Early in my career I found that making a project work effectively starts with understanding the needs of the customer.It turns out that Dr. Edwards Deming, the man who started the quality and productivity revolution in Japan, figured out the same thing, but with a twist. Start by surveying the needs of the customer, he urged, then design, build, and sell to meet those needs, with careful measuring and monitoring to insure high-quality output. Having done that, he said, survey the customer again, asking, in essence, "How did we do? What has changed? What could we do better?" Then design, build, and sell again based on the new information. Repeat.This Deming cycle completely changes the nature of the business. The static design-build-sell approach is abandoned for an ongoing dynamic cycle with ever-increasing quality and productivity and an ever-increasing tempo. We get ever better at understanding the needs of the customer. The survey-design-build -sell-repeat process gets shorter. Designs are simplified. Quality improves. Costs go down. Customers are more satisfied. Market share increases. This is true Lean Manufacturing.Learn more about project coordination, systems thinking, systems analysis, and customer service in a Lean environment -- check out my blog, LeanInTheUSA.com
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Business MentorScore 2010 - PresentPortland, OregonI teach basic and advanced business skills to entrepreneurs, focusing primarily on business strategy, budget development, business plan development, and, in existing businesses, process improvement.
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Production EngineerPrecision Countertops Mar 2006 - Aug 2008Used systems analysis and Lean manufacturing methods of process design and process improvement to triple capacity of a critical machining operation, double throughput, and reduce by 70% the labor required to produce a part while increasing tool life 800% and improving quality of finish.Began the practice of engineering staff working closely with shop staff to increase productivity by insuring engineering staff understood the needs of production process customers.Developed specialized machining techniques so 80% of work on jobs previously done only by scarce, highly-skilled, and expensive hand fabricators could be done on CNC mill.In total, process improvements increased annual earnings by over $220,000. Identified additional savings opportunities worth $10,000 per month. -
Housing Rehabilitation Project CoordinatorWashington County Office Of Community Development 2003 - 2006Hillsboro, OrCoordinate design, specification, bidding, construction, inspection and payment of projects for emergency repairs, accessibility modifications, weatherization, and general repairs for very-low income elderly homeowners and other people with significant physical impairments.Coordinate development of scope of work, specifications, and contracts; oversee bidding and construction; maintain records, perform inspections, review invoices and authorize payment for projects, ensuring all activities are consistent with HUD rules.Developed and maintained relationships with a base of contractors to perform work quickly, at very low cost, and in full compliance with building codes, plans, and specifications.Consult with Washington County building code officials to develop designs that simplify or eliminate permitting requirements, and to stay abreast of code changes affecting my projects.Developed a database and set of macros in Microsoft Word that dramatically reduce the time required to create and prepare for distribution a set of specifications and detailed RFP for almost any job.
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Sales AssociateThe Home Depot 1998 - 2003Assisted retail and contractor customers in selection, pricing, and delivery of stock and special-order millworks products (windows, door, mouldings).Studied rates of customer demand, used systems analysis and value stream mapping (VSM) techniques to reduce department inventory from $2,100,000 to $1,400,000, reduce stock-handling labor by up to 80%, and reduce out-of-stocks by up to 98%, to dramatically improve customer service.Developed and led safety and lift equipment training and OSHA licensing classes for 250 store employees, resulting in the lowest lost-time injuries among 12 stores in the district. -
Project Coordinator/ManagerGeotechnical Systems, Inc 1989 - 1998Makawao, HiProject coordinator/manager for groundwater remediation, underground fuel storage tank (UST) replacement, and related projects throughout Hawaii and American flag possessions in the Pacific.Coordinate and support all areas of projects from initial contact to closeout, including developing proposals, schedules, and scopes of work, and managing submittals, invoicing, and contract documents and drawings.Create and maintain project documentation and filings, including verification of invoices, correspondence, preparing and submitting permitting documents, and distributing relevant materials to clients, architects, design engineers, general contractors, and subcontractors.Train hundreds of contractor's project managers and field personnel, design engineers, fire marshals, Department of Health UST regulators, and other regulatory officials in technical and practical considerations of compliance with EPA UST regulations under the Clean Water Act, 40 CFR 280.
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