Jim holds a BSIE Degree from Kettering University (formerly General Motors University) and a Masters in Industrial Administration from Central Michigan University.
He worked for General Motors for over 30 years, mostly in Industrial Engineering type capacities. Work activities allowed being highly participative in GM assembly plants throughout the world, and now Delphi component plants across the United States.
He is recognized throughout General Motors as an expert in indirect labor. His efforts to improve material flow, method improvements and labor measurement processes has resulted in over $50,000,000 of annual savings.
Jim has extensive knowledge of lean manufacturing principles (elimination of waste) and has facilitated numerous lean manufacturing workshops that have made significant improvements in productivity, floor space, lead-time and inventory reduction. These workshops require highly skilled facilitation skills and the ability to lead people far outside of their normal comfort zones. He has a unique ability to walk factory floors and identify opportunities for process improvements and cost reduction.
In his value engineering work he has facilitated over 600 teams in the value methodology and/or lean concepts. He has published numerous articles in publications around the globe, and has presented papers at conferences in Mexico, Hungary and Japan, and has conducted workshops in Mexico, France, Germany, Australia and England.
He has led teams in all types of value projects, including product design, process improvement, strategic planning, organization structure, manpower planning, planned maintenance, quick set-up and system improvement and product development processes.
He is currently a Life Member of SAVE International and an active member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE).
His service to SAVE International includes election as Executive Vice President ('98-'99), President ('99-'00), Immediate Past President ('00-'01), Regional Vice President ('91-'93), and Southwestern Ohio Chapter President ('90-'91). He received a Presidential Citation Award from the Society of Japanese Value Engineers in Tokyo in 2001. This award is presented to only those persons who have promoted international cooperation in value engineering, especially with Japanese people. He has been recognized in Hungary for outstanding VE activity and was asked to endorse Hungary's first book translated into English.
Jim currently serves on the Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Lawrence D. Miles Value Foundation.
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