FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2007

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - TaylorMade-adidas Golf of Carlsbad took first-place honors during the final project presentations of the Lean Enterprise class through San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies (CES).

The Lean philosophy is a strategy for achieving significant improvement in performance through elimination of waste in the total business process. The Lean program introduces class participants to the Lean philosophy by incorporating learning tools that include simulations, exercises, lectures, and assignments.

TaylorMade-adidas Golf has led the golf industry's technological revolution since the company was founded in 1979. TaylorMade metalwoods, irons and putters have been used to win hundreds of professional golf tournaments around the world.

Kevin Limbach, director of operations for TaylorMade-adidas Golf, said his company will recognize a very significant labor cost savings through methods taught in the Lean Enterprise class by CES instructors.

"We learned some advanced concepts to improve the way we service our production lines out of the warehouse," Limbach said. "We will also have a better balance in our production and packaging lines and be able to eliminate quality defects."

Limbach added that the TaylorMade-adidas Golf group's focus in the Lean class was to dramatically improve the flow and efficiency of the current custom equipment production process while delivering more consistent quality. TaylorMade-adidas Golf ships custom clubs within 48 hours. "We learned to better achieve that goal in this class," Limbach said.

Limbach was joined on his winning team along with TaylorMade-adidas Golf's Tim Fears, Shad Megano and Russell Miyoshi, as well as Jesse Vega of PDI in Carlsbad.

During a 13-week program, project teams implement Lean concepts to their business, improving its quality while decreasing its costs. The Lean approach to continuous improvement reduces the time from the customer's request to the delivery of the product or service by eliminating non-value added steps in any work process.

Throughout the CES program, participants work in project teams applying the Lean concepts to their own workplaces. Participants also tour three San Diego companies to see Lean principles in action. At the conclusion of the program, participants receive a certificate of completion.

For more information on the Lean Enterprise program, call (619) 594-1138, email rturner@mail.sdsu.edu or visit www.NeverStopLearning.net.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies engages the community with a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 35 certificate programs, online courses, and many other learning opportunities. To register or for more information, call (619) 265-SDSU or log on to www.NeverStopLearning.net.

In 1998, TaylorMade became a wholly owned subsidiary of the adidas Group. adidas Golf footwear and apparel is the choice of hundreds of professional golfers around the world. Learn more about TaylorMade-adidas Golf and its brands at (800) 888-CLUB or www.tmag.com.