DYNAMIC IMPROVEMENT GROUP
INC.
Our Talent & Leadership
BEN ROUSH
Ben's journey into Lean Manufacturing began in 1988.
Ben was a principal in the development and establishment of the "Chrysler Operating System", which applied Lean Manufacturing design, methods, and support systems on the shop floor. The results included significant capital reductions and productivity gains throughout both the assembly and stamping divisions.
Ben's operational experience includes all levels of management: from supervisor to superintendent, center manager to plant manager, vice president to CEO. Ben possesses a deep and genuine understanding of organizational development, leading to breakthrough results.
Operational Excellence: Ben's organization at SSP enjoyed the Harbour & Associates #1 ranking for press line strokes per minute and changeover time, from 2000 - 2005. In his most recent role as Global Vice President Lean Six Sigma, he was responsible for managing and supporting over $350m in structural YOY cost reductions in the last 10 year period.
MEL ZEHNPFENNIG
Mel Zehnpfennig is a Manufacturing Executive with over 25 years of operations experience leading large companies through successful lean manufacturing transformations in the automotive, defense, medical device and electronics industries.
During his career, Mel has worked in manufacturing operations and engineering, operational excellence, continuous improvement, planning, scheduling and logistics. He has proven himself as a key stakeholder in massive operational, leadership and cultural transformations resulting in annual cost savings of more than $350M and inventory reductions of more than $75M USD (SQDCM).
Mel began his process improvement journey over 15 years ago. Since then, he has led and participated in over 500 Continuous Improvement and problem-solving events, adding significant results to the bottom line. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University (GMI Engineering and Management Institute), a Master's of science in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
GREG TOMASZYCKI
Greg has been in the manufacturing industry for over 29 years, and has been recognized as an industry leader in his field. Prior to joining the Dynamic Improvement Group, Greg was a Senior Regional MP&L Manager for Cooper Standard Automotive.
Greg has also held leadership roles in Materials Management at Varroc Lighting Systems, Faurecia, Johnson Controls, Plastech Engineered Products and NYX. Early on in Greg’s career he ran Tomas Plastics, a family owned injection molding company.
Greg is a recognized industry leader in developing and establishing structural Manufacturing Leadtime reduction applications. Greg has implemented ERP systems at plants worldwide from the blueprint phase through post go-live support. He is well versed in various ERP systems in both a repetitive manufacturing and discrete manufacturing environment. He has developed various programs to improve plant performance, including KPI dashboards, scheduling programs, capacity/labor management programs, material coverage reports, trackers and other custom reports. He currently specializes in “automating tasks” to improve response time and accuracy.
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NATHAN HAFNER
Nathan has 17 years of manufacturing leadership and technical experience including a Journeyman’s Certification in Tool and Die earned in Class A Automotive Stamping.
He has been an influential leader in difficult Assembly Operations, Class A Stamping Toolrooms, Stamping Operations, and Manufacturing Operations.
With experience in senior management roles in both Engineering and Operations, his applied leadership includes using Lean Manufacturing tools and his technical background to launch manufacturing plants.
With a passion for excellence and shop floor performance, he has delivered outstanding sustainable results in the challenging automotive manufacturing environment. This includes greenfield startups, and legacy stamping plants.
He has led his operations teams in achieving hard savings exceeding $60M USD.
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EDDY Van De REVIERE
With a strong Manufacturing Engineering and Operations background, Eddy has been in the industry for more than 27 years. His most previous position was Global Lean Director for a manufacturing company with a global footprint.
While leading Continuous Improvement at Tower International Europe, Eddy supported structural cost reductions of 12-15m Euro per year from 2007-2019. His unique leadership skills allow him to easily facilitate Workshop environments at any level in the organization, with a strong focus on shop floor engagement and financial results.
A world class teacher, coach, and instructor, he received his Black Belt certification in 2007, and his Master Black Belt credentials in 2012. He has since coached projects for 150 Black Belts in his region, in support of the productivity business plan.
Eddy has facilitated over 300 Kaizen Workshop activities, and is a skilled facilitator in any arena. His ability to lead cross functional teams in “systems thinking” and “problem solving” are well known in the industry. He has led multiple transformational efforts successfully, in numerous locations and countries.
Eddy is a multi language consultant, and is extremely effective at communicating with your shop floor colleagues. He also excels in coaching your team in being successful and going the extra mile!
DAN LODEN
Dan is a Lean Manufacturing Master and Black belt with 45 years of diversified business experience. He started in the Aerospace sector working 24 yrs. for an OEM aircraft Propulsion Engine and Auxiliary Power Unit manufacturer. He has held increasingly responsible positions in manufacturing, quality management, quality engineering, industrial engineering, and operations management.
His Toyota Production System training was under the tutelage of Shingijutsu Consulting of Nagoya, Japan and TBM Consulting Group of Durham, North Carolina. He has 17 years consulting experience in Brownfield Lean transformations across a wide range of industries with significant bottom line results.
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JEFF SLATER
Jeff brings 25+ years of Senior Management experience in Quality, Operations, Supply Chain and Continuous Improvement to our Dynamic Improvement Group.
