BOSTON—Billy Ray Taylor, director of commercial manufacturing North America at Goodyear, will deliver the keynote address at the 10th annual Northeast L.E.A.N. Conference, to be held Oct. 1-2 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Mass.
The Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership Inc., a not-for-profit whose mission is to help U.S. companies implement the philosophies and tools of improvement in order to compete in the global economy, will host the event.
According to the GBMP, Taylor has more than 20 years of experience in all phases of manufacturing management and leadership. He has addressed improvement strategies in under-performing operations, as well as improved production efficiency and employee engagement.
He formerly served as plant manager for the 2.2 million sq.-ft. passenger tire manufacturing plant in Fayetteville, N.C., and the company credits him for helping to improve performance across all areas of production efficiency, labor costs, quality and safety. In June 2012, Taylor was appointed director, commercial manufacturing, and he now oversees operations at four commercial tire manufacturing plants in Buffalo; Danville, Va.; Social Circle, Ga.; and Topeka, Kan.
Jamie Bonini, vice president of Toyota System Support Center Inc. at Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America Inc., will deliver the closing keynote address. Bonini began his career with Toyota in 2002, as assistant general manager for TSSC and later joined Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky's powertrain group as assistant general manager responsible for V6 and four cylinder engines as well as axle production, quality and safety.
Other speakers on the schedule include Kim Barnas of ThedaCare and president of Appleton Medical Center; and Russ Scaffede, retired vice president of manufacturing for Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Toyoda Boshuku U.S.A.
The Northeast L.E.A.N. conference aims to provide attendees with the knowledge, resources and tools to make their organization exceptional. The focus is on the technical and cultural challenges every organization faces.
Early bird discounted registration ends May 31. Details and registration information are available at http://www.northeastLEANconference.org. For group rates, student registrations or exhibitor/sponsorship inquiries, contact Lela Glikes at [email protected].