SETTING THE BENCHMARK

The BEX Olympics Returned in 2023 with a Bang!

by Oscar Heredia / July 25, 2024

The Benchmark Enterprise Excellence (BEX) Olympics is back for its third year! We couldn't be more thrilled with how this program has grown and transformed, becoming one of our favorite programs due to the intensity with which our sites around the world approach this friendly, global competition. Through BEX, Benchmark facilities have discovered innovative ways to improve efficiency while sharing their knowledge with sites worldwide to improve Benchmark's operational excellence. 

For those who don't already know, the BEX Olympics is a fun, Olympics-themed event aimed at integrating our Lean Sigma culture and continuous-improvement methodologies with each of our team's daily work. The event grades teams based on their ability to improve various processes within our manufacturing sites, such as on-time delivery, cost reduction, and operational agility improvements for our customers.

BEX aims to further enhance our collective understanding and application of Lean Six Sigma methodologies. The event tasks each participating facility to work as a team to improve internal processes, strengthen customer relationships, and ultimately build better products. We also see BEX as a celebration of our employees and their contributions that make Benchmark a great place to work.

What's also incredible about BEX is that it brings the whole company together. The excitement BEX creates has spread across the company, generating total buy-in from leadership. With this level of collaboration, individuals on our factory floor have the opportunity to work with (and share ideas with) our leadership team, managers, and more, allowing for added voices to be heard and greater opportunities for diversity of thought and innovation. Over the years, our facilities have implemented new ideas that have helped to improve performance, quality, and efficiency across factory floors. Results from previous competitions included significant improvements for the following key performance indicators (KPIs):

  • Changeover Cycle Time (CCT)
  • On-Time Delivery (OTD)
  • Manufacturing Lead Time (MLT)
  • Units Produced Per Hour (UPPH)
  • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Manufacturing Velocity (MV)
  • Plan vs. Actual Attainment (PVA)
  • Machine Uptime (MU)
  • Reduced Scrap (SC)
  • Safety Total Case Incident Rate (TCIR)

In 2022, we received a National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Transformational Leadership Award in the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards competition for developing and implementing the BEX Olympics. NAM recognized the effort our operations leadership team put into creating the BEX Olympics and the transformational outcomes realized by our employees throughout the process. This award has catalyzed our teams to grow this competition year after year, bringing us to the 2023 competition.

In 2023, we saw participation rise by roughly 30% across the company, with over 750 participants across 68 projects. These 68 projects were also six times the amount we have had in previous years. We recently selected and honored the winners at our company meeting, choosing the facilities that brought their A-game.

The winners of the 2023 BEX Olympics are as follows:

1st Place – Thailand

BEX-Gold-Thailand

An extraordinary team of 350 has shown an exceptional level of dedication. Their engagement scores were through the roof, with 85% in AYD and an impressive 92% in KRT, illustrating a workforce deeply connected to their mission and values. Achieving a Customer Health Dashboard score of 100% green is no small feat—it represents a team that consistently meets and exceeds customer expectations. Team Thailand’s gold-winning performance is a testament to what can be achieved with a large, engaged team focused on excellence.

2nd Place – Suzhou

BEX-Silver-Suzhou

176 participants joined forces to push the boundaries of what we can achieve in cost savings and efficiency. They elevated their First Pass Yield by 3%, getting closer to the best industry standards. Their dedication to perfection is also evident in their On-Time-To-Request rate, which reached a flawless 100%, and their On-Time-To-Plan rate, which saw a stellar rise of 135%. Let's not overlook their Employee Engagement rate—a striking 97%, indicating that almost every team member is actively committed to the group's success.

3rd Place – Penang Waterfront

BEX-Bronze-Penang-Waterfront

BEX-Bronze-Penang

With 40 participants, Team Penang showed what true teamwork and dedication looks like. They took on the challenge of transforming their operations and achieved extraordinary results: a 67% reduction in past-due sales orders and a commendable 34% improvement in their On-Time Delivery rate. Their strategic efforts have significantly boosted the site's revenue.

Concord, California and Minnesota sites were also named with honorable mentions.

We are thrilled that the BEX Olympics continues to grow and bring our company together. It is an honor to see each facility put so much thought and effort into making Benchmark an efficient powerhouse that delivers top-of-the-line value and quality to customers. Visit Benchmark to learn more about our collective vision, mission, purpose, and values!

 

about the author

Oscar Heredia

Oscar Heredia serves as Benchmark’s Vice President of Operational Excellence, where he leads Benchmark's Enterprise Excellence (BEX) strategic initiatives and programs, engaging over 12,000 employees worldwide. Oscar earned a degree in Electronic Engineering specializing in Digital Systems from the Instituto Tecnológico de Chihuahua. Additionally, he has certifications and training in Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification, and various leadership and management programs.