A representative from the Best Manufacturing Practices Center of Excellence (BMPCOE) participated in the NSRP Lean Forum at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida, September 12-14, 2006. The NSRP, created by U.S. shipyards at the request of NAVSEA, is structured as a collaboration of 11 major U.S. shipyards focused on industrywide implementation of solutions to common cost drivers.

Attendees toured Jacksonville-area companies where Lean has been implemented, attended keynote presentations, participated in group discussions designed to facilitate the sharing of Lean best practices and lessons learned, and discussed solutions designed to reduce the cost of building, repairing, and maintaining U.S. Navy warships.

BMPCOE's participation in this conference supports one of the Center's goals to support military programs through the sharing of best practices while increasing the quality, reliability, and maintainability of products made by U.S. defense and commercial manufacturers.