Connecting Capabilities 4 Ascend™ Emphasizes Our Ongoing Strategy Photography: Systems, and Keep Passengers Connected and to Synchronize Aircraft and Ground Systems
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VOLumE SIxteen ISSuE ONE b 2010 LEAN ELECTRONICS C ONNECTIN G PERMIT NO. 90 NO. PERMIT CEDAR RAPIDS, IA RAPIDS, CEDAR U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S. PRINTED MATTER PRINTED PRESORTED BOUND PRESORTED 1 HORIZONS b 2010 www.rockwellcollins.com/horizons IN THIS ISSuE A magazine for the employees and friends of Rockwell Collins Publisher: David Yeoman Thinking differently Editorial director: Nancy Welsh Managing editor: Robert Fleener Typically, whenever there is a challenge, there also Editor: Crystal Hardinger Creative direction: Rick Kaufman, Jeff Andrus is an opportunity. This certainly is the case when it comes to Copy editors: 9 10 12 Ruth Anne Denker managing business aircraft operations. Karen Steggall Using Lean in the office 2 The complexity of today’s aircraft and ground- Rockwell Collins employees are applying Lean Staff writers: based support systems, and the dependencies principles to everyday tasks and assignments. Cindy Adkins between them, is unparalleled in our industry’s Karen Hildebrand COVERSTORY Katie Shatzer history. And, over time, the amount of information Jill Wojciechowski needed to plan and execute a trip, maintain aircraft Connecting capabilities 4 Ascend™ emphasizes our ongoing strategy Photography: systems, and keep passengers connected and to synchronize aircraft and ground systems. Paul Chauncey, Wichita, Kan., cover, page 4 informed is only going to increase. Zhou Daning, Beijing, China, page 3 Are you moving in the right direction? 9 Brandon Jennings, Richardson, Texas, page 12 That’s why we’re developing new ways to Ongoing feedback can help you realize your full potential. Andrew Johnstone, Devon, united Kingdom, page 15 help corporate flight departments streamline Jonathan Koh, Singapore, page 18 Frederic Lancelot, Toulouse, France, pages 16, 21 their operations. In the cover story in this issue, Committed to quality 10 John Reasoner, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, page 13 you’ll learn more about our ongoing strategy to It takes an entire team to achieve a high level of quality. Venkat Reddy, Hyderabad, India, page 14 mark Regan, Reston, Va., page 9 synchronize aircraft and ground systems and, as Smart solutions 12 mark Tade, Iowa City, Iowa, pages 2, 10, 11, 16, 17, 20 a result, make flight operations more efficient Advancing situational awareness for the warfighter Christiaan van Heijst, Amsterdam, Netherlands, page 10 via integrated Signals Intelligence systems. than ever before. Design: Yet, to carry out this strategy, we’ve had Bringing our brand to life 14 WDG Communications Inc. to think differently. Instead of focusing on a Recent study says our brand is helping us build a reputation of trust with customers and employees. How to contact us: single product or technology, we’re connecting Email: [email protected] capabilities, linking systems and managing Laying a solid foundation for global expansion 16 Horizons Compliance with legal requirements and Rockwell Collins information. ethical standards is key to building trust. mS 124-302 Throughout the year, you’ll be hearing 400 Collins Road NE Translating terminology 20 Cedar Rapids, IA 52498-0001 more about challenges and opportunities in our Employees are helping translate information Phone: +1.319.295.1000 global marketplaces. As with our information displayed on the microDAGR. Fax: +1.319.295.9374 management strategy, in order to capture these Service anniversaries 21 How to contact the Ombudsman: new opportunities, we have to think differently. Phone: +1.866.224.8137 or +1.319.295.7714 Email: [email protected] Moving forward, we must keep in mind that On the cover On the what made us successful in the past may not work back cover All trademarks and registered trademarks contained Rockwell Collins employees herein are the property of their respective owners. as well in the future. As you focus on achieving your Sasha Marsee and Craig This ad — which is part Clay Jones FY’11 goals, I encourage you to think innovatively Elliott stand in front of our of a series designed to ©2010 Rockwell Collins, Inc. reinforce our company’s All rights reserved. Chairman, President and CEO and build upon your latest accomplishments. company’s booth at the National Business Aviation reputation as a trusted The following articles may contain forward-looking state- Association (NBAA) partner — recently ments including statements about the company’s busi- convention, where Ascend™ appeared in Defense ness prospects. Actual results may differ materially from those projected, as a result of certain risks and uncertain- flight information solutions News and will appear in ties, including but not limited to those detailed