Session Title

Revealing the Secrets to W.L. Gore's JI Transformation: A step-by-step methodology to optimize your results AND meet quality system requirements

Session Abstract

This session will reveal the secrets of Gore’s successful TWI Job Instruction (JI) integration into our highly regulated quality environment. By the end of this session you’ll walk away with information about Gore’s step-by-step approach to success, as well as insight into the positive results JI could bring your business that you may not have even considered.

As a backdrop for this session, you will join W.L. Gore’s medical division on their JI journey that began as part of a continuous improvement project in 2009. You’ll learn:

• Key reasons why manufacturing leadership supported adoption of JI as the divisional training method.

• Key points you may find helpful for cultivating a supportive environment that fosters collaboration amongst implementation teams, and especially quality assurance, to prepare for your JI implementation.

You may be thinking, “What if my business already has established SOPs and/or work instructions? How can we integrate JI, and in particular, Job Breakdowns into an already established system?”

This session will answer these types of questions and expose you to a plan that will help you identify what your quality system integration requirements are and how to meet them quickly to facilitate a successful JI implementation. Finally, you’ll hear results from Gore’s JI implementation and ideas on how to communicate with stakeholders.

Specific Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this session, participants will learn…

• Why W.L. Gore’s Medical Division chose JI

• How to engage and communicate with key stakeholders

• Items for consideration when integrating JI into a quality system and creating an implementation Quality Plan

• How to identify your integration requirements

• How to ensure JI can meet those requirements

• Suggestions for how to structure JI documentation to meet your needs

• The positive trickle-down effects of JI and associated bottom line results

Target Audience

Presenter Biography

Suzanne has been with W.L. Gore & Associate’s Medical Division for 9 years. GORE Medical Products has had more than 25 million implants to date, and has been saving and improving the quality of lives worldwide for over 30 years. Her recent role as a Project Manager for a manufacturing continuous improvement effort identified manufacturing training needs within the division and delivered 3 solutions to the business, one of which was implementation of TWI’s Job Instruction.

Suzanne has a versatile background in training, communications, writing, psychology, facilitation, leadership development, project management, and quality systems. Her professional objective is to deliver innovative solutions that serve the needs of dynamic projects.

Suzanne’s career in education began 17 years ago as a teacher and program innovator in the public schools. She then transferred these skills into the corporate setting and quickly observed that no organizational change can truly achieve sustainable success without a solid training platform. This has led Suzanne to market the value of training and educational communications to business leaders and subsequently design innovative training systems that meet the needs of a variety of customers; including engineering, quality assurance, manufacturing, sales, and human resources. As a result, she has become a valued internal consultant for large-scale operational improvements within W.L. Gore, including 3 division-wide projects and currently a corporate-wide reorganizational effort.

Suzanne has a B.A. with Honors in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming with a minor in Psychology from Texas A&M University. She has a M.A. in English with Distinction from Northern Arizona University. In January 2004, as a result of a Kaizen event, her team received the W.L. Gore Operational Excellence GEM Award.