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 Undergraduate
degree:
BA, Economics and Business Administration, Adrian College
Employer prior to MMM:
API, Product-Line Manager
What were you doing before enrolling in the MMM program?
Prior to MMM I was learning the science of business management
on a trial by fire basis. While I understood many of the components
of lean manufacturing and the like, I lacked the high level thinking
necessary to implement the components effectively. I felt that
I needed to take my game to the next level, and the MMM program
did just that for me. It has offered me a wonderful blend of science
and structure, combining the body of knowledge of lean manufacturing
with the people skills that are crucial to getting things done.
How has MMM helped you achieve your goals?
The Factory Physics body of knowledge I learned through MMM has
provided me the skills to apply the science of lean manufacturing.
Combined with the Kellogg trademark of intelligently blending
teamwork and marketing, I am now actively integrating a business.
Until I finished my MMM degree, I had a tendency to focus more
on optimizing departments, where now I'm capable of optimizing
an entire organization. I feel more competent than ever at getting
departments aligned and moving a business to a higher level of
performance.
Why did you choose MMM?
I had spent 10 years in manufacturing, quality and sales before
starting the MMM program. Each and every year I took various courses
to continue my education. But while I gained a tremendous amount
of knowledge, I felt I needed an intensively integrated program
that would put emphasis on practical, every day, business management
issues and measurable results. One of my continuing education
courses was at the Allen Center and it was there that I was introduced
to the MMM program. I knew then and there I had found the program
I was looking for. It fit like a glove.
Why are you working at Emerson?
Chuck Knight – the legendary CEO of Emerson!!! Emerson acquired
a competitor of my employer before MMM. It was then that I was
exposed to Emerson’s awesome streak of record financial
performance. I thought to myself, “They’re going to
crush us if they choose to play in our sandbox.” My employer
subsequently hired someone from Emerson. He told me a story about
a colleague of his who wasn’t totally prepared for an Emerson
Planning Conference. He also told me how much he admired Chuck’s
leadership style of challenging managers both intellectually and
on a performance basis of getting things done. At the subsequent
Planning Conference he noticed that he had a new colleague who
was prepared. I said to myself, “Now there’s a company
that holds high expectations of its employees and lets them know
where they stand.” When I saw Emerson recruited at Kellogg
I was naturally attracted.
How do you like where you are today?
I am fortunate to have a general management position. This is
what I've always wanted to do. The operation I run serves the
commercial telecommunication industry. We are currently experiencing
very soft market conditions and some of the challenges are new
to me. But what's exciting is we're addressing our customers’
needs by applying the Factory Physics and lean enterprise concepts
I learned in MMM. We're eliminating waste and taking better care
of the customer. We're also applying MMM principles in streamlining
our quotation and order entry processes. It's these subtleties
that I believe will keep our businesses thriving in today's economy.
I couldn't have applied them effectively without the skills I
learned through MMM.
Last updated on
October 25, 2004 9:03 AM
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