Many thanks to Don Kier who has redesigned the website.  If you have not seen our new Chapter 164 Website, take a minute to check it out. http://chapters.sme.org/164/

This Month's Meetings

SME LUNCH & LEARN:

Here's your chance for a great FREE lunch!  The menu will include lasagna, garlic bread, sautéed seasonal vegetables, salad, sweet tea and water, and three different kinds of cheesecake with assorted toppings to choose from!

Meeting Date: Thursday October 20th, 2005
Time: 11:30 am to 1:00 pm  Lunch & Learn
Location:  The Banquet Room at The Snack Shop, Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC (directions below)
Program: Reliability as a prerequisite for Lean Manufacturing presented by Life Cycle Engineering
Organizations that are implementing lean manufacturing concepts have embraced the following philosophies:

• No product is made until the next “customer” downstream requires it
• Quality is designed into the product and process
• Inventory hides problems and must be eliminated
• Commitment is made to eliminating waste

Obviously, in such an environment, equipment has to run when needed, and it has to make quality products when it runs. What happens when a plant implements lean without addressing reliability first? Typically, the following problems arise:

• Delays in production
• Missed shipments
• Poor product quality
• Excessive downtime
• Pressure on Maintenance to “fix the equipment immediately!”

In the words of Bruce Henderson and Jorge Larco in the book, Lean Transformation, “In a Lean production facility, equipment must work when it is supposed to. If a machine breaks down, it will bring an entire line to a stop. So it has to be fixed immediately.”

We believe there is a better way. Instead of fixing equipment faster, we should not let it fail in the first place. We should do what’s necessary to ensure the equipment is reliable, and will do what the user needs it to do when it needs to be done. This discussion will explore the requirements for excellence in Reliability and the most effective ways to achieve it.

Directions to The Banquet Room at The Snack Shop, Bob Jones University:

Drive onto campus at the Welcome Center on Wade Hampton Blvd.  The road "Ts" at the fountain on front campus.  Turn left at the fountain and park in front of the University Student Center -- the first building to the right.  (Additional parking will also be available in the adjacent parking lot.)  Enter the University Student Center through the double glass doors, cross the lobby, and go through the second set of glass doors.  You will be in front of the Snack Shop.  The Banquet Room, where our event will be held, is in the back of the Snack Shop.

Contact: RSVP to Andrew Wyse rsvp.sme164@gmail.com 
Cost: FREE
Web Site: http://chapters.sme.org/164/homepage.htm

SME EVENING MEETING

40th anniversary celebration

Friday October 28th, 2005  Join all your co-members for our SME Chapter 164 40th anniversary celebration. We confirmed Friday night October 28th as the date of the event at the Marriott Renaissance Park in downtown Spartanburg. We will start the event with Social Hour and Cash Bar at 6:00 PM and dinner starting at 7:00, and then some awards will be given around 7:45. We are going to try to get Tim Jackson to give a brief history of our chapter. We have confirmation of our guest speaker who will be Richard (Dick) Morley. He is the "father" of the programmable controller and also co-author of a book called How Manufacturing Will Work in the Year 2020. According to people that have heard Mr. Morley speak, he is a very interesting speaker and could hold one's attention all night. Everyone including members and the general public is invited.

Entree Choices:

Grilled Salmon Served with a Fresh Mango Salsa
SLICED ROAST SIRLOIN Served with Wild Mushroom Demi-Glace
PAN-SEARED CHICKEN Topped with Rock Shrimp Served with a Lobster Sauce and Andouille Sausage Polenta

We need to have each person signing up to pick their choice of entrée. Reservations must be made by Tuesday, October 18th. If you have any questions, please call Bob Ludvik at his home number, 576-1877 or his cell: 316-1667.

Using his studies in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a springboard, Dick Morley has become an internationally recognized pioneer in the fields of computer design, artificial intelligence, automation, and technology trend forecasting. As an inventor, author, consultant and engineer, Dick Morley has provided the Research and Development community with world-changing innovations.

For many years, Dick Morley was a contributing columnist to Manufacturing Systems Magazine. He has also written articles for magazines and journals worldwide including Manufacturing Automation Magazine. In recognition for his ground breaking contributions, Mr. Morley has received numerous awards and honors from such diverse groups as Inc. Magazine (Entrepreneur of the Year) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (Albert M. Sargent Progress Award).

Dick Morley lives on a farm in New Hampshire and works out of a renovated barn on his property. He has raised over two dozen foster children and loves skiing. He drives a 1995 Chevrolet Impala SS and rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.  His website is www.barn.org.

Contact: RSVP to Andrew Wyse rsvp.sme164@gmail.com 
Cost: $30 per person; spouses and friends are welcome
Web Site: http://chapters.sme.org/164/homepage.htm

SME CALENDAR for 2005

SME Regional Events

SME ANNOUNCES the 2006 MOTORSPORTS FOR MANUFACTURING EVENT TO TAKE PLACE IN INDIANAPOLIS

Manufacturing for Performance will connect manufactures with the latest developments in aerodynamics, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, design machining prototyping, advanced fabrication, joining technologies, and more. Participants will learn how to reduce cycle times, improve surface finishes, increase part repeatability and quality, and accelerate product development times.

We invite you to participate in this new and exciting event! We are currently recruiting speakers and industry advisors interested in performance manufacturing technologies and applications. To learn more about how you can submit a presentation or download information as to why you should exhibit please visit our website at www.sme.org/motorpsorts or contact Tracy Watson, SME Motorsports Liaison at tlcw@yahoo.com.

Gentlemen, start your engines!