The key is in knowing what the customer is actually willing to pay for The central concept of Lean is to identify process steps that add value and those that are wasteful, eliminating the latter to become more efficient. It sounds simple but isn’t. Rick and Elizabeth Peters own a Wilsonville, Oregon-based Lean consulting firm, […]
Search Results for: jlpn
Creating ‘standard work’
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Finding and reinforcing best work flows helps nurseries run a tighter ship Walk into JLPN Inc., a seeding operation and nursery in Salem, Oregon, and even if you’re not familiar with how to harvest or grade container seedlings, you’d soon be doing it like an experienced hand. How? Simply by looking at the laminated diagrams […]
Keeping things moving
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The Lean concept of continuous flow delivers big for Oregon’s nurseries Twenty people to five. A quarter-mile span to 20 feet. One week to 20 minutes. What do these all have in common? They are all some of the head-scratching efficiencies that individual nurseries across Oregon have realized since they’ve implemented one key Lean concept […]
Oregon Lean Consortium launches 2019 program year
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The Oregon Lean Consortium welcomed two new companies as it launched its 2019 program year with a planning workshop on January 15. Seven diverse horticulture businesses will work together on process improvement for the next 12 months: Bailey Nurseries, Yamhill Eshraghi Nursery, Hillsboro JLPN Liners, Salem Marion Ag Service, Saint Paul Peoria Gardens, Albany Robinson […]
Kuenzi Turf and Nursery
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Founded: 1990 by Myron Kuenzi About: Turf and tree nursery offering specimen shade and flowering trees, liners and Japanese maples. Principal: Myron Kuenzi Key employees: General manager Tyler Kuenzi, facilities/maintenance and sod production manager, Josh Kuenzi, tree field manager Luis Tellez, customer service Rick Metzger, accounting Sara Kuenzi, tree sales and inventory James O’Brien, secretary […]
Arrowhead Ornamentals
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Founded: 1997 by Mike Coleman and family About: Grower of finished caliper B&B and containerized trees that are sold to landscapers and re-wholesalers, as well as bare root trees that are sold to other growers to be finished. Principals: Mike and Gail Coleman and other family members Key Employees: Mike Coleman, general manager; Gail Coleman, […]
Trees for screens
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Living screens are as versatile as they are varied. They hide the neighbors, block ugly views, provide backdrops and create garden rooms. Originally, though, screens were used to hem in livestock. When humans made the leap from hunter-gatherers to start an agrarian lifestyle, they prevented animals from wandering by using living screens left behind as […]
The leadership farm team
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When people talk about the nursery industry’s human resource challenges, they often speak strictly in terms of labor. But the nursery industry needs people at all levels, from entry-level workers to crew leaders, supervisors, managers and above. To succeed in a challenging industry, nursery companies rely on the experience, technical knowledge, management ability and leadership […]
Working wonders
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Despite pervasive labor struggles, nurseries find ways to find workers There was a time, up until 2006 or 2007, when Robinson Nursery in McMinnville, Oregon would lay off at least 30 percent of its workforce every year, just after the fall season and heading into winter. Back then, the nursery industry’s labor pool included a […]
The essentials of retention
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Many growers can’t set the price of their products in the national marketplace. They are competing for business with growers from states that don’t have same high cost of doing business, which puts Oregonians at a competitive disadvantage. This means business owners must focus on collecting high-value returns on high-cost labor expenses. When compiling salaries […]
