Mike Field addresses the supply chain risk seminar.

A Raymond Corp executive discussed lean management methods and supply chain dynamics during a management forum in Ithaca.

"This forum provided Raymond with a venue to share what we are currently experiencing in the materials handling market and compare that against other segments represented by fellow attendees," says Mike Field, president of operations and engineering for Raymond. "We heard from several companies about areas of their business that could be improved, many of which aligned with our own. It was a positive learning experience for all who attended."

The operations management faculty at Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University organised the second annual Johnson Manufacturing Forum.

Field participated in the supply chain risk seminar during the forum.

Nagesh Gavireni, associate professor of operations management at the school and a co-organiser of the 26-27 September event, says, "We will continue to further work with Raymond and other key industry leaders to foster collaboration between industry and academics."

Raymond and Cornell collaborate on various programs such as the semester in strategic operations immersion program. For the past 15 years, Johnson students have observed first-hand how the materials handling equipment manufacturing operations of Raymond in Greene, New York use Toyota Production System principles to achieve operational effectiveness.

Raymond, Toyota Material Handling USA Inc and Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Inc form the Toyota Material Handling North America organisation within the materials handling division of Kariya, Japan-based Toyota Industries Corp.