Holding a high value on continuously improving performance throughout its "Lean Enterprise System," Platform Solutions' Fort Wayne site is working with its suppliers to establish common goals and aligned principles.
One of the ways it does this is by hosting onsite supplier workshops where BAE Systems employees work with suppliers on mutually beneficial improvement opportunities relating to cost savings, quality improvements and on-time delivery.
"We view partnering as critical to our overall success," said Shawn Braun, lean enterprise leader for Fort Wayne. "We feel that for a partnering relationship to be successful, the customer and supplier must understand each other's needs and challenges, and strengths and values.
Held quarterly, the supplier workshops provide a forum for the Fort Wayne site and its suppliers to discuss needs, challenges and opportunities. Each workshop involves six non-competitive supply partners invited to engage in an open dialogue with representatives from the areas of operations, sourcing, quality, lean and leadership.
Workshop hosts lead a discussion on critical procurement tools such as feedback on performance, extension of the value stream, quality tools enhancement and training, and facilitation and support of lean initiatives. The material covered is then reinforced by a comprehensive tour through Fort Wayne's Lean Enterprise System. They also invite suppliers to participate in the site's Lean 101 training, and provide them an opportunity to share information about their own continuous improvement activities.
Near the conclusion of the workshop, participants establish strategic initiatives to ensure greater partnerships and superior product to our customers. 
"As a company, CNC Industries has always tried to develop long term partnerships rather than basic customer/supplier relationships. The supplier workshop that we attended exhibits BAE Systems commitment to this philosophy. It is obvious that BAE Systems is focused on sharing resources and experiences with its supplier base in order to garner long term, mutually beneficial business partnerships," said Dustin Kimbrell, plant manager for CNC Industries.
"For us to be successful on our lean journey we must have an integrated supply chain. These workshops establish a common set of improvement tools and objectives between us and our suppliers," said Bob Hoffman, Fort Wayne director of operations.
