Bridges to Operational Excellence

Presented by Grant W. Howard

E&A is pleased to sponsor a special event to be presented by wholesale distribution industry expert Grant W. Howard.

Bridges to Operational Excellence provides distributors with a structured and guided approach to develop a true Service Operations team that is scaled for growth and is capable of executing stellar customer service and delivering fantastic profits.

Mr. Howard, a leader in wholesale distribution "Best Practices" inventory management and replenishment, operational excellence and execution, and systems improvement and utilization will discuss the concepts, daily decision making, and tools utilization that create high service/high profit distributors.

As a wholesale distributor, you have the goals. Now, it's all about breakthrough execution!

• Breakthrough Profit Performance
• Breakthrough Customer Service
• Breakthrough Growth Limiters
• Breakthrough Execution

Mr. Howard will show you how to bridge the process, training and system utilization gaps that keep your order entry, purchasing and warehouse personnel in the reactive world of sticky notes and firefights. Transform these disconnected departments into a single cohesive, best-in-class 'Service Operation' team that drives inaccuracy, inconsistency and inefficiency out of your day-to-day world and makes execution happen in your business.

Click here to playback a five-minute recorded message from E&A and Grant Howard inviting you to attend this special event!

Location:
Crowne Plaza Hotel
3000 South Dirksen Pkwy
Springfield, IL 62703
www.cpspringfield.crowneplaza.com

Date:
May 13-14, 2008

Time:
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST

The Bridges to Operational Excellence: How it All Works

The first day is a great session for ANY distributor that wants to build the bridges of operational excellence and start executing, regardless of the information system they are using.

Discussion topics include:

• Company Objectives - Being a Distributor of Choice
• Sales, Operational and Inventory Management Objectives
• Replenishment Model Overview: Safety, Order Point, Line Point, EOQ, Stock Level Usage and why inventory management is only one piece of the execution puzzle
• Introduction to the Bridges to Operational Excellence
• Process Improvement Model Overview: Process, Education, Tools
• Process Improvement Model Detail: The 5D's, Filling the "Gap", Closed-loop thinking, Exception measurement
• ACE Teams, Visibility, Prioritizing and Analyzing to the REAL Root Cause

What past attendees of this seminar have said:

"A huge jump in our operational excellence and efficiency as a result of our work with Grant."

"A great seminar. Grant's presentation style and tempo really helped the retention of many key concepts."

"The Grant Howard Operational Excellence program helped us clean up our backorder process which significantly reduced the number of backorders. We also were able to greatly improve internal communications. Our use of Post-It Notes has been all but eliminated and things are no longer falling through the cracks."

The Bridges to Operational Excellence: How to Get Results (Utilizing Infor ERP SX.e)

The second day will wrap the concepts presented on the first day around the Infor ERP SX.e ('SX.e') software system. SX.e will be discussed in detail, consequently the session is recommended for current SX.e end users or those who may be seriously considering SX.e as a solution for their companies.

Discussion topics include:

• Order Entry Proficiency: Executing the voice of the customer
• Operational Excellence and Stellar Inventory Management: Executing within
• Your ERP system: Your communication tool
• Back Order Handling: Getting out of the email, sticky note, customer phone call tickler system of back order handling
• Purchase Net Available: Driving flawless accuracy
• Documentation, Training and Rollout: The key to ongoing consistency
• Revision and Proactive Digging: The ongoing role of ACE teams
• Measuring and Monitoring: Controlling and self-improving
• Final Discussion, Wrap Up and Q&A

About Grant W. Howard
Grant W. Howard is an internationally recognized expert and major contributor in the design and implementation of inventory management and replenishment systems. He has multiple company experience in inventory management, purchasing design, operations, problem solving, procedure preparation, and systems administration. Mr. Howard has assisted a number of multiple branch distributors and distribution software houses in the design, education, and implementation of procedures, software packages, and the use of current technology concentrating on inventory management, replenishment, operational efficiency, and bottom line improvement.

Online Registration:
Bridges to Operational Excellence

Contact:
Carolyn Drummond
217.546.7225 ext. 137

Additional Information:
Register now to take advantage of the Early Bird Special! Upon receipt, event instructions will be mailed to you; however, please note that your registration fee must be received in advance in order for us to hold onto your seat.

Special room rates have been provided for this event at the Holiday Inn Express (next door to the Crowne). These discounts will not be available after April 20, 2008 so we encourage you to enroll soon!