October 15-17, 2024 at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida
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Expo Hours

Tuesday Oct 15 9 AM — 5 PM
Wednesday Oct 16 9 AM — 5 PM
Thursday Oct 17 9 AM — 4 PM

Venue

Orange County Convention Center

9800 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819

About the Expo

North America's largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event heads to Orange County Convention Center in October 2024. FABTECH provides a convenient "one stop shop" venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, and find the tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs.

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North America's Largest Metal Forming, Fabricating, Welding and Finishing Event

From the Blog

Systems and People: Building Systems and Behavior

solutions
By Ken LaBruyere on on
Most business people are to some degree problem solvers. Depending on one’s background people tend to favor one method or path in building conclusions, methods, and solutions. Systems can be built to feed both a level of quantitative and qualitative feedback into a company for the purpose of sustaining existing systems, making the best decisions, and equipping people for success. They can be used to collect data and guide employees into using the most repeatable and sustainable methods. At best however good systems “fix” some problems and “turn the lights” on other issues. Systems still need people to use them. Systems should be viewed as tools, usually not as fully comprehensive stand-alone solutions. It is important to note that both robust systems and engaged people are needed to solve problems and avoid new ones in the future. We err if we think the best system alone will bring the best results. Or is we think that good people work best in a wild-west environment without controls or systems. Our experiment at Lee has involved issues central to business and life in general, communication. Generally the better the communication the better the results and experiences. Building systems for both the man in the fields and the manager or executive in the front office is challenging but not impossible. The payoff is huge. In my FABTECH presentation I will discuss the thoughts and mechanics behind building systems to capture telling data and improve overall communication, while being built to change with the needs of the organization. The best system will not work if our expectations are flawed. The best systems will take into account the culture and experience of the people using them. I will discuss the crucial elements of properly mapping the needs of the company. The need to include the proper progressive thinking users into the mapping and building of the systems to allow accuracy and buy in. The need to build goals and expectations before beginning. The importance of training and a proper launch. And finally the need to maintain and use the information provided by sharing the successes of the group. Systems paired with good process and willing people will tell a story. That story can lead a company to greater heights and successes.
Hear more from Ken during FABTECH Session F22: Lean Principle: Developing People and Processes on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Learn more here.
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