Lean Manufacturing at Fountain Powerboats

Over the last 2 1/2 years Fountain Powerboats has made a commitment to apply the principals of Lean Manufacturing to our manufacturing facility in order to realize significant cost savings and productivity improvements. The Implementation Plan included the training of Fountain Team Members in "Value Stream Mapping and Standardized Work Events".

A workshop was conducted Nov.15 through Nov.19,2004 and was facilitated by the North Carolina State University Industrial Extension Service. The materials and course where designed by NCSU, and the Lean Team was taught by Michelle Cooper a P.E .with the NCSU Extension Service. The Fountain Lean Team, developed a "present state" and "future state" map of the Fountain Manufacturing process. Over the next 90 days the Team will be implementing changes to process flow, inventory, and work practices that where identified during the training." As Fountain Powerboats continues on the path of Lean Manufacturing this group will help lead and instruct future Lean Events.

Picture L-R: Row One: J J Clark-Mate. Sup., Irving Smith- CFO, Michelle Cooper-NCSU P.E., John DeLong- Cost Acct., Rick Spriggs- Mate. Eng.
Row Two: Ed Morgan-Scheduling Mgr., Dexter Lewis-BOM/Prod. Cor., Presley Eley- Lam. Eng., Jim Jennett-Mat. Mgr., Larry Shea-Prod. Mgr., John Paulus- Woodshop Sup.
Row Three: Jack Clark- COO, Chris Phelps- Fab. Sup., Dale Clark- Warehouse Sup.