Last week, I had the chance to talk with Randy Pennington, author of two award-winning books, “Results Rule!” and “Make Change Work.” Our conversation quickly turned to the topic of change. More specifically, we reflected on the ways change strengthened us as leaders throughout our careers.
Randy reminded me of something we all know: change is constant. It’s present in our organizations, across our industries, in our personal lives and even in AME itself. Industry is evolving, technology is advancing, workforce needs are shifting and the call for operational excellence is louder than ever. Recognizing this urgency is the first step toward shaping the AME future we want to see.
In this evolutionary respect, AME is proud to offer lean yellow, green and black belt certification training. You can register for the virtual Lean yellow belt certification training on Dec. 22-23 or the in-person Lean green belt certification training the week of December 15 at Glass America in Illinois.
As we look toward the future, I’m reminded of Dr. John Kotter’s eight steps of change, a framework that aligns closely with how AME shares, learns and grows.
- Create urgency: The manufacturing world is transforming faster than ever, driven by digital innovation and workforce shifts. This urgency reminds us why AME’s mission to inspire a commitment to enterprise excellence through continuous improvement and respect for people matters more than ever.
- From a powerful coalition: Our strength lies in our people. AME’s network of passionate volunteers, members and partners forms a coalition for progress. Our leaders believe in collaboration over competition and shared learning over individual gain.
- Create a vision for change: AME envisions a community where operational excellence and human-centered leadership shape sustainable success for every organization we touch.
- Communicate the vision: We share stories, best practices and insights, not just at our conferences, but year-round through local events, consortia, webinars and member engagement. Change only becomes real when everyone understands and believes in the vision.
- Empower action: We clear the path for innovation. AME provides tools, resources and connections that empower every member to act, whether you’re leading a transformation or beginning your continuous improvement journey.
- Create short-term wins: Small victories build momentum. Each improvement, lesson learned and shared success story moves us closer to our collective vision.
- Consolidate gains and produce more change: As we build credibility and confidence, we expand our impact by strengthening partnerships, refining programs and ensuring our systems reflect our shared purpose.
- Anchor new approaches in the culture: Lasting change happens when excellence becomes “the way we do things.” At AME, we embed learning, collaboration and respect for people into every aspect of our culture.
The key to change, as noted in all eight steps, is people. Please join AME’s newest consortia centered around people-centered leadership. Consortia co-facilitators Lisa Weis and Cheryl Jekiel are kicking off our People and Culture Consortia with an amazing virtual event on Dec. 3. Their first guest will be Steve Gund, president and CEO of The Gund Company, a global manufacturer known for its people-first culture and commitment to humanistic leadership. Under his guidance, the company has become a model for aligning operational excellence with care for people. Steve is passionate about developing leaders who create workplaces where both business and humanity can thrive. Register here.
At AME, we’re not just responding to change; we are leading it. Every lesson learned, every connection made and every improvement implemented moves us forward together. As we embed people-centered leadership and continuous improvement into everything we do, we strengthen our role as catalysts for meaningful, lasting change.
Thank you for being part of this incredible journey and for helping AME remain your trusted place to share, learn and grow. As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.