May 15, 2018   SOURCE: BusinessWire

The Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Association Launches New WiM Plant Tour Series

The Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Association will continue their commitment to providing year-round support to women in the manufacturing industry with the launch of the new WiM Plant Tour Series. The 2018 series will consist of three total tours at different WiM Corporate member facilities. Each tour will include a roundtable discussion or a presentation given by the facility’s leadership, as well as a networking dinner.

The organizations were sourced and selected based upon the unique output of each location, taking into consideration their exceptional products, processes, and leadership teams. On the agenda this year is Ocean Spray’s Lehigh Valley Facility in Pennsylvania, AGCO’s Engineering Center in Minnesota, and Sherwin-Williams’ Portland Purdy Facility in Oregon.

Formed in 1930, Ocean Spray is a vibrant agricultural cooperative and the world's leading producer of cranberry juices, juice drinks and dried cranberries. “Ocean Spray’s heritage and history begin with our cranberry farms, and it’s our employees’ innovative spirit that continues to drive our beloved brand and products forward,” said Tim Noud, Lehigh Valley Plant Director. “What you find at our Lehigh Valley facility is consistent across all our locations: an unwavering commitment to quality, cutting-edge food and beverage manufacturing technology, and a dedicated team of caring employees.”

Founded in 1990, AGCO is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agriculture equipment and solutions and supports more productive farming through its full line of equipment and related services. “AGCO Jackson’s culture develops passionate employees with the ability and opportunity to create and innovate,” said Peggy Gulick, Director, Business Process Improvement, AGCO. “Industry 4.0 and loT solutions can be seen throughout the plant, including Google Glass wearable technology.”

The Sherwin-Williams Portland site has been producing the finest quality Purdy brand painting tools for over 90 years. One-hundred percent of their paint brushes are handcrafted by skilled brush makers. “We are immensely proud of the diversity at Purdy. The diversity of thought has created a strong Kaizen culture,” said Sharon Vasher, Plant Manager, Sherwin-Williams. “There isn’t a day that goes by where our employees aren’t thinking about and taking action to improve processes, reduce waste, and provide the highest quality to our customers.”

WiM members will see innovation in action, share best practices, build relationships with peers, and bring back valuable ideas and insight to their organizations. For more information and to register for a tour, please visit the WiM website at http://www.womeninmanufacturing.org/plant-tour/default.asp.

Women in Manufacturing™ is a more than 1000-member-strong national association dedicated to supporting, promoting and inspiring women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. For more information about WiM, visit www.womeninmanufacturing.org.