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OpExChange

OpExChange is a peer-to-peer network for South Carolina manufacturers. Member companies collaborate on operational improvement — lean, Industry 4.0, and leadership development — by opening their plants to each other and comparing how the work is actually done.

Membership isn’t managed on this site yet. Applications, the member portal, and the events calendar run through SCMEP. Use the links below to apply or ask what’s coming up.

Ask about joining Apply on scmep.org (opens in a new tab)

How it works

Workers on a garment production line in a manufacturing plant

Members host the visits

The network runs on plants opening their doors. A member hosts, the group walks the floor, and the discussion happens where the work is — not in a slide deck.

  • Gemba walks and plant tours
  • Hosted across the state — Greenville, Columbia, Charleston, Summerville
Hands arranging yellow sticky notes across a table during an improvement workshop

Working events, not talks

Multi-day Kaizen, Improvement Kata, and Training Within Industry sessions — formats where members do the work rather than watch a presentation.

  • Multi-day Kaizen events
  • Improvement Kata training
  • TWI overview sessions
Team meeting around a table in a bright meeting room

Benchmarking, openly

Benchmarking discussions let members compare approaches directly with peers who face the same constraints — the part that’s hard to get from a consultant or a course.

  • Benchmarking discussions
  • Year-end review and awards
  • Member calendar and portal

What members take part in

OpExChange event formats and what happens at each
Format What happens Runs
Plant visits & Gemba walks A member plant hosts the group; the walk and discussion happen on the floor. Through the year, statewide
Multi-day Kaizen A focused improvement event run over consecutive days. Periodically
Training events Improvement Kata and Training Within Industry (TWI) overview sessions. Periodically, by location
Benchmarking discussions Members compare approaches to a shared problem. Through the year
Year-end review & awards The network reviews the year and recognises member achievements. Annually, each December

Membership

OpExChange membership is annual and applies to the whole site — not to a named individual. Any employee at a member facility can take part, which is what makes it work for a plant rather than for one keen manager.

The network is member-governed, with a board and bylaws, and runs its own calendar of events.

SCMEP lists OpExChange membership at $960 per year, covering all employees at a member’s site. Pricing and applications are handled on the SCMEP OpExChange page (opens in a new tab) — check there for current figures before budgeting.

  1. Apply — through SCMEP, or email the team with what your plant is working on.
  2. Get access — the member calendar, portal, and upcoming events.
  3. Take part — attend visits, host one when you’re ready, and use the wider SCMEP course catalog alongside it.

Email the training team See structured learning paths