Impact Dakota is in the process of recruiting for a new round of Lean Enterprise High Performance Manufacturing (LEHPM) training which starts on January 17, 2023.  This training will be held in-person; specific location will be determined based on location of participants. 

The Impact Dakota LEHPM training helps businesses achieve higher profitability by building internal capability and capacity to improve QUALITY, COST, and DELIVERY.  This training is based on the Lean Enterprise Certification (LECP) body of knowledge and uses standards developed and judged by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) in partnership with Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) and the Shingo Institute. 

Lyle Arnold (left), Impact Dakota Senior Business Advisor, congratulates the staff of
F/S Manufacturing upon completion of their Business Excellence Assessment Report Out Session. 

Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing employees celebrate their completion of AS9100D QMS Internal Auditor Training. Presenting certificates were Impact Dakota representatives, Gordon Court, Business Development & Account Executive (back left), and Lyle Arnold, Senior Business Advisor (back right).

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes Marvin facilities with safety certification awarded to just 0.1% of companies in the United States.

WARROAD, Minn. (Nov. 16, 2022) – Marvin, a premium manufacturer of windows and doors, earned OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star certification for its West Fargo North manufacturing facility in North Dakota, illustrating Marvin’s commitment to ensuring a safe working environment for its employees.

OSHA’s VPP Star certification recognizes organizations that maintain injury and illness rates below the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s national averages for their respective industries through effective safety and health management systems. Just 0.1% of companies across the United States have earned this credential. And now, four of Marvin’s facilities have received this certification.

"Marvin is committed to helping people live better. For our employees, that commitment comes to life through the focus on safety we have made for our manufacturing facilities, our investments in training and safety protocols and through the partners we choose to work with,” said Chris Barta, senior director of operations at Marvin. “We’re proud to have achieved this milestone at another Marvin facility in North Dakota – it’s just one example of the ways we continue to invest in our people."

The West Fargo North manufacturing facility joins Marvin’s three existing VPP Star-certified locations in the area, Fargo, West Fargo South and Marvin Composites (formerly known as Tecton) – to make up four of the 11 total VPP Star-certified facilities in North Dakota. To earn VPP certification, employers must work cooperatively with OSHA and employees to prevent injuries through rigorous systems, testing and evaluations.

“Through our priority to keep our workforce safe, we are also committed to continue our role as a responsible corporate partner and employer in the Fargo community,” said Barta.

November 8 was STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Appreciation Day – subjects that we believe should be emphasized year round. This spotlight on STEM education has reignited an interest in technology-based toys. While there were always chemistry and Erector sets, in my day the most common way kids imagined a technological future was with Transformers and Star Wars’ figures. Now, there are thousands of computer programming, 3D printing and other child-appropriate kits available to make learning about STEM fun, something that will be essential if we are to excite the next generation about a future in STEM-heavy careers such as manufacturing. Here are a few ideas for encouraging interest in STEM for the children on your holiday gift list.

Impact Dakota is partnering with NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) and our nationwide network of 50 other MEP Centers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico to help solve supply chain gaps encountered by manufacturers, government entities, and critical service providers. 

DO YOU HAVE A GAP? ARE YOU ABLE TO FILL A GAP?

— Open Opportunities —