Weeks go by so fast! Yesterday's festivities included a field trip to GEMA - the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance. This is a joint venture engine maker who builds a few hundred thousand four cylinders each year. It was also interesting to see lean manufacturing principles used on a lower-value product than a $65,000 Cadillac or $45,000 F-150; it felt that the planners had a been a little less fanatical about inventory reduction. Piles of engines (nearly 2000 by my estimation) were awaiting the ramp-up of a forthcoming car model, which does not bode well for the "Inventory" line on the balance sheet.
Ross Habitat for Humanity Builders' new Exec Board was meeting in the early afternoon, so I took it upon myself to share the role of VP - Operations with the new VP - Operations and to help the 2007-8 board get ready for the big auction. Then I raced out of there to Ross, where Iain Roberts from IDEO's Chicago office was giving a talk for the Yaffe Center (no idea what this center even is, sorry) about persuasive marketing through great industrial design. Color me interested. In the evening Jenelle came over and we made brats, coleslaw, and then ate both. We went to the hockey game, too, where Michigan romped and Ferris State couldn't do much to slow things down.
Today has been mostly about sports, a little about packing, and a little about Robin experience great convergence. I played MBA intersection basketball in the morning, which was fun doubled with a big win by Section 3. Ryan invited us to watch the MagnUM ultimate frisbee tournament in the afternoon, so we took in a game and had a good time hanging out at Oosterbahn fieldhouse. Fun sport to watch and good to know one of the stars of the show. Now we're at home, packing and getting ready for the end of our last home hockey series and the week ahead, which starts at 2:40 for me tomorrow when my flight leaves for Houston.
Saturday, January 27, 2007