Apogee’s Lean Enterprise System is an on-going effort to improve products, services, and processes across our organization, along with a relentless focus on eliminating waste and minimizing resource consumption. Our efforts are customer focused and data driven, with the goal of improving efficiency and adding value for our customers.

Apogee formally kicked off our Lean manufacturing journey in fiscal year 2014. Over the following three years, all Apogee manufacturing locations implemented fundamental Lean competencies including 5S for workplace organization and safety, visual management, continuous improvement culture and change management.

These competencies provided the foundation for the next phase of the journey, which began in fiscal 2017. That year we began the next phase of our journey with the development of a 10-year Lean Enterprise Program. The roadmap includes 26 additional competencies and extended use of Lean tools and processes beyond the shop floor to all areas of the business.

Each of Apogee’s business units set annual goals to improve performance levels, focusing on those competencies with the highest impact to the business. Over the 10-year horizon, each business will document progress within all 26 competencies, with minimum annual performance requirements defined by the plan.

While Apogee’s business units are at various stages of maturity on their Lean journey, we have built a culture of continuous improvement and rapid response to daily problems that improve quality, customer service, and cost, while reducing waste. To date, we have made tremendous progress on our journey but are never satisfied with our current state and continually strive to achieve higher levels of excellence.