As we move into holidays and the New Year, remember to encourage yourself and others to be a builder.

I would once again encourage all of you to review the APICS web page(http://www.apics.org), to keep abreast of the latest developments on the organizational changes at Society.  Basically, Society is taking an approach to listen and react to the “voice of the customer.”   The customer is you and me, as well as  our leaders at the Region level.  Simply put, APICS is looking at some changes to help promote and grow APICS philosophies worldwide.  The VOC (Voice of the Customer) and BOK (Body of Knowledge) Councils will begin operating in January.  WG7 will continue their discussions on how to best build representation into the governance model.  We have made great progress and still have items to discuss, but we are at a place where we can begin forward motion and begin building our strategic priorities into the work that we do as an organization. As additional information becomes available over the next few months, I’ll update you.

I want to call your attention to some activities that are coming up in the Wichita Chapter.   On December 9^th our PDM will feature Don Blake, CPIM, AQS-CQIA talking on Ten Years of Total Quality, Eight Years of Kaizen, and What Do You Get? A Lean Production System, which was presented at the 2003 APICS International Conference.  On January 8^th, our PDM will feature Ray Scott, CIRM, CPA, past president of St. Louis APICS Chapter talking on Lean Lite:  How We Applied Lean Principles To A Small Manufacturing Company, which was also presented at the 2003 APICS International Conference.  Those who attended the October PDM are qualified to attend the January PDM at no charge, but must call reservations into Roger Klocke by January 2^nd, 2004.

If you make a New Year’s toast, let it be for a prosperous and peace-filled new year.

Sincerely,