M. Smucker Company
• Andrew Bissot, maintenance training program manager, U.S. Steel
• Tom Odendaal, senior operations supervisor, Energizer
• Mary Jo Cartwright, director and plant manager, Batesville Casket Company
• Chuck Kooistra, senior vice president, General Physics Corporation
• James Price, faculty principal, University of Kentucky College of Engineering’s Center for Manufacturing
• Kris Beauchamp, certification product manager, Society of Manufacturing Engineers
• Neal Verfuerth, president and CEO, Orion Energy Systems
• Larry Rubrich, founder, World-Class Manufacturing Associates
• Michael Bresko, managing director and principal, General Physics Corporation
• Mike Verdin, principal, Aveus

Additional, great speakers are on the docket for the Reliability World and Lubrication Excellence tracks.

 Speakers for the Reliability World track include:

• Michael Burmood, Steve Lundvall and Garrett Olszewski, Raytheon
• Chris Hein, Cargill
• Dave Wilson and Diego Navarro, John Deere
• LaFonde Shepperson and Tanya Cook, Philip Morris USA
• Tracy Willis, Solvay America
• Dan Roberts, Coors Brewing
• Muamer Dedovic Deda, BC Rapid Transit Company
• Drew D. Troyer, Noria Corporation
• Tom Dabbs and Jim Zahn, Life Cycle Engineering
• John Schultz and Phil Pinkston, Allied Reliability
• Torbjorn Idhammar, IDCON
• Doc Palmer, Richard Palmer & Associates
• Bob DiStefano, MRG
• Timothy M. Thomas, Baker Instrument
• Rick O’Hara, Meridium Inc.
• Mark Galley, ThinkReliability
• Mark Wolfgram and Melissa Weise, Technology Performance Group
• Roy Huff, Snell Inspections
• Mark Goodman, UE Systems
• Trish Gosh, Oracle
• Buddy Lee, MAARS Inc.
• Fadi Rahal, Apollo RCA
• Doug Hart, Progressive Maintenance Technologies
• Jim Crowe, Crowe Vibration
• Jim Taylor, Machinery Management Solutions
• Bob Miller, Industrial Vibration Consultants
• Steve Reilly, Design Maintenance Systems
• Ken Reed, System Improvements Inc.
• Andy Bates, Heathgate Knowledge Engineering

Speakers are continually being added to the conference program. For an up-to-the-minute list of keynoters, presenters, sponsors and exhibitors, for links to certification information, or to register for this event, visit the conference Web site: www.driveyourplant.com.