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APICS Assoc.
Southwest District
Chapters

San Fernando Valley APICS
PO Box 802977
Valencia, CA 91380-2977

Professional Development Meeting

REGISTER | PLACE | UPCOMING EVENTS

REGISTRATION IS FULL - NO MORE WILL BE ACCEPTED
"Back by Popular Demand!
Lean at Rico Reeds: A Plant Tour"
8484 San Fernando Rd (map)
Sun Valley, CA 91352-3227
Thursday March 11, 2010 – 6:00-7:30pm

Some of you missed the popular tour we had at Rico Reeds last August, which was limited to only 50 people. So we are scheduling another tour! This time we will be highlighting the firm's experience with lean manufacturing.

Some of the processes that you will see have been in use for decades with little to no change. Rico's reed-making machines are computer controlled and monitored by professionals constantly. The company's history includes an impressive number of significant industry firsts. In the 1930s, the company was the first to offer strength-gauged reeds. In 1940, Rico introduced the first plastic-coated reed, Plasticover, which possesses unique tonal qualities and a long-playing life. Other Rico innovations have included the Nova Pak, Graftonite mouthpieces, and the new Reed Vitalizer 2-way humidity control storage units. Other processes have been upgraded to take advantage of automation and improvements in manufacturing.

This tour will display how a firm has been able to mix both hi-tech and lo-tech manufacturing processes successfully. This year Rico Reeds has also begun to implement a Lean transformation, incorporating a variety of Lean tools. So far this year they have conducted three Kaizen events, which have made major changes on the manufacturing floor. In addition, you will see how Rico Reeds has been able to use Lean to reduce inventory levels, through-put time, stock outs and scrap rates. Furthermore, you will witness how they have simplified the production planning and control process with the implementation of a kanban system and other Visual Factory techniques.

Sign up right away today, as space is limited to 50 people. Only the first 50 people to sign up will be allowed on the tour (First come-first served). You must be registered to attend; no walk-ins are allowed. We will allow those who were on the previous tour. As it is customary in our plant tours, you are NOT allowed to bring any kind of recording devices, cameras, or video. No open-toe or high heel shoes allowed. Snacks will be provided before the tour.

About Rico Reeds International:

Rico Reeds' origins started in France with Joseph Rico in 1928. Today Rico is the premier manufacturers and distributors of reeds used in the playing of saxophones and clarinets. The process of taking a natural material, cane (Arundo donax, a Giant Grass), and converting it into a product that can produce music is complex and interesting. First, cane poles are cut between nodes of the stalk. This is done at all plantation sites (France and Argentina). Cane tubes are then bagged according to plantation location and sent to be cut into reed blanks. Each cane tube is carefully inspected and sorted by diameter and symmetrical wall thickness, and is re-cut to Rico specifications. The reed cutting machines are meticulously calibrated to make specific reed brands according to model, strength, and size. In-house quality control musicians monitor and recalibrate (if necessary) the reed-cutting machines many times daily and randomly test play-finished reeds from all machines. Reeds that do not pass playability and quality control standards are not packaged.
From humble beginnings, Rico has grown to become a leader in single reed manufacturing. With the recent acquisition of Rico by D'Addario & Co. Rico is further strengthening its position as the leader in woodwind reeds and accessories. At its San Fernando Valley facility, Rico has a state-of-the-art reed research center, and employs the collaboration of agronomists, scientists, and musicians to produce top-quality reeds that include Rico Reserve premium reeds for clarinet and saxophone. Rico reeds are designed to benefit all levels of musicians from the beginner to the seasoned professional. Many of the world's finest clarinetists and saxophonists use Rico brand reeds, such as Jessica Phillips, Jerry Bergonzi, Chris Potter, Benny Golson, Ernie Watts, Bob Sheppard, Walter Boeykens, Seiji Yokokawa, Philippe Geiss, Diastema Saxophone Quartet, and many more.

Please register by Thursday, March 4th to ensure your place!

No-shows who do NOT cancel at least 3 days before the event, will be billed for the event.

To cancel, send an e-mail to meeting@apics-sfv.org and put Cancel Tour in the subject of the e-mail. Please include your name and the number of people who will be canceling (if you made a reservation for more than 1).

Register:

For questions concerning registration only please contact:
meeting@apics-sfv.org.

You can now pay by credit card prior to the day of the meeting or by check at the door on the day of the meeting. Credit Card payments are processed through PayPal. If you do not want to use PayPal please choose the "Pay By Check Or Cash At The Door" link. You do NOT need to set up a PayPal account to pay by Credit Card.

To register for the meeting please use one of the following links:
REGISTRATION IS FULL - NO MORE WILL BE ACCEPTED

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER & PAY BY CREDIT CARD 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER IF YOU WILL BE PAYING BY CASH OR CHECK AT THE DOOR