David Meier
David Meier learned the true essence of the Toyota Production System (Lean Manufacturing) during his 10 years as a Group Leader for Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Kentucky. David has been assisting companies with their improvement activities since 1992 when he first helped a small bird feeder manufacturer in Ohio to achieve great results. From those early efforts, David learned how to implement Lean Manufacturing using an activity-focused approach, designed to generate substantial results while training experts within the company.
In recent years David has worked with some of the largest companies in the world as well as with small privately owned companies. He has successfully applied the Lean principles in both high volume and custom work environments, and in both manufacturing and office work places. David has thousands of hours of training experience and works effectively with members of management as well as hourly employees.
David’s consulting firm – Lean Associates, Inc
Jeffrey Liker
Dr. Jeffrey K. Liker is Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan and principle of Optiprise, Inc. Dr. Liker has authored or co-authored over 70 articles and book chapters and eight books. He is author of the international best-seller, The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer, McGraw Hill, 2004 which speaks to the underlying philosophy and principles that drive Toyota’s quality and efficiency-obsessed culture. The companion (with David Meier) Toyota Way Fieldbook, McGraw Hill, 2005 details how companies can learn from the Toyota Way principles.
His book with Jim Morgan, The Toyota Product Development System , Productivity Press, 2006, is the first that details the product development side of Toyota. He is doing a series of books focused on each of the 4Ps. The first book with David Meier is Toyota Talent: Developing exceptional people the Toyota Way, McGraw Hill, (May, 2007). He continues to study and write books about Toyota and practice as a keynote speaker and consultant through his firm Optiprise, Inc.
Recent clients include Hertz, Caterpillar, Android, Areva, Rio Tinto Mining, Tenneco Automotive, Jacksonville Naval Air Depot, US Airforce Material Command, Johnson Controls, Harley Davidson, Eaton, and Fujitsu Technical Services.
Links:
Jeffrey’s Personal Website: Homepage of Dr. Jeffrey Liker
Jeffrey’s consulting firm – Optiprise