Awards and Achievements
Quality Improvement Award
Indiana's most prestigious and cherished State Quality Award is presented and administered by the Indiana Business Modernization and Technology Corporation (BMT). At a luncheon held at the Century Center in South Bend, Fairmont Homes and other award recipients in Northern Indiana were recognized for their outstanding achievements related to quality.
Manufacturers that have advanced the cause of quality in the State of Indiana and achieved measurable progress toward improving quality can apply to BMT for consideration. This award is a celebration for Fairmont Homes, Inc. marking progress toward becoming a world class manufacturer. Special areas of improvement that formed the basis for award consideration included:
- Implementation of lean principles modeled after the Toyota Production Systems (TPS). All employees have received training on waste reduction, 5S, lean manufacturing, advanced techniques of modern manufacturing, and team based problem solving skills. Improvement requires employee involvement. Involvement requires training.
- 40% reduction in lost time accidents through implementation of safety training beginning with new hires and continuing throughout employment. Fairmont received a State of Indiana Chamber of Commerce Safety Award for each of its four manufactured housing facilities.
- Aggressive recycling activities resulted in 30% less trash to landfills and a 75% reduction in shipments of hazardous wastes.
- Creation of a virtual university. The University of Fairmont, in conjunction with A.I.M., Inc. and Vincennes University, awards college credit for work-based skill attainment and on-going training. In September 2000, over thirty employees received two-year Associates of Applied Science degrees at a commencement held at a local school facility, and over five hundred people received certificates of educational credit.
Fairmont Homes, founded in 1971 by James Franklin Shea in Nappanee, Indiana, is a leading builder of manufactured housing and one of the largest employers in Northern Indiana. The son of the founder, James Foster Shea, currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
Fairmont is honored to receive this award and is committed to the pursuit of attaining world class manufacturing effectiveness and quality. This award would not be possible without the contributions of all the operators and managers working together, training together, and improving together.
Back row standing left to right: Mark Smith, Consultant of A.I.M., Inc., Ron Daugherty, Consultant of People, Systems, and Trust, Inc., Tim Rock, Director of Quality, Rick Jones, Director of Human Resources. Front row: Judy Stapleton, Safety Manager, Edward Ludwick, President, Jim Shea, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Bob Hasse, Director of Purchasing.
