Ideas

Surveys conducted by John Kotter back in the 1980s suggested that more than 60 percent of all change initiatives fail. Further studies by McKinsey later validated that despite our increasing knowledge and experience, the statistics for failed changes remain intact. This means that the majority of lean initiatives that you may have introduced in the past have failed to deliver the expected or desired outcomes to the extent possible. This isn’t to say that there haven’t been improvements, but they simply have not been as substantial as originally expected.

Racine-based Modine Manufacturing Co., a global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, is offering several free courses from Monday, Jan. 26 – Wednesday, Jan. 28 at the 2015 AHR Expo: The World’s Largest HVACR Marketplace, taking place in Chicago.

Registration is open for the 2015 Focus on Manufacturing Breakfast scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27. Organized by the Wisconsin Manufacturers Commerce, it will be held from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at The Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

Durham, N.C.-based Cree Inc. has filed complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to curb alleged infringement on Cree’s patented technologies. Cree, an innovator of LED lighting, manufactures lighting products in Sturtevant, where it employs more than 1,100 employees.

Hartford-based Broan-NuTone LLC has unveiled the Broan Ventilation Fan with Sensonic Stereo Speakers, which allows consumers to easily enjoy music or their favorite audio wirelessly from their own devices during their morning routines in the bathroom.

Waukesha-based DUECO Inc., the largest privately owned provider of Terex Utilities and Terex Hi-Ranger bucket trucks, digger derricks and cranes for the utility market in the country, has delivered two trucks equipped with Odyne plug-in hybrid systems to We Energies.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Motor Co. is finalizing a 75-year agreement with city officials from Sturgis, S.D., to make it the official motorcycle of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally through 2090.

Johnson Controls Inc. is considering locating a major new office development in the Milwaukee area and said the Milwaukee Common Council's upcoming vote on a financing plan for a downtown streetcar will be a factor in determining the site of the project.

Waukesha-based V&L Tool Inc. plans to create as many as 25 new jobs to meet current demand for its products and services. It held a two-day job fair last week and may hold a second job fair/open house in the coming weeks.

One-third of Americans assert that there are not enough playgrounds in their community to serve the number of children who live there, a belief confirmed by neighborhood residents, clergy, small business owners and officials during the building of Mount Pleasant's Community-Oriented Policing House.