Pelion Launches "Value Stream Mapping: Beyond Whiteboards" Workshop Series

One-Day Course Designed to Help Manufacturers Advance VSM Capability to Accelerate Progress Toward Running Lean Operations


BOULDER, CO -- (MARKET WIRE) -- January 25, 2007 -- Pelion Systems, a market leader in Lean Manufacturing solutions, announced today the launch of a new series of workshops titled "Value Stream Mapping: Beyond Whiteboards." A part of Pelion's TurboLean™ education initiative, the workshops are designed to help manufacturers take steps toward actively managing their value streams to accelerate progress toward running Lean operations.

Using easy-to-learn tools and concepts, students will be empowered to go beyond the typical static methods of Value Stream Mapping and begin building dynamic Value Stream Maps with the purpose of:

--  Identifying breakthrough opportunities for improvement
--  Gaining consensus in the organization to make those breakthroughs a
    reality
--  Creating a program management framework for achieving those
    breakthroughs
    
Initial one-day workshops will be led by Pelion's Chief Technology Officer Dave Gleditsch, a 30-year manufacturing industry veteran who has driven some of the world's most successful Lean transformation programs. The course is conducted in a "teach & do" format where students will learn in class how to create Value Stream Maps of both current and future states considering product flow strategies and customer value as the compelling drivers.

Appropriate Lean Manufacturing principles will be used along the way as students work to define the current state, identify wastes and opportunities and discuss how Lean tools can be applied to create a Future State Map with an improvement plan.

"Our goal is to provide students with real hands-on practice by using a representative factory as a case study for process observation," Gleditsch said. "The Future State Map review will demonstrate how to apply Lean principles and tools to eliminate waste and create an improvement plan. We also provide students with a very effective tool for moving from discussions, chart paper and spreadsheets to real Lean intelligence that can be leveraged as an annuity in executing that plan."

The workshop is designed as a 100-level course and is appropriate for Value Stream Mapping beginners or practitioners looking for new knowledge and tools to improve factory operations and advance their Lean Manufacturing efforts.

The $449 price includes a full-day of innovative Value Stream Mapping education as well as a copy of Pelion's EasyVSM Value Stream Mapping tool and a casebook for students to take back to use in their organizations. Lunch and laptops for use in the class will be provided on site.

Pelion plans to kick off the "Value Stream Mapping: Beyond Whiteboards" series with workshops in Fort Collins, Boulder and Denver, CO, on February 20, 21 and 22, respectively. Other workshops around the country are being planned for later this quarter and year.

Visit www.pelionsystems.com for more information and to register for an upcoming workshop or contact Pelion at 1-888-LEAN-FWD to discuss scheduling a customized workshop for your company.

About Pelion Systems

Pelion Systems is a market leader in Lean Manufacturing solutions that drive flexibility to help manufacturers solve the customer service vs. profitability challenge. Working with Pelion's education teams, expert consultants and individual applications that fuel the Lean Manufacturing Operating System, companies with complex processes and production environments are able to achieve rapid transformations and continuous improvements in areas such as labor, inventory and shipping costs while simultaneously improving cycle time and delivery capabilities. Pelion's technology integrates easily with and extends the value of existing ERP, SCM and plant-floor systems. Solutions are able to scale from a single facility to an extended enterprise implementation, applying Lean principles to synchronize production, supply and distribution and form a true demand-driven network. Pelion is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with sales offices in Boston, Chicago and Detroit. For more information, please visit www.pelionsystems.com.

Contact Information: Press and Analyst Contacts: John Howlett Pelion Systems 720-890-2800, ext. 160 john.howlett@pelionsystems.com Adrienne McGarr Ruder Finn for Pelion Systems 312-329-3907 mcgarra@ruderfinn.com