TBM's 2010 Perfect Engine Award


2010 Perfect Engine Award Winner - Pella Corporation

TBM Consulting Group, presented Pella Corporation, a family-owned, professionally-managed, privately-held company that manufactures a full range of high-quality residential and commercial windows and doors for new construction, remodeling and replacement projects, with the annual “Perfect Engine ” award, recognizing Pella for its commitment to “lean” excellence in manufacturing. Click here to read the press release.

Pella PE Award

TBM honored Pella Corporation’s Engineered Technologies Division (ETD) team with its “Perfect Engine” Award in 2010. Pella is the only company to have earned the coveted award twice in history.

Honoring Pella Corporation’s leadership in continuous improvement are front row from left: Gina Singer, Pella Corp Kaizen promotion office (KPO) manager; Brian Kingery, Pella Corp ETD director of operations; TBM CEO Anand Sharma presenting the Corporate “Perfect Engine” award to Pella Corporation President and CEO Pat Meyer, and Jim Meyer, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Pella’s ETD (no relation to Pat Meyer.) Back row, from left: Larry Ehlinger, Pella Corp director of engineering and Bill Schwartz, TBM executive vice president.

Award Criteria

  • Current engagement in a LeanSigma transformation with TBM
  • Completion of two years of LeanSigma transformation as of January 1, 2010
  • Commitment to the philosophy of investing in people, because people are the only appreciable assets in the business

Qualified applicants will be judged upon the following criteria:

  • Teamwork. The site must have trained at least 50 percent of its workforce in LeanSigma techniques – usually through Kaizen Breakthrough Events – and be committed to including a growing percentage of the workforce on kaizen teams.
  • Innovation. Managers of the transformation process will have a proven track record of innovation with LeanSigma principles, from creation of machine-build departments to new product teams or unique cross-training methods.
  • Breadth of Involvement. Besides including a percentage of the workforce on kaizen teams, this site will also include a large number of functional areas in LeanSigma work, from order taking to manufacturing, customer service, shipping, accounting and human resources.
  • Visual Management. The winning site will be an obviously visual workplace, with updated SQDC boards, hour-by-hour charts and other posted indications of area performance.
  • Flow and Takt Time.One-piece flow and the principles of rhythm based on takt time will be in place through at least 75 percent of the entire site, from order-taking to manufacturing and delivery of products or services.

Past Winners

Past winners of the award have included such lean leaders as:

  • Mattel PTMI Jakarta
  • ConMed, Utica, NY
  • WIKA Instrument Corporation, Lawrenceville, GA
  • Hayward Pool Products, Pomona, CA
  • Sealy Mattress Company, Batavia, IL
  • Vitromex, SA de C.V., Saltillo, Mexico
  • Kaiser Aluminum, Chandler, AZ
  • Invacare, Sanford, FL
  • Castech, SA de C.V., Ramos Aripe, Mexico
  • Gai-Tronics Ltd., Staffordshire, UK
  • Pella Storm Doors, Clear Lake, IA
  • Hubbell Power Systems, Inc., Aiken, SC