LEARNING TO SEE … gaining an Insight to Excellence
Insights to Excellence (i2e) Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that was established to foster and promote an awareness of manufacturing excellence and best practice within the Victorian business community. In March 2006, i2e was awarded the contract to facilitate the Innovations Insights program in Victoria for the next 2 years.
One of the most effective approaches for ‘Learning to See’ is to share your journey of excellence with other organisations that are on a similar track. This year is the fourth year that Victorian manufacturing organisations have opened their doors and hosted the Victorian Government sponsored Innovation Insights program.
Insights to Excellence has increased the diversity of host organisations to include the large and small and ranging from assembly and process manufacturing organisations to broader industry applications.
In addition to visiting the traditional organisations known for their manufacturing excellence, i2e recently hosted Insights at a call centre, a design house, the Port of Melbourne and Australia Post – “there is something to learn and take-away from each and every visit”, says General Manger Archie Cowan.
The formal 4x4 feedback process incorporated into each visit by Insights to Excellence ensures that participants take full advantage of the learning opportunity. In addition to summarising general impressions and providing feedback to the hosts, participants are also encouraged to identify key learnings and action take-aways from the visit.
98% of participants would recommend the program to others and 38% of participants have identified something to takeaway and implement in their enterprise.
Host organisations also gain a benefit from an Insight visit. Many comment on how these visits give them an opportunity to look back on what they have achieved, receive affirmation of the good things, and receive feedback on areas and opportunities for further improvement.
The pursuit towards achieving a state of excellence in any operation is as much about the state of mind and leadership capability within the enterprise, as it is the specific knowledge of tools and techniques.
As organisations are faced with the challenge to accelerate the rate at which they strive to achieve higher levels of excellence, they are learning that sharing their journeys with others is an effective approach to Learning to See.
Jayco Caravans hosted the 4,000th participant at an Innovation Insight in September 2006.
Archie Cowan, Ian Young
Insights to Excellence
September 2006
Archie Cowan, General Manager
Archie Cowan has accumulated almost 40 years change management experience that has afforded him excellent opportunities to develop and deliver a comprehensive portfolio of Excellence tools, practices and systems across the automotive, print and packaging industries on two continents.
Archie’s 40 years of experience commenced in the 60’s as an apprentice industrial methods engineer in the automotive industry, emigration to Australia in 1980 saw the focus of continuous improvement activities change to the print and packaging industries where he held several senior roles with Amcor, Visy and Southcorp.
Archie‘s Journey of Excellence continued as the Department of Innovation and Industries face of manufacturing excellence during the delivery of the Agenda for New Manufacturing where the responsibility for successful delivery many of the Agenda’s numerous programs afforded him an opportunity to form strong bonds within the international excellence communities. More recently, Archie’s role at the Industry Capability Network reinforced his desire to get more Industries on the Journey of Excellence leading to job creation thro an export focus.
Archie’s passion for transforming Industry utilising lean and green principles was recognised in 2006 when he received the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Jim Watkins Award for his contribution to the excellence movement in Victorian manufacturing.
Ian Young, Director
Director of the Manufacturing Best Practice Program, his current role is focussed on the development and delivery of a program to expose, inspire and develop tomorrow’s manufacturing leaders. Ian previously played a key role in establishing the South Australian Centre for Manufacturing.
He has been a member of the AME (Australia) since 1992, an active member of the board since 2003, a member of the Xelerate to Xcellence conference committee, and is currently responsible for Membership Development.
Hugh O'Donnell, Director
Hugh is an internationally experienced business improvement leader with an impressive track record as a GM and Management Consultant. He has over 20 years experience in change management and performance improvement in blue chip companies in Europe, USA and Australia. He held General management positions with AMCOR, UpRight International, Searle and, Yves Rocher.
Hugh has a broad business knowledge in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning and General Management. He completed extensive training in Total Quality Management, World Class by Principles, Lean, Business, Process Re-engineering and participated in Senior Management Programs at Mount Eliza Business School. He is a Board Member of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence and travels extensively internationally for business excellence forums.
Hugh is a Director of High Performance Consortium International, Insights to Excellence and VTO coaching and Consulting. He facilitated Leadership Development Programs for Mount Eliza Business and as a consultant, facilitates "Strategy into Action" . Clients include AMCOR, PPF, PZ Cussons, Ame Systems, Invensys, PMP, Telstra and FMP.
