Affiliates of Xtreme Lean Consulting
Jeff Hofstetter
President, Xtreme Lean Consulting
Jeff Hofstetter, President of
Xtreme Lean Consulting, has over 24 years of experience in
Lean and Six Sigma Consulting. Jeff is a results-driven, decisive leader with a
proven track record of initiating time and cost-saving operational improvements while leading diverse teams to strong, sustainable performance gains. Working as a skilled mentor and coach he facilitates a hands-on, positive approach to resource management, leadership development and training.
Experience and skill areas include:
- Employee training
- Six Sigma projects
- Kaizen Facilitator
- Quality performance improvement
- Performance measurement systems
- Problem solving, lean manufacturing
- Lean business processes
- Strategic business planning
- Manufacturing flow
- 5S visual workplace
- Value stream mapping
- Kanban Pull systems
- Quick tool changeovers
- Mistake proofing
- Visual controls
- Materials and resource management
- Change leadership
- Team building
- Safety
- Regulatory compliance
- Project scheduling
- Process redesign and simplification
- Technology solutions development
- Large scale program management
- NADCAP, ISO and AS quality systems
Jeff holds a B.S. in Business Management and is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt by General Electric. Also certified by the Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA) 2007
David R. Dixon
Executive Vice President, Xtreme Lean Consulting
David is highly respected for his ability to facilitate the cultural changes that are mandatory for success in today’s highly competitive global economy. He has also applied lean principles to non-manufacturing environments, such as administration.
David has over 39 years of experience in:
- Vision
- Strategy
- Leadership
- Lean Manufacturing
- Systems and Resource Management
- Customer Focused People
- Six Sigma applications
David has brought this expertise to a wide variety of manufacturing environments that include:
- Machining operations
- Heavy fabrication
- Electronics assembly
- Lighting
- Signage
- Offset printing
David holds a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Weber State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer and is certified in Production and Inventory Management by APICS. He conducts frequent seminars and workshops for client companies and professional groups.
Ken Carlson
Business Process Improvement and Lean Techniques Implementation Consultant
Ken’s responsibility is to assist client companies to improve their bottom line by integrating people, processes and technologies to form a company-wide focus to enhance financial results.
Ken is an accomplished senior manager with a proven ability to develop and implement business strategies that eliminate waste and improve the bottom line by utilizing diverse teams from all levels within an organization. Ken is also a respected facilitator able to build highly motivated management and hourly teams focused on achieving revenue and improvement goals.
Ken’s is a high-energy management and engineering professional with exceptional leadership, interpersonal and communication skills with an extensive background in the following assortment of competencies such as:
- Organization & Operations Analysis
- Business Process Improvement
- Supply Chain Management
- Enterprise Resources Planning
- Manufacturing Execution
- Continuous Improvement
- Creation of Manufacturing Cells
- Implementing Lean Techniques
- Aligning Information Systems with Business Processes
- Systems Selection and Implementation
In addition, Ken is also proficient in:
- Project Management
- Time Study
- Methods Improvement
- Assembly Line Balancing
- Plant & Office Layout
- Process Mapping
- Manufacturing Process Development
Ken’s talents also include providing customized education, training, independent analysis, coaching, and project management support in all areas of a clients business.
With over 30 years of practical hands on manufacturing experience, Ken has worked with the following industries:
- Automotive Parts Manufacturing
- Chain Manufacturing
- Wire Forms Manufacturing
- Dairy Equipment Manufacturing
- Jet Engine Parts Manufacturing
- Government Subcontracting - Parts Manufacturing
- Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing
- Iron Mining
- Industrial Scale Manufacturing
- Job Shop -- Steel Fabrication
- Forest Industry - Equipment Manufacturing
- Furniture Manufacturing
- Plastic Molding & Fabrication
- Telecommunications and Computer Component Manufacturing & Assembly
- Food Processing
- Health Care Products Manufacturing
- Pharmaceutical Products Manufacturing
- Grey Iron & Investment Foundry Operations
- Chemical
- Environmental Science
- Bio Science and Medical Electronics & Device Manufacturing
Ken received his CPIM Certification from APICS in August 1991 and has served as an Adjunct Instructor @ Winona Technical College - Winona, MN, Red Wing Technical College - Red Wing, MN and Northeast Technical College - Green Bay, WI -- teaching APICS certification courses.
Ken received his Lean Certification – Aerospace Industry - Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA), Operational Excellence - Facilitator & Trainer August 2007
Ken has also served as: Lean Program Coordinator, Facilitator and Trainer – DePaul University Excellence Consortium, Lean Program Coordinator, Facilitator and Trainer – University of Missouri ST. Louis Excellence Consortium, Lean Program Coordinator, Facilitator and Trainer – Valparaiso University Excellence Consortium
Erika L. Wong
Lean Leader / Consultant
Erika has 14 years of formal Lean & Demand Flow Technology (DFT) implementation & education consulting experience. Deployed Lean & DFT corporate business strategies with major international companies including:
- American Standard – vitreous china
- General Electric – aircraft engines, chemical processing
- Stanley Works – tools
- Hasbro – toys
- Case – farming equipment
- Kohler – plumbing fixtures
- NACCO – material handling equipment
- Harman Int’l – audio systems
- Kellogg’s – cereal processing
- Kaiser – healthcare
- Nokia – mobile communication
International experience:
- Japan
- China
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Pakistan
- Dubai
- Costa Rica
- Canada
- Mexico
- England
- USA
8 years six sigma experience – certified MBB
31 years senior manufacturing & supply chain management experience
Education: B.S. Economics – Stanford University
