Certification Oversight & Appeals Committee

Thomas G. Bridge, PhD, CMfgE Western Illinois University

Thomas Bridge is currently a Professor Emeritus at Western Illinois University. Bridge is an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching Manufacturing Engineering Technology courses at Western Illinois University 2008-Present. Department Chairperson and Professor of Engineering Technology at Western Illinois University 1977-2008. Zone Manager and Technical Trainer at Ford Motor Company 1971-77. Machinist and Assembler at International Harvester Company 1962-68.

Awards/Merits/Credentials: Student Chapter Faculty Advisor Award from SME and SME Award of Merit. Certified Manufacturing Engineer. Bridge received his B.S, & M.S. in Industrial Technology from Illinois State University and Ph.D. in Industrial Technology Teaching from University Missouri-Columbia.

CMfgT/CMfgE Committee

Thomas M. Binder, CMfgE, CMfgT The Boeing Company

Tom Binder is currently a manufacturing process engineer for the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company in Renton, Washington. Binder started his career in the commercial airplane division in 1984 and had worked on 727, 737, 757 and military versions of the 707, 737 and 757 aircraft. Recently, Binder was a hardware manager for the Boeing Defense and Space group working on the P-8A, a derivative of the commercial 737 for the U.S. Navy. Binder was responsible for manufacturability, supplier coordination and scheduling of military hardware installed in the forward fuselage.

Awards/Merits/Credentials: United States patent holder for Boeing's "Sky Interior" for the 737. Tom has achieved both the Certified Manufacturing Engineer and Certified Manufacturing Technologist certifications. He is a member of the Boeing SME steering team. Certified Master Automotive Technician – National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Tom received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Purdue University and an Associate's Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University.

Steve Piotrowski, CMfgT, CMfgE BAE Systems

Steve Piotrowski is a Sr. Manufacturing Engineer working design through product life-cycle activities including on the floor production improvements at BAE Systems, a solution provider for our military and service members Steve is currently responsible for supporting the medium to large weldments team. Prior to Joining BAE Systems, he worked as a manufacturing engineer working facility layouts, floor space reductions and international product line startups and re-locations. Steve has been a member of SME since June of 2001, has a BS in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Stout. Steve has obtained certification in SME's Certified Manufacturing Technologist, Certification Manufacturing Engineer, and AWS CWI.

Eric Dean, CMfgE Solar Turbines

Eric Dean is the Value Stream Manager for Tool Design & Fabrication at Solar Turbines in San Diego, Ca. The Value Stream supports the Design, Manufacturing, Certification and Maintenance of tooling required for the manufacturing, assembly and Field Support for Solar Turbines product throughout its lifecycle. Prior to this role Eric has also served as a Manger in Large Component Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering Technical Group Lead, 6Sigma Black Belt and Manufacturing Engineer. During his career at Solar Turbines he has led machine tool acquisition projects, implemented safety and quality initiatives as well as Employee Development opportunities. Eric has obtained certifications in ISO Internal Auditing from Det Norske Veritas and SME's Certified Manufacturing Engineer. He has received his B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.

Ted L. Driggs, CMfgE Okuma America Corporation

Ted Driggs has been in manufacturing for 38 years. From actual production machine operation, tool engineering and programming at the start of his career, to advanced manufacturing concepts, application engineering and sales experience in the machine tool and cutting tool industries, he has a well-rounded background. Couple this with an education from Columbus State Community College and The Ohio State University, a merging of both the theoretical and practical application worlds is complete. He holds a mechanical engineering degree. Ted is Program Management Principal Engineer for the Okuma America Corporation, where he manages all aspects of multi-million dollar manufacturing programs within any of the prominent industrial sectors such as aerospace/defense, automotive, fluid power, construction/agriculture, finally focusing currently in the advanced medical manufacturing area. Ted is a Certified Manufacturing Engineer through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.

