The Vermont Manufacturer’s Forum exists to serve as an informal opportunity for Vermont manufacturers to exchange ideas and discuss practical solutions to common operational problems. This includes lessons learned during their Lean journey, innovation or other system/solution implementation experiences, or to announce exciting new manufacturing capabilities and new products as well as to interact with potential customers.
Forums and Networking
See Upcoming Training page for information about upcoming forums and public trainings. Forum events are usually free and are held several times each year, generally at the site of a ‘host’ Vermont manufacturing company. The host company shares its unique experiences on a particular topic. From time to time, VMEC may arrange for a guest speaker/expert to present at a forum. Plant tours are frequently part of the forum experience and typically run three to four hours in duration. A sampling of past forum topics includes: TWI, The Visual Factory, Competing With Pull Systems, Engaging Employees in Moving the Business Forward, Sustaining Your Continuous Improvement Activities, Innovation, plus more. Click on the links below to view web pages, recordings or files of past forums:
Employee Retention (June 22, 2021, 56 minutes)
- John Young – Vermont Training Program – State of Vermont Department of Economic Development, Director presentation
- Anna Grady – NRG Systems, Vice President for Human Resources presentation
Job Recruitment (June 3, 2021, 56 minutes)
- Nat Piper – State of Vermont, Agency of Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Business, Legislative & Community Relations Manager presentation
- TSgt Brian Candage – U.S. Air Force, 158th FW Recruiting team, Vermont Air National Guard Recruiter presentation
- Caitlin Goss – Rhino Foods, Director of People and Culture presentation
COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace (April 29, 2021, 58 minutes)
- Dr. Patsy Kelso – Vermont Department of Health (VDH), State Epidemiologist for Infectious Disease presentation
- Alexandra Clauss – Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC, Attorney and Shareholder presentation
- Kristina Brines – Paul Frank + Collins PC, PHR, SHRM-CP, Director presentation
Got COVID-19 fatigue in your workplace? We can help! (March 23, 2021, 56 minutes)
- Maribel Morgan – Omni Medical Systems, COO presentation
- Karen Murray – VT Packinghouse, HR Manager presentation
- Michele Asch – Twincraft Skincare, Vice President, Leadership & Organizational Development presentation
- Shawn Barth – Vermont Department of Labor, Project WorkSAFE, Industrial Hygienist presentation
- Karl Hayden – Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA), Senior Occupational Health and Safety Compliance and Investigation Officer and GMVPP Program Coordinator presentation
- Tate Colbert – CX Associates, PE and Champlain Valley chapter of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Program Chair presentation
Pull System Transformation at American Meadows (November 11, 2020, 65 minutes)
Cybersecurity Challenges for Manufacturers When Working from Home (June 3, 2020)
VT RETAIN forum – Supporting the Health of all VT workers (May 27, 2020)
Restarting Your Operations Check-in forum (May 20, 2020)
VOSHA, Project WorkSAFE and VT Manufacturers forum (May 6, 2020)
Need Guidance on Restarting Your Manufacturing Operation? (May 1, 2020)
Continuous Improvement and Innovation Symposium – October 2019
Logic Supply utilizes continuous improvement efforts as a global leader in IoT – February 2019
The inaugural Vermont Manufacturers forum was held on December 8, 2006 at IBM’s then Essex Junction plant. IBM, the Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, the Vermont Training Program and VMEC had formed a “Lean Manufacturing Training Partnership” in September 2004, and the dramatic results of the IBM Essex Jct. continuous improvement effort – then just 2 years into their new Lean journey – were discussed.