PRESENTATION
Overcoming the Challenges of Implementing a People-Focused Production System

Furniture, aerospace, automotive and military—Raymond Muscat’s career has been a tour of some of manufacturing’s biggest sectors. He’s worked for GM, Ford, Raytheon, Ball Aerospace, and Knoll.

He’s had a variety of titles, too. He started his working life on a Ford assembly line to pay his way through college. He then worked his way up the engineering and leadership ranks to head of engineering and operations at award-winning furniture manufacturer Herman Miller. There, he led a team that developed and implemented the company’s lean manufacturing program. Through Muscat’s leadership, Herman Miller cut average product lead times in half.

To sustain a lean manufacturing system over 20 years requires significant employee engagement. Ray will tell the story of the Herman Miller production system, the lessons learned and changes made along the way.

Muscat’s broad experience translates well to his new position as co-director of the Tauber Institute for Global Operations at the University of Michigan. The multidisciplinary graduate program brings in aspiring operations managers from around the world to work on cost-saving projects for companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Borg Warner, Tesla and General Motors.

No matter what sort of product you make, you’ll benefit from Muscat’s 40 years of manufacturing wisdom.