He has worked in senior level roles at five Fortune 500 companies. Leading corporate level initiatives in cash flow, profit improvement, business start-ups, and performance systems. This “hands-on” experience in both the manufacturing and service industries, includes the following certifications APICS: CPIM, CIRM, CSCP; ISM: CPM and in Lean Manufacturing/Office from the University of Michigan. He is Black Belt certified as well. His experience also includes leading new “greenfield” plant start-ups and customer relationship management for several large consumer products companies (CPC), including Walmart/Sam’s, Starbucks, Duracell, and Kroger.
Jeff also has a passion for training and education. Working as a collegiate level instructor of marketing and operations, and mentoring students at Clemson and USC to receive their Lean Six Sigma certifications. He also speaks frequently at conferences to share his experience in Operational Excellence.
Jeff is a great enterprise, corporate, and plant level leader in applied training applications in Standard Work, Practical Problem solving, TPM and 5S/AM.
Jeff brings 25+ years of Senior Management experience in Quality, Operations, Supply Chain and Continuous Improvement to our Dynamic Improvement Group.
He has worked in senior level roles at five Fortune 500 companies. Leading corporate level initiatives in cash flow, profit improvement, business start-ups, and performance systems. This “hands-on” experience in both the manufacturing and service industries, includes the following certifications APICS: CPIM, CIRM, CSCP; ISM: CPM and in Lean Manufacturing/Office from the University of Michigan. He is Black Belt certified as well. His experience also includes leading new “greenfield” plant start-ups and customer relationship management for several large consumer products companies (CPC), including Walmart/Sam’s, Starbucks, Duracell, and Kroger.
Jeff also has a passion for training and education. Working as a collegiate level instructor of marketing and operations, and mentoring students at Clemson and USC to receive their Lean Six Sigma certifications. He also speaks frequently at conferences to share his experience in Operational Excellence.
Jeff is a great enterprise, corporate, and plant level leader in applied training applications in Standard Work, Practical Problem solving, TPM and 5S/AM.
ERIC MUIR
Eric Muir has been a leader in Manufacturing for 33 years. Throughout his career, Eric has worked in Automotive Assembly, Powertrain and Stamping Operations.
Eric’s operational experience includes Program Management, Stamping and General Assembly Production (from Supervisor to Area Manager), Manufacturing Engineering (Future Programs I.E. Lead) and Industrial Engineering (from Floor I.E., to Divisional IE Lead). Eric is an experienced Kaizen workshop facilitator applying Lean Manufacturing practices during the implementation of the Chrysler Operating System. During his career, Eric has managed 7 major vehicle program launches and delivered productivity improvements in excess of $200M for 8 assembly plants for the Chrysler Group.
Prior to joining Dynamic Improvement Group, Eric was the Deputy Chief Engineer at Stellantis responsible for the 2022 Grand Cherokee launch at Mack and Jefferson Assembly. Eric managed a team responsible for all Industrial Engineering and Launch Control activities that included station scroll, man-assignment development, station design, and launch readiness.
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RUSSELL HODDER
Russell is an experienced and well-versed Automation Specialist with ample experience in production, machine building, machine integration, and machine
re-programming/mechanical re-design/cycle time improvement. He brings a proven record with establishment, growth, and re-structuring of automation groups within customers. He is a powerful programmer with strong emphasis on proper code theory, readability, template creation and documentation. Russell is a facilitator and advisor of machine integration with application of several practices to avoid common mistakes seen across all industries. He is a proven trainer of all areas of automation with focus on applicable knowledge on a pupil-to-pupil basis.
Russell is a graduate of Ferris State University's Mechanical Engineering program and his automation career began with a large tier one automotive supplier,
where he soon moved on to help grow a controls integration company, Easton Enterprises eBots, over a four year period. Here Russell facilitated several launches of production lines, revived failed integrations, wrote programming templates and standards for several large customers, developed and integrated part tracking/data collection systems, and contributed to the success of several
of his customer's automation groups. Russell is incredibly passionate about automation and enjoys making his customer's experience with automated
control systems a painless journey. He sees automation as the greatest tool
in the industry and strives to share this helpful tool with each of his customers.
JEFF LANGLET
Jeff has a unique blend of Plant Operations and Lean Manufacturing that has allowed him to successfully lead as a Plant Manager while applying Lean Principles to achieve new product launches and cost savings initiatives on time and on budget. As a Certified Shainin and 6 Sigma Black Belt, he is able to
coach and lead teams to apply cost savings with the needs of the plant in order
to achieve all expectations for performance from a SQDCM perspective.
Jeff has led plants and departments in Assembly (TCF), Body Shop, Stamping as well as Casting and Machining. Before becoming a Plant Manager, he also was
the CI lead for all Canadian Operations at Fiat Chrysler, implementing projects
in multiple FCA Plants as well as with CHN, Magneti Marelli, CPK and others.
With a lifetime savings of over $200M in Operational Improvement and Kaizen Savings, applications of multiple workstream disciplines such as productivity, throughput, inventory reduction and many more have been validated through WCM Audits and Financial Statements. In addition, Jeff is a leader in Theory of Constraints, having led 7 TOC Projects for savings of over $42,000,000 and has trained more than 200 people as part of this discipline.