Green Bay Packaging started manufacturing corrugated boxes with one box plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1933. Today, GBP has over 40 locations nationwide. We continue to be a family-owned, American-made manufacturer leading the way in award-winning sustainable, innovative manufacturing. We are a full-service, vertically integrated manufacturer of corrugated packaging, folding cartons, and coated label products in addition to sustainably managing 450,000 acres of timberlands to achieve a high standard of environmental stewardship.

See our Strategy Deployment in action - creating clear alignment from frontline to leadership. Then, discover how our people-focused approach to problem solving translates conference room strategy to machine improvements and bottom-line results.

Finally, we'll share our journey from basic continuous improvement tools to building an Operating System founded on two core principles: Respect for All and Pursuit of Perfection.

Agenda

8:45 a.m.    Arrival, registration, and networking

9:00           Welcome – new members, current members, and guests

9:15           Lean Journey – From Tools to an Operating System (6S, Standard Work, A3’s, MDI, Strategy    Deployment, Visual Management)

10:15         Strategy Deployment – Aligning problem solvers for facility-wide change

11:15         Facility Tour – Strategy Deployment driven improvements

11:45         Q/A

12:00 p.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. Tour + Presentation Feedback: +’s and deltas

1:15           Small Group Activity:

        -          What KPI’s measure culture and servant leadership?

        -          How can we shift CI coaching from the CI Dept to Dept Managers?

2:00           Round Table Discussion

             ·         Member Updates – Top 3 CI initiatives

                  ·         What’s New? What do you need help with?      

2:55          AME Consortia Business- news and upcoming events

3:00 p.m.  Adjourn

Menasha Packaging Corporation (MPC) is a leading provider of corrugated packaging and supply chain solutions, proudly family-owned since 1849. With deep roots in Wisconsin and a legacy of innovation, Menasha helps businesses across North America protect, promote, and deliver their products through customized packaging and retail merchandising. As a vertically integrated company, Menasha combines manufacturing expertise with sustainable practices to offer end-to-end services that meet the demands of modern commerce.

This event offers a rare opportunity to witness how Menasha Packaging is extending its continuous improvement strategy beyond traditional operations. As part of their expanded enterprise-wide approach, Menasha has deliberately focused on elevating non-operational areas—HR, Sales, Finance, and Purchasing—through structured CI initiatives. Attendees will gain insight into how these teams are embracing lean principles, supported by real project examples and practitioner-led discussions Whether you're looking to broaden your CI impact or spark innovation in across all departments, this event delivers fresh thinking and practical inspiration.

Agenda

8:45 a.m.    Arrival, registration, and networking

9:00           Welcome – new members, current members, and guests

9:15           Plant Tour (Corrugate Manufacturing)

10:15         Menasha Company Overview

10:45         Non- Operational Teams CI Journey

·         HR, Sales, Finance, and Purchasing

·         Project Examples (practitioner participation)

·         Steering Committee Impact

11:45          Q/A

12:00 p.m.  Lunch

12:30 p.m. Small Group Activity:

-          Discuss the use of Steering Teams and how to optimize their        impact?

-          Discuss fostering a lean culture and lean champions in                non-operational teams

1:15           Small Group Report Out

1:30            Round Table Discussion

·         Member Updates – Top 3 CI initiatives

·         What’s New? What do you need help with?

2:20           AME Consortia Business- news and upcoming events

2:30 p.m.   Adjourn

Rockland Flooring specializes in the manufacturing of high-quality trailer flooring products. With decades of experience in the industry, Rockland Flooring has earned a solid reputation for producing durable and reliable trailer flooring solutions that cater to the transportation and logistics sectors.

Driving Cultural Transformation Through Continuous Improvement

Rockland Flooring will share their focused journey to embed continuous improvement into the fabric of their organizational culture. Over the past two years, they’ve leveraged the Culture Index as a strategic tool to:

·         Enhance recruiting practices

·         Strengthen team dynamics and individual ownership

·         Aligning team members with lean activities and roles based on behavioral insights

This approach has helped foster deeper engagement and accountability across their network of plants.  Join us as Dan Smithburg shares his personal passion for cultural transformation and the impact of this innovative program at Rockland. It’s a compelling example of how data-driven tools can elevate leadership, team performance, and operational excellence.

Agenda

12:00 p.m.     Networking lunch & Introductions

12:45 p.m.     Rockland Flooring company overview

                      Culture Index

·         Team Building

·         Culture engagement through Continuous Improvement Roles

·         Effectiveness Surveys

1:30   p.m.   Manufacturing Tour

2:30   p.m.      Group discussion – How often and how long should leader                              engage team members engage team members to drive                                  ownership and sustain culture

2:50   p.m.       Small Group Activity – Feedback Exercise

3:20   p.m.       Roundtable discussion

  ·         Member updates – Top 3 CI initiatives

   ·         What’s new? What do you need help with?