from time was introduced. Defense Technology to time in our earnings press releases and Securities and International (DTI) in January 2011. Exchange Commission filings. VOLUME 16 b ISSuE 1 1 LEAN ELECTRONICS THENEWS using Lean in the office Operation: Redesign Rockwell Collins employees are applying Lean principles to everyday tasks and assignments. A year ago, employees around the world While some changes were explained via focus groups that Horizons adopted immediately — such as Percent current of total billed receivable balance magazine was good, but it could be better. a full-page visual on the cover — 100% Seeing results On-time collections from customers “Research from multiple studies most of the enhancements have have a direct impact on our company’s indicated that our audience wanted more been incorporated as part of a 95% 92% operating cash flow. So the Billing, strategic and forward-thinking articles, gradual process. This issue — 91% Goal Credit and Collections team at more global content, and an updated look Horizons Vol. 16, Issue 1 — 90% 89% 89% Rockwell Collins used Lean principles 88% and feel,” explained Dave Yeoman, senior introduces the new design 86% 86% to help them improve our company’s director of Enterprise Communications. direction. Larger images, 85% billed receivable balance. To incorporate this feedback, the contemporary typography 82% 83% By standardizing processes globally, improving communication Horizons editorial team organized several treatments and a more open 80% and escalation practices, and Lean events. Through value stream page layout are among the maintaining positive relationships mapping, rapid process improvements, design changes. 75% with customers, the team was able bursts and do-its, the group was able “Our intent is to provide a Send us feedback - to improve the receivable balance to improve processes, increase global magazine that is relevant, innovative If you have an article idea 10 percent in nine months. This or other suggestions for Jan. 2010 Feb. 2010 March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 Aug. 2010 Sept. 2010 exceeded their goal by 1 percent. b collaboration efforts, and standardize and trusted, while also delivering a Horizons magazine, email work when it came to writing, editing, deeper-level understanding of our [email protected]. photography and design for the magazine. company,” said Yeoman. b By the numbers Lean Number of actions perspectives in an electronic Connect online 5S – sort, simplify, Is it more challenging Using social media tools helps systematic clean, to see concrete results our employees and customers standardize Q 5 stay informed and connected. and sustain from Lean when you work in an office environment? Here are three ways for you to get the latest news from Rockwell Collins: 9,020,285 Darci Dorfler, manager Megabytes of server space used of Human Resources b Follow by Rockwell Collins’ Enterprise Planning and Lean Rockwell Communications prior to Like any manufacturing Collins organizing an electronic 5S A or business process, on Twitter under the username some processes seem easier Percentage of @RockwellCollins improvement to measure than others. The Human Resources Planning and Lean department — desired by the team 25 For example, in Human led by Darci Dorfler — is working to improve the efficiency b Watch Resources, measuring the and effectiveness of Human Resources processes. Building customer relationships company time to fill an open job Customers from six Chinese companies — our company — helped build relation- videos 3,798,760 on YouTube requisition and setting improvement goals for this measure is fairly straightforward. Air China, China Eastern, COMAC, ships between our Commercial Systems Megabytes of server space at www.youtube.com/ Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines and employees and customers. Attendees used by Enterprise Communi- Setting improvement goals for less tangible activities — like performing benefits rockwellcollinsvideo cations after the electronic 5S research or security investigations — can be more challenging. What we have found Xiamen Airlines — traveled to Rockwell discussed leadership concepts and in all of our Lean work is that every Human Resources process can be improved and Collins headquarters in the United States behaviors, learned more about our b Join our Percentage of LinkedIn measured in some way. The key is to understand what our customers value and how for a two-week leadership training and company’s business model and improvement Group at we are performing to their expectations. We then conduct appropriate Lean events to cultural exchange program. The program — business practices, and shared insights achieved by http://www.linkedin.com 58 b the team attack the waste in the process. b which also included participants from about cultures. 2 HORIZONS b 2010 VOLUME 16 b ISSuE 1 3 COVER