 In the early 1990’s a team of Dupont engineers developed a unique “game” to encourage the front line operators in their plants to detect defects or “bugs” that effected the reliability, and profitability in their areas before they became a major problem. Henceforth The Manufacturing Game® (TMG) was born. While Dupont still uses the original game, Winston P. Ledet (one of the engineers from the original team) has developed a newer version The Manufacturing Game® (TMG3) in addition to The Operations Excellence Game™ and The OilPro Game™ (adaptations for particular industries) that are available for use in most types of manufacturing plants, oil refineries, production platforms, pipelines etc. TMG3 not only deals with issues of reliability and profitability, but also safety and environmental issues.
The Manufacturing Game® looks similar to a monopoly game. It is a 4 foot by 6 foot, multi-colored game board. The two-day workshop involves four to six teams of six, playing simultaneously. The first day and a half players start out in the typical reactive performance and begin the journey to proactive, profitable and safer operations. They learn to detect and eliminate defects experientially. The participants are given an opportunity to experience each other’s roles in the organization; therefore, learning from each other instead of a teacher.
On the afternoon of the second day the “Action Teams”, launched as a result of the workshop, return to their positions in the plants and apply what they have learned to their particular work situations. They focus on eliminating one defect in the next 90-days or less, spending no more than $5,000.
 Facilitators are specially trained and certified by Ledet Enterprises, Inc. to run the game. They can be employees of Ledet Enterprises Inc., independent contractors or in the case of large corporations someone who has been trained within the organization.
Over 30,000 people have participated at 800 sites with 168 different companies all over the world. Industries, such as Chemical, Refining, Mining, Pharmaceuticals, and Automotive in the United States as well Mexico, UK, Canada, Australia, Africa, Asia, and South America have used The Manufacturing Game®. Typical results from these “Action Teams” result in 40% fewer failures and a reduction in operating expenses of 33%.
Winston Ledet has 27 years of experience with Dupont involving research, operations, engineering, human resources, and maintenance, Thirteen years ago he formed his own consulting business, Ledet Enterprises, Inc. using The Manufacturing Game® and has devised several other simulations over the past 10 years with a focus on improvement of the bottom line results through organizational change. Wife, June, Vice President of Operations, is in charge of several aspects of the business, including sales and marketing. Daughter, Michelle Ledet, has worked for the last 10 years as a facilitator, developer of new simulations and training materials and trainer of internal company facilitators around the world. The Humble, TX office has a support staff of an accountant, materials production coordinator, sales and marketing personnel. Contract facilitators are available in North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, the UK, and the Middle East.
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