This presentation will demonstrate how a 120-year-old, New Jersey manufacturer of wooden pencils used APICS education, lean techniques, and a union workforce to beat the competition from China in selling this basic commodity product to retailers in the United States. This session implements a case study, lecture, interactive discussion, and question & answer. Participants will learn how General Pencil Company developed an education program for its workforce and designed a basic pull system for authorizing work. Plus, participants will see how the physical layout of the plant was rearranged to support this new system.