Patrick Ferro, PhD, CMfgE, PE Gonzaga University

Patrick is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Gonzaga University and has twelve years of Process Engineering experience in the investment casting, silicon wafer and alternative energy technology industries. Five years as an engineering educator, providing instruction on materials and manufacturing. Patrick has research interests in hydrogen storage and hydrogen embrittlement. Patrick has also been a Materials consultant since 2000. Patrick received his BS in Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University, Ithaca NY. Oregon Graduate Center in Beaverton, OR, he received his MS in Materials Science and Engineering at Oregon Graduate Center in Beaverton, OR, and received his PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. Patrick has also achieved his Professional Engineer (PE) license in Michigan and Ohio as well as SME's Certified Manufacturing Engineer.

Charles Gates, Jr., CMfgE, CQE, CMQ, CPIM, CSCP Retired Caterpillar Division Manager

Charles has 40 years of work experience with Caterpillar Inc., which included global, managerial responsibilities for product design, manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, six sigma, lean, factory operations, training, and management development. 27 years of teaching experience as an adjunct professor teaching a wide variety of technical and professional courses at the graduate level. Charles is an active Board Member for the SME Chicago Chapter 5, the ASQ Fox Valley Section 1208, and the APICS Fox River Chapter 207. Charles has also been an active SME member for 37 years member.

Charles holds a Certified Manufacturing Engineer (CMfgE), Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Manager of Quality (CMQ), Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM), and Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).Charles received the Olivet Nazarene University Excellence in Teaching Award as well as being an APICS Master Instructor. Charles holds a PhD in Business Administration, In Process, Master of Science, Purdue University, Industrial Technology, Bachelor of Science, University of Illinois, Management, Associate in Applied Science, Illinois Central College, Manufacturing Technology, and a Four-Year Machinist Apprentice Graduate, Caterpillar Inc.

Peter Rourke is an Associate Professor in the Mechanical Engineering and Technology Department, Wentworth Institute of Technology since January 1980. Courses taught include: Computer Aided Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processes, Rapid Prototyping, Production and Inventory Control, Quality Assurance, Manufacturing Consultant, and Professional Witness. Awards/Merits/Credentials: Roberts Professor: Endowed Professor for Computer Aided Design and Manufacturing, currently, Grant Johnson Award, for excellence in teaching: WIT, SME Faculty Advisor to Student Section S007, and is a Certified Manufacturing Engineer through the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Peter holds a B.S., M.Ed, Industrial Education, Fitchburg State College and a M.S. Manufacturing Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Linda S. Wheeler, CMfgE Emerson

Linda S. Wheeler is an Operations Project Manager at Power Transmission Solutions (Emerson), Florence, KY. She handles major projects for various locations of this division. Wheeler began her career with Emerson in 1973. She held several positions including Manufacturing Engineer, Product Engineer, Manager of Manufacturing Services, Program Manager, Manager of Global Engineering, and Manager Engineering Processes. Various project management responsibilities have included new product development, facility renovations, and plant transfers to other locations.

In 2006, she developed two project management classes (basic and advanced) and spent a year teaching approximately 550 people throughout all Power Transmission Solutions locations. Locations taught included all US sites as well as facilities in India and Spain. She has been a member of SME since 1988 and obtained CMfgE certification in 1998. She is in Who’s Who in Science and Engineering 4th Edition,1998/1999. She is currently a member of Project Management Institute (PMI) and received her PMP credential in March 2009. Wheeler received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Morehead State University in 1988 and a Master of Business Administration from Morehead State University in 1990. She also holds a master’s certificate in project management from The George Washington University (School of Business), Washington, DC, 2006.

Lean Certification Committee

The Lean Certification Oversight and Appeals Committee is made up of industry leaders whose diverse backgrounds represent years of lean experience. The leaders of the SME, AME and The Shingo Prize work closely together to appoint lean practitioners. The Lean COA committee plays a critical role in administering the SME-AME-Shingo Prize Lean Certification program.

