the LGO journey

Our first plant trek

Last week, our class went on its first plant trek to Gorton’s in Gloucester, MA.  Going on the different plant treks is definitely one of the coolest things about the LGO program.  We do 3-4 day trips this summer and then do a two week tour next January.  In addition, during spring break there is an optional international plant trek.  I am pretty excited about the trip in January as we get to go all around the country (and were going to Puerto Rico too!), and visit the partner companies operations.

Anyway, Gorton’s was pretty cool because I had never been inside a food processing plant.  They make different frozen seafood products and actually make all of the filet o’ fish for all the McDonalds east of the Mississippi.  On the way there, I was singing the filet o’ fish (“gimme that filet o fish”) jingle to properly pump everyone up.

A big reason I enjoy operations and manufacturing is the fact that you can actually see the product, see the operation and see the people involved in making it.  We had a presentation by the plant manager and he urged us to use our outside perspective and look for improvement opportunities.  We came up with a number of suggestions and I was truly impressed by how open the plant leaders were.  They have been focused on lean since 1998 and are continually looking for ways to improve.  Its cool to see lean working in the “real world” in places where you would least expect it.

18 July 2010 · Comments

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