4:00   p.m.     AME Consortia business- news and upcoming events

4:15   p.m.     Adjourn

Join us for an exclusive tour of Kwik Trip’s state-of-the-art Sweets Bakery, where you’ll experience firsthand their exciting journey into Continuous Improvement. This event showcases how Kwik Trip is rolling out a structured CI strategy across the organization—starting with targeted initiatives that link high-level savings goals directly to frontline problem solving. Attendees will explore how this strategic alignment is driving measurable impact and fostering a culture of ownership and accountability.

Dive deeper into their Standardized Work system, from writing process “guides” in Dozuki to executing Job Instruction and confirmation practices. You’ll gain behind-the-scenes access to how Kwik Trip, the Midwest’s leading convenience store chain, is embedding lean principles into daily operations. Whether you're new to CI or looking to refine your own rollout strategy, this tour offers practical insights and inspiration you won’t want to miss.

Agenda

7:45 a.m.    Arrival, registration, and networking

8:00           Welcome – new members, current members, and guests

8:15           Kwik Trip company overview

•  CI Journey: 2020 to present

8:45           Strategy Tool roll out

9:30           Standardized Work System

10:15         Facility tour Sweets Bakery – Donut packaging automation,                           Daily Improvement Meetings, Standardized Work system

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Small Group Activity - Feedback Exercise (working lunch)

1:00           Roundtable discussion

·         Member updates – Top 3 CI initiatives

·         What’s new? What do you need help with?

1:45           AME Consortia business- news and upcoming events

2:00          Adjourn

Founded in 1972 in County Kerry, Ireland, Kerry began as a dairy protein manufacturer and has since evolved into a global leader in taste and nutrition solutions. Today, Kerry operates in over 150 countries, serving the food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries with innovative ingredient technologies.

The Jackson, Wisconsin facility, established in 1987, was Kerry’s first manufacturing site in North America. This site plays a critical role in Kerry’s global network, specializing in spray drying, blending, packaging, and distribution of high-quality ingredients found in everyday consumer products.

As part of Kerry’s commitment to operational excellence, the Jackson site has adopted the One Kerry Plant System (1KPS)—a standardized continuous improvement framework. 1KPS promotes best practices such as tier meetings and layered confirmation audits.

In 2025, the Jackson team has been charging ahead with a high-impact SMED (Single-Minute Exchange of Die) initiative—laser-focused on transforming wash processes into a model of speed and precision. By slashing downtime, boosting efficiency, and elevating the operator experience, they’re not just improving workflows, they’re setting a new standard for operational excellence.

Agenda

• 8:45 – Arrival, registration, and networking

• 9:00 – Welcome – new members, current members, and guests

• 9:15 – Kerry Overview & History

• 9:45 – Plant Tour

• 11:00 – SMED Program

• 12:00 – Lunch

• 12:30 – Skills Matrix

• 1:00 – Small Group Activity

o   What have you seen working well to get both frontline teams and leaders excited about improvement efforts?

• • How can we make CI part of the leadership mindset — not just a project, but a way of leading

• 2:00 – Feedback from plant tour, SMED program, and skills matrix

• 2:30 – Round Table Discussion

  • Member Updates – Top 3 initiatives

  • What’s new? What do you need help with

• 3:00 – Adjourn

This hands-on session is designed to equip you with practical Lean tools and insights you can apply immediately. Whether you're new to Lean or looking to refresh your understanding, this training will help you build a foundation for continuous improvement.

 Get members in your organization to attend that aren't familiar with lean concepts.   Get the word out!

What You’ll Learn

• What Lean Is—and What It’s Not Understand Lean as a mindset, not just a toolset

• Value-Add vs. Non-Value-Add Activities Learn to see your processes through the customer’s eyes

• The 8 Wastes (DOWNTIME) Identify and eliminate inefficiencies across your operations

• 5S Workplace Organization Create a clean, safe, and efficient work environment

• Process Mapping Basics Visualize your workflow and uncover improvement opportunities

• Visual Management Use metrics and signals to drive accountability and clarity

• Problem Solving Tools Apply 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagrams, and PDCA to real-world challenges

Agenda

9:30–9:45 AM –     Welcome & Objectives Icebreaker, training goals, participant expectations

9:45–10:15 AM –   What Lean Is—and What It’s Not Clarify misconceptions, introduce Lean as a mindset and system

 10:15–10:45 AM –   Value-Add vs. Non-Value-Add Activities Define value from the customer’s perspective, group discussion

10:45–11:00 AM – Morning Break Refreshments and informal networking

11:00–12:00 AM – The 8 Wastes (DOWNTIME) Interactive activity: identify waste in a mock process

12:00–12:30 PM – Lunch Break Light refreshments and networking

12:30–1:00 PM –    Process Mapping Basics Walk through a simple value stream map, hands-on sketching

1:00–1:30 PM –     5S Workplace Organization Overview of Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize,

1:30–1:45 PM –     Afternoon Break Quick recharge

1:45–2:15 PM –     Problem Solving Tools Apply 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram, and PDCA in breakout groups

2:15–2:30 PM –     Wrap-Up & Action Planning Q&A, key takeaways, and next steps