Insights to Excellence (i2e) Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation that was established to foster and promote an awareness of manufacturing excellence and best practice within the Victorian business community. In March 2006, i2e was awarded the contract to facilitate the Innovations Insights program in Victoria for the next 2 years.
One of the most effective approaches for ‘Learning to See’ is to share your journey of excellence with other organisations that are on a similar track. This year is the fourth year that Victorian manufacturing organisations have opened their doors and hosted the Victorian Government sponsored Innovation Insights program.
Insights to Excellence has increased the diversity of host organisations to include the large and small and ranging from assembly and process manufacturing organisations to broader industry applications.
In addition to visiting the traditional organisations known for their manufacturing excellence, i2e recently hosted Insights at a call centre, a design house, the Port of Melbourne and Australia Post – “there is something to learn and take-away from each and every visit”, says General Manger Archie Cowan.
The formal 4x4 feedback process incorporated into each visit by Insights to Excellence ensures that participants take full advantage of the learning opportunity. In addition to summarising general impressions and providing feedback to the hosts, participants are also encouraged to identify key learnings and action take-aways from the visit.
98% of participants would recommend the program to others and 38% of participants have identified something to takeaway and implement in their enterprise.
Host organisations also gain a benefit from an Insight visit. Many comment on how these visits give them an opportunity to look back on what they have achieved, receive affirmation of the good things, and receive feedback on areas and opportunities for further improvement.
The pursuit towards achieving a state of excellence in any operation is as much about the state of mind and leadership capability within the enterprise, as it is the specific knowledge of tools and techniques.
As organisations are faced with the challenge to accelerate the rate at which they strive to achieve higher levels of excellence, they are learning that sharing their journeys with others is an effective approach to Learning to See.
Jayco Caravans hosted the 4,000th participant at an Innovation Insight in September 2006.
Archie Cowan, Ian Young
Insights to Excellence
September 2006
Archie Cowan, General ManagerArchie Cowan has accumulated almost 40 years change management experience that has afforded him excellent opportunities to develop and deliver a comprehensive portfolio of Excellence tools, practices and systems across the automotive, print and packaging industries on two continents.
Archie’s 40 years of experience commenced in the 60’s as an apprentice industrial methods engineer in the automotive industry, emigration to Australia in 1980 saw the focus of continuous improvement activities change to the print and packaging industries where he held several senior roles with Amcor, Visy and Southcorp.
Archie‘s Journey of Excellence continued as the Department of Innovation and Industries face of manufacturing excellence during the delivery of the Agenda for New Manufacturing where the responsibility for successful delivery many of the Agenda’s numerous programs afforded him an opportunity to form strong bonds within the international excellence communities. More recently, Archie’s role at the Industry Capability Network reinforced his desire to get more Industries on the Journey of Excellence leading to job creation thro an export focus.
Archie’s passion for transforming Industry utilising lean and green principles was recognised in 2006 when he received the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Jim Watkins Award for his contribution to the excellence movement in Victorian manufacturing.
Ian Young, Director Director of the Manufacturing Best Practice Program, his current role is focussed on the development and delivery of a program to expose, inspire and develop tomorrow’s manufacturing leaders. Ian previously played a key role in establishing the South Australian Centre for Manufacturing.
He has been a member of the AME (Australia) since 1992, an active member of the board since 2003, a member of the Xelerate to Xcellence conference committee, and is currently responsible for Membership Development.
Hugh O'Donnell, DirectorHugh is an internationally experienced business improvement leader with an impressive track record as a GM and Management Consultant. He has over 20 years experience in change management and performance improvement in blue chip companies in Europe, USA and Australia. He held General management positions with AMCOR, UpRight International, Searle and, Yves Rocher.
Hugh has a broad business knowledge in Finance, Marketing, Strategic Planning and General Management. He completed extensive training in Total Quality Management, World Class by Principles, Lean, Business, Process Re-engineering and participated in Senior Management Programs at Mount Eliza Business School. He is a Board Member of the Association of Manufacturing Excellence and travels extensively internationally for business excellence forums.
Hugh is a Director of High Performance Consortium International, Insights to Excellence and VTO coaching and Consulting. He facilitated Leadership Development Programs for Mount Eliza Business and as a consultant, facilitates "Strategy into Action" . Clients include AMCOR, PPF, PZ Cussons, Ame Systems, Invensys, PMP, Telstra and FMP.