DAVID HICKS ADDRESSING NATIOINAL lEAN MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE
            AUBURN – David Hicks, a lean specialist with the Auburn Technical Assistance Center (ATAC) at Auburn University, is a featured speaker at the Lean Tools for Maintenance and Reliability Conference, Oct. 6-8 in Chicago.
           The program is the only conference focused on putting lean process improvement tools to work at the core of an operation. Last year's event attracted companies from 26 states and four countries to learn about success cases from such firms as Toyota, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Eastman Chemical, Energizer, AstenJohnson and Nordson.
         Hicks' topic, "Leading the Lean Reliability Initiative," focuses on the need for management support and clear connections between lean activities and bottom-line results. Hicks is discussing the establishment of standardized work practices, visual metrics and problem solving techniques that help sustain a continuous improvement initiative.
          Auburn Technical Assistance Center was established in 1976 and is an affiliate of the Alabama Technology Network and an Economic Development Administration University Center. As an Outreach arm of the Auburn University College of Business, ATAC provides business and technical assistance, customized training, and consultation in implementing value-added strategies to manufacturers and other businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies in Alabama and the Southeast.