AME Milwaukee 2026 International Conference
Tours
Tour
Turning a foundational CI culture into an operational excellence system
OP Ex is just what we do
OVERVIEW
Charter Steel has made significant progress in deploying its operational excellence (OpEx) system, transforming a strong foundation of continuous improvement into a disciplined, integrated way of operating each plant. During this tour, participants will see how Charter Steel has embedded the key elements of its OpEx system into daily operations, making it part of how the plant runs rather than a standalone initiative.
The Charter Steel team will share how four core elements of the system create a consistent operational cadence that guides daily work, strengthens alignment and advances the continuous improvement culture. These elements enable teams to identify issues quickly, respond with clarity and apply the appropriate level of problem-solving rigor. Participants will learn how the system helps operators and leaders identify problems hour by hour, shift to shift and day to day, creating a transparent environment where issues surface and are addressed systematically.
A key takeaway from the tour is Charter Steel’s disciplined approach to matching each problem with the appropriate problem-solving method. Whether an issue requires a quick fix, a structured root cause analysis or a cross-functional improvement effort, the OpEx system provides clear guidance that builds capability and consistency across the organization.
The tour will also highlight a key leadership focus: ask more, tell less. Leaders will share how they are developing stronger problem solvers by coaching through questions rather than providing answers, fostering ownership and deeper thinking at every level.
This tour offers a practical, transparent look at what it takes to embed operational excellence into the fabric of a manufacturing organization.
The Charter Steel team will share how four core elements of the system create a consistent operational cadence that guides daily work, strengthens alignment and advances the continuous improvement culture. These elements enable teams to identify issues quickly, respond with clarity and apply the appropriate level of problem-solving rigor. Participants will learn how the system helps operators and leaders identify problems hour by hour, shift to shift and day to day, creating a transparent environment where issues surface and are addressed systematically.
A key takeaway from the tour is Charter Steel’s disciplined approach to matching each problem with the appropriate problem-solving method. Whether an issue requires a quick fix, a structured root cause analysis or a cross-functional improvement effort, the OpEx system provides clear guidance that builds capability and consistency across the organization.
The tour will also highlight a key leadership focus: ask more, tell less. Leaders will share how they are developing stronger problem solvers by coaching through questions rather than providing answers, fostering ownership and deeper thinking at every level.
This tour offers a practical, transparent look at what it takes to embed operational excellence into the fabric of a manufacturing organization.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Charter Steel is a U.S.-based supplier of special bar quality (SBQ) steel products to customers around the world. Charter Steel is a member of the Charter Manufacturing family of companies, which also includes Charter Wire LLC, Charter Automotive LLC and Charter Dura-Bar Inc.
Charter Steel was founded on the premise that the customer is the key ingredient in the steelmaking process. The company melts, rolls and processes steel, but at its core, Charter Steel is a service business committed to continuously investing in people and technologies that add value to its customers’ products.
Charter Steel is a comprehensive steel coil and bar provider, offering capabilities from green rod to fully processed steel. The company delivers consistent, high-quality steel on time, helping increase customer productivity. Charter Steel combines a growth mindset with deep service, operations and technical expertise to deliver creative solutions.
Charter Steel produces products containing typically 90 percent or more recycled materials, leveraging electric arc furnace melt technology and expert rolling capabilities at its Saukville, Wisconsin, and Cleveland, Ohio, locations. Distribution and processing facilities are located in Saukville, Wisconsin, and Fostoria, Ohio. Charter Steel is a leading producer of cold heading quality steels and the largest coil processor in North America.
www.chartersteel.com
Charter Steel was founded on the premise that the customer is the key ingredient in the steelmaking process. The company melts, rolls and processes steel, but at its core, Charter Steel is a service business committed to continuously investing in people and technologies that add value to its customers’ products.
Charter Steel is a comprehensive steel coil and bar provider, offering capabilities from green rod to fully processed steel. The company delivers consistent, high-quality steel on time, helping increase customer productivity. Charter Steel combines a growth mindset with deep service, operations and technical expertise to deliver creative solutions.
Charter Steel produces products containing typically 90 percent or more recycled materials, leveraging electric arc furnace melt technology and expert rolling capabilities at its Saukville, Wisconsin, and Cleveland, Ohio, locations. Distribution and processing facilities are located in Saukville, Wisconsin, and Fostoria, Ohio. Charter Steel is a leading producer of cold heading quality steels and the largest coil processor in North America.
www.chartersteel.com
Requirements & Restrictions
Requirements:
Safety glasses (tour site to provide)
Restrictions:
U.S. citizen only
No recording devices
No mobile phones
No competitors
Safety glasses (tour site to provide)
Restrictions:
U.S. citizen only
No recording devices
No mobile phones
No competitors
TAGS
Click on a tag to discover more sessions with that theme, topic or level.
Click on a tag to discover more sessions with that theme, topic or level.
Culture of respect and collaboration
Operations improvement
Level: Intermediate
