Lean Bio

Biography:

Karl Schultz has over 40 years of “hands-on” manufacturing experience in both line and staff positions at some of the premier companies such as General Electric, Emerson Electric, Clark Equipment, General Signal, Chrysler, and Cincinnati Milacron. He has also extensive international experience particularly in Europe, Asia, and Mexico. Career has focused in management of operations and manufacturing engineering. Some examples of his achievements include:

• Managed a $3M income turnaround on $22M sales as General Plants Manager for 4 plants by changing plant culture with employee self-managing teams, extensive cost reduction, and negotiated a 3 year union contract with less than 1% per year cost increase.

• Reduced cycle time up to 75% with additional improvements in quality and inventory.

• Directed value analysis/cost reduction programs achieving 6 to 10% annual cost of sales reduction.

• Performed benchmarking of international competitive business and product.

• Project leader for plant consolidations; one was the establishment of a Mexican maquiladora.

• Developed and implemented white-collar productivity and quality best practice programs with self-managing teams.

Karl holds a BSME from Western Michigan University. He is a Board member of the Electrical Manufacturing and Coil Winding Association. In 1994, he received the Best Industry Award from the city of Mt. Vernon, IL. He is an adjunct instructor at the Oregon Institute of Technology.