Jeff Fuchs, LBC President, Neovista Consulting LLC Director, The Maryland World Class Consortia

Jeff Fuchs is president of Neovista Consulting LLC, a consultancy based in Baltimore, specializing in lean implementation, leadership development and cultural transformation. Since 1997, Fuchs has worked with companies in a range of industries, including aerospace, textiles, pharmaceuticals and biotech, energy, consumer products and others. Prior to his consulting career, Fuchs held engineering, quality and production leadership roles in the aerospace and automotive fields. He has been a part of the development and rollout of the Lean Certification standard since its early inception in 2006. Since 2008, Fuchs has served as director of The Maryland World Class Consortia, a collaboration of 49 member companies sharing a common interest in using lean techniques to strengthen the economy and deliver business results. He is the representative of The Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence in the state of Maryland and has been a lead examiner for The Shingo Prize since 2007. Fuchs received his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from West Point.

Luis Alvarez, LBC President, Lancer Corp

Luis Alvarez is currently president of Lancer Corp., a leading manufacturer of beverage dispensing equipment, based in San Antonio, Texas, with operations in Asia, Europe and the Americas. Prior to joining Lancer, Alvarez was VP of operations for McNeilus Truck Corp. and president of Plastic Omnium Auto Exterior, a tier 1 vendor to the automotive industry. He has been instrumental in introducing lean methods to several companies, from coaching/training to company-wide lean transformations. Alvarez is lean certified by UT-San Antonio and holds a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University. He has served on several boards, including SME, APICS, World Trade Center – San Diego and the Asociacion de la Industria Maquiladora in Mexico. Alvarez has lived and worked in California, Mexico, Japan, Minnesota and Texas.

Larry G. Anderson, LGC President ResourceSyncing

Larry G. Anderson is the president of ResourceSyncing, a consultancy providing for lean transformation of mid-size manufacturing and service businesses. Anderson completed the lean gold exam and achieved lean gold certification in Nov. 2009 and is a registered professional engineer. He graduated with a BS in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University and completed graduate level work in Engineering Management at the University of Louisville. Larry is an active Shingo Prize team lead and examiner, serves on the southwest region board of AME, and has been an examiner and team lead for the Texas Award for Performance Excellence. He has been active in the lean certification process serving on the oversight and appeals committee, where he is a past chairman.

Robert Damelio, President, THE BOTTOM LINE GROUP

Robert Damelio is the founder and owner of THE BOTTOM LINE GROUP. He is currently serving as Chair of the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division's BoK and Education Committee. Damelio has spent more than 25 years improving knowledge work. He recently received the 5th Annual Commander's National Award Commendation for work on a lean engagement. Damelio is the author of the 1st and 2nd editions of the "Basics of Process Mapping." He is an Eagle Scout and was president of the Beta Theta's Pi Delta Lambda chapter. Damelio holds an MBA and a bachelor's in management from Florida State University.

Richard Evans, LBC President, JR Lean Inc

Richard Evans has spent the past 40 years helping companies become more effective in delivering quality and value to the production process, while focusing on customer success. Having a manufacturing engineering background, Evans teaches companies how to recognize waste through applied lean tools and techniques. His extended knowledge of various industries, such as automotive, aerospace, railroad, packaging and fasteners, enable him to quickly focus in on opportunities for improvement. As an approved Lean Bronze Review Course trainer for SME, Evans is able to coach teams to increase "value-added" content to a maximum. He has held various positions in industry from manufacturing engineering director to director, lean enterprise. During the past four years, Evans has assisted companies in developing lean transformations and has facilitated more than 50 kaizen events. He is a director of the Canadian Board of The Association for Manufacturing Excellence and was past program chair for the 2007 and 2009 AME Regional Lean Conferences. Evans was also past tour chair for the 2008 AME National Lean Conference and program chair for the 2010 AME National Lean Conference. Future roles include program chair 2013 AME National Lean Conference as well as the 2011 AME Regional Lean Conference.

