Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Tours of Harley-Davidson and Hallmark during the upcoming Continuous Improvement Conference will give attendees the rare opportunity to see how two major U.S. companies are using operational excellence and Lean manufacturing to reach higher levels of performance. These tours will showcase how to utilize just-in-time (JIT) production, high performance teams, metrics, problem solving and other applications of continuous improvement.

About the Harley-Davidson Tour
Harley-Davidson has been known for its obsessive focus on reducing waste in its processes since its turnaround in the 1980s. During the tour of Harley's newest plant, attendees will see how its 800-plus employees efficiently produce the Sportster, Dyna, and VRSC families of motorcycles from fabrication and finishing through final assembly. The 60-minute small-group walking tour will guide attendees through the various manufacturing and assembly processes, all the while learning how Lean manufacturing continues to transform the company. For more information, visit www.printing.org/ciconference to hear Harley-Davidson General Manager, John Lowry, discuss the company's quest for operational excellence.

About the Hallmark Tour
Hallmark' Leavenworth Production Center uses flexographic and gravure printing to produce and package gift wrap (rolls, flat packages, and tissue), paper partyware (cups, napkins, and plates), and papers for several Crayola products. The facility is 756,000 square feet and employs about 300 people. On the tour attendees will see many examples of how Hallmark has taken advantage of Lean and other quality processes like kanban and Quality at the Source to streamline their production operations.

These two tours will help drive home how introducing continuous improvement techniques in the workplace can create an efficient and effective processes that results in savings and a reduction of waste.