Michigan Lean Consortium holds benchmarking event with Blue Cross Blue Shield

The Michigan Lean Consortium (MLC) along with the Oakland University Pawley Lean Institute is hosting a benchmarking event with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBS) on Friday, Aug. 20, from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at BCBS of Southfield, Mich.

The event will begin at 8 a.m. with a continental breakfast, followed by a short welcome from one of the event's presenters, Phil Berry, senior director of continuous improvement at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and MLC ad hoc board member.

The day's presentations will begin with four panel discussions on these topics: CI P&P, RPI & other PI projects, Huddles, and Brown Bag Sessions.

There will also be a discussion on Joint Lean with Providers, led by Berry, and five different rotating displays for participants to learn from. The day will end with a special Q & A session and upcoming news from the MLC.

Debra Setman, executive director of Strategy Development and Business Improvement at Johnson & Johnson and MLC chair, describes the event as an opportunity "to understand key success factors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Lean journey that can be applied to any Michigan organization to improve customer satisfaction and employee morale."

The cost for the event is $15 or $45 for an annual membership, which allows members to attend all MLC events for free. The registration deadline is Friday, August 13th.

To register, contact the Pawley Lean Institute at (586) 263-6242 or lrstewar@oakland.edu.

The mission of the MLC is to offer a diverse network of knowledgeable Lean professionals who come together to share innovative practices. The organization aims to create a Lean culture in Michigan to ensure sustainable competitive advantage, which could translate into healthier businesses that offer more job opportunities leading to economic growth in the state.

The charter members of the MLC include: Amway, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, DTE Energy, Johnson & Johnson, The Lean Learning Center, Northwestern Michigan College, the Oakland University Pawley Lean Institute and the Michigan Shingo Prize through The Right Place.

For more information about the Pawley Institute, visit oakland.edu/lean and for more information on the MLC, visit michiganlean.org.