Jeff Lytle, LGC, Lean SixSigma Master BlackBelt OMNOVA Solutions, Inc.

Jeff Lytle is a Lean SixSigma Master BlackBelt at OMNOVA Solutions; an innovator and global provider of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals and decorative and functional surfaces. He is responsible for the integrated Lean and SixSigma Greenbelt platform with nearly 100 certified Greenbelts across the organization. Jeff works with all aspects of the organization to drive customer partnering and relationship development through leveraging Lean SixSigma as a competitive advantage. He also works with market managers in developing enhanced and standardized Voice of Customer platforms across the organization. Jeff received his BlackBelt certification in 2004 and Master BlackBelt certification in 2006; and received a Fundamentals of Management certificate from Case Weatherhead School of Management in 2006. Jeff also became a certified "Crucial Conversations" trainer in 2008. He received his bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Malone University.

Anthony Manos Profero Inc.

Anthony Manos is a catalyst with Profero Inc. where he provides professional consulting services, implementation, coaching and training to a wide variety of organizations, large and small, private and public, in many industries focusing on lean enterprise and lean healthcare. Manos has extensive knowledge of lean and quality in a wide range of work environments. He is trained and certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute for Standards and Technology in all elements of lean manufacturing. Relying on his diverse knowledge of business, manufacturing techniques and applications, Manos has assisted numerous clients in implementation of lean enterprise and lean healthcare. Over the past 10 years, he has helped more than 150 companies in several aspects of lean implementation, including team building, standardized work, 5S workplace organization and visual workplace, quick changeover, plant layout, cellular, kanban, total productive maintenance, kaizen events and Hoshin planning. Manos is an internationally recognized speaker and expert on lean, and presents at several conferences every year. As a member of the American Society for Quality's faculty, he teaches a two-day course in lean enterprise and a one-day course on kaizen. Manos is the past chair of ASQ's Lean Enterprise Division. He has been an SME member since 1997 and is also a member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence. Manos is the coauthor of the book "Lean Kaizen: A Simplified Approach to Process Improvement" and the author of many articles on lean and its allied subjects. He holds an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Ron Oslin, LBC Director, Process Effectiveness and Quality Team Capital One

Ron Oslin is currently the Lean Sensei for Capital One with more than 20 years of lean application in manufacturing and service. He joined Capital One in December 2007. Oslin began his process learning journey in 1982 as an intern with Dr. Edward Deming. In the mid 1980s Oslin was president of a prepress company supplying film work and printing plates to leading printers on the east coast. In 1986 Oslin joined Cadmus Communications, a world leader in scientific, medical and technical printing as the corporate continuous improvement leader and later lean transformation leader. During the years at Cadmus he was mentored by several Toyota Sensei. In 2000 he became the Chief Operating Officer and lean transformation leader of eduTest Inc. eduTest Inc was a pioneer in developing questions and tests for "Standards of Learning" high stakes testing for grades 2-12 in math, science and history. These psychometrically-validated instruments were used by several state education systems. In 2002 Oslin joined Taylor Made Environmental, the world's leading heating and air condition supplier to the pleasure yachting industry. While at Taylor Made Inc. and later Dometic Inc. he was the Lean Transformation Leader. Oslin has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also a Master Black Belt.

Tim Pettry, LBC Manager, SPCI Strategic Projects Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement Cleveland Clinic

Tim Pettry is currently Manager of Strategic Projects and a member of the Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement group that is supporting the application of lean principles at the Cleveland Clinic. Prior to joining the Cleveland Clinic team in 2008, Pettry had 18 years of experience at Ford Motor Company's Cleveland Manufacturing Site, serving in various positions, including: Cost Analyst, Manufacturing Supervisor, Ford Production System (FPS) Coordinator, Training and Organizational Development leader and FPS Coach for the Powertrain Division. Pettry is a Lead Examiner for the Shingo Prize and has been an examiner since 1996. He has been involved with the AME/SME/Shingo Prize Lean Certification program since 2006 and has been a member of the Oversight and Appeals committee since 2007. He also serves as an instructor and program advisor for Lean training courses at Corporate College, a Division of Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland. Pettry earned his MBA with a Labor and Management Relations focus from Cleveland State University and his BS in Business Administration with a Marketing/Retail focus from Bowling Green State University.

Mark Paulson, LBC
Quality Manager
Crystal Distribution Inc.

Mark Paulson has 30 years in the quality field as quality manager at several manufacturing organizations. Paulson was also the regulatory affairs manager at a Class 2 medical device manufacturer responsible for compliance to FDA regulations. He was involved with acquisitions and led integration of several merged organizations. Paulson planned and managed ISO 9001 registration efforts at several manufacturing organizations. As a principal in a process improvement consulting firm, he assisted clients with lean enterprise implementation and process improvement projects to reduce costs and cycle times by identifying waste in organizational processes. Paulson trained employees and led continuous improvement efforts employing lean enterprise principles and tools. He created quality systems and processes that improved efficiency and effectiveness in all areas of the organization. He has been an ASQ member since 1979 and has earned the following certifications: ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer and ASQ Certified Quality Auditor. Paulson is also an authorized facilitator for SME, AME, The Shingo Prize and ASQ Lean Certification Review Course and Exam. He is an active portfolio reviewer. Currently, Paulson is the AME North Central Region president and has been part of the North Central Region board of directors since 2001. From 1998-99, he was a Minnesota Quality Award examiner/team leader. Paulson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Chad Vincent, LBC

Chad Vincent is a Lean Manufacturing Specialist for Greif, Inc. in St. Louis, MO area where he provides professional guidance, facilitates implementation, and coaches and trains personnel at manufacturing facilities on Lean Enterprise and Operational Excellence. Prior to Greif, Inc., he worked as a quality engineer in the medical device manufacturing industry, as a project engineer in the construction industry, and was in management in the logistics and transportation industry. Chad earned a BS in Engineering Management specializing in Quality Engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, MO. He is a Senior Member of ASQ and SME, and is currently the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division Treasurer. Chad is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE), Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE), Certified Manager of Quality / Operational Excellence (CMQ/OE), Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB), and is Lean Bronze Certified. He has also served as a Senior Lead Examiner and Judge for Arkansas’s Governor’s Quality Award and is past president for the Leadership Arkansas Alumni Association Board of Directors. Chad is an advocate for social responsibility and has written articles on the utilization of lean to achieve socially responsible and environmentally favorable results within organizations. He was also a voting member of the US Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the ISO 26000 Guidance for Social Responsibility. He routinely supports various organizations as a presenter for conferences and as an author and reviewer for publications related to Lean topics.

Mark Volesky, LBC Dakot Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Mark Volesky is a Senior Business Advisor with the Dakota Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards & Technology Hollings MEP. Since 2003 Volesky has been assisting companies from a wide variety of industries increase profits and create and retain jobs. He has conducted more than 150 kaizen events, including co-facilitating continuous improvement efforts with Shingijutzu Consulting and Normen Bodek. Along with proctoring the SME Lean Bronze exam he developed the Dakota MEP LECP course curriculum and has taught it to more than 500 individuals from nearly 60 companies. For this work Volesky was selected as MEP Practitioner of the Year at the 2007 national MEP conference. In 2007 Volesky received his Train-the-Trainer certifications in Training-Within-Industry’s Job Instruction, Job Methods and Job Relations and he has been Lean Bronze certified since 2008. He is a member of the Board of Examiners for the Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence and serves on the board of directors of the Minn-Dak Manufacturers Association. Prior to joining the Dakota MEP, he was Principle Engineer with Steelcase Inc., holding positions in R&D, new product development and manufacturing process improvement. Volesky received his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Management from North Dakota State University.