Mark Graban

Current

Author, "Lean Hospitals" at Productivity Press
Senior Lean Consultant at Ortho Clinical Diagnostics
Founder and Contributor at LeanBlog.org (Sole Proprietorship)

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Past

"Lean Expert - Integrated Supply Chain" at Honeywell, Inc.
Sr. Consultant, Professional Services at Factory Logic (Acquired by SAP)
Supply Chain Management Engineer at Dell Computer

MBA/MSME Student, LFM Fellow at MIT Sloan Leaders for Manufacturing Program
Industrial Engineer at General Motors

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2 more...

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management
Northwestern University

Churchill High School

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1 more...

Recommended

14 people have recommended Mark

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Hospital & Health Care

Mark Graban’s Summary

Experienced consultant and leader, with a background in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, with an MBA from MIT Sloan Leaders for Manufacturing Program. I have worked in the auto industry (GM, as an employee, and Johnson Controls, as a consultant), the PC industry (Dell Computer, as an employee), and industrial products (Honeywell, as an employee).

Since August 2005, I have worked in the "lean healthcare" world, where I coach lean teams at client sites, including medical laboratories and hospitals. My mission is to apply Lean and Toyota Production System principles to help build strong organizations, to improve quality of care and patient safety, to improve the customer/patient experience, and to help the development of employees.

Mark Graban’s Specialties:

Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Materials Management, Inventory Optimization, Business Process Improvement, Change Management, Lean Healthcare, Kanban, Kaizen, Kaizen Events, Medical Laboratories, Hospital Laboratories, Patient Flow, Lean Production, Lean Enterprise

Mark Graban’s Experience

Author, "Lean Hospitals"

Productivity Press

(Publishing industry)

July 2007 — Present (1 year 4 months)

Wrote a book titled, "Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Satisfaction." Currently available from Productivity Press other booksellers.

http://www.leanhospitalsbook.com

Also published articles in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers "Lean Yearbook 2007" and "Lean Yearbook 2008."
Senior Lean Consultant

Ortho Clinical Diagnostics

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; JNJ; Medical Devices industry)

August 2005 — Present (3 years 3 months)

Provide assessments, consulting, and coaching in lean and Toyota Production System principles for healthcare clients. Also active in outward-facing marketing and lean networking activities, as well as presenting at executive workshops.

Have applied and taught lean principles in settings including: hospital clinical laboratories, anatomic pathology, pharmacy, operating room support services, radiology, inpatient nursing, and a hospital cancer treatment center. Lean methods used include: flow/cycle time improvement, value stream mapping, 5S, kanban, standard work, visual management, error proofing, suggestion and kaizen systems, and lean problem solving methods. Work with front line employees through hospital CEO level.

Completed successful lean implementation project with a hospital laboratory, reducing lab testing turnaround time / cycle time by 35% without increasing headcount. Implemented 5S, kanban, standard work, and an improved laboratory layout for improved flow.
Founder and Contributor
LeanBlog.org (Sole Proprietorship)

(Sole Proprietorship; Myself Only; E-Learning industry)

January 2005 — Present (3 years 10 months)

Founder of the LeanBlog, found at www.leanblog.org, and the LeanBlog Podcast. (www.leanpodcast.org) The LeanBlog is a site dedicated to news, commentary, and discussion about lean manufacturing, the Toyota Production System, lean enterprise, and lean healthcare. The Blog is run as a hobby, a learning experience, and as a contribution to the lean community.

Also contribute to blogs for Manufacturing Business Technology and the Institute of Industrial Engineers.
"Lean Expert - Integrated Supply Chain"

Honeywell, Inc.

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; hon; Machinery industry)

June 2004 — August 2005 (1 year 3 months)

Provide internal consulting support to manufacturing and supply chain organizations for lean manufacturing. Coaching production teams and management on topics such as: 5S, standard work, kanban, problem solving, flow layout improvements, material supermarkets -- driving improvements in safety, cycle time, productivity, and quality.

I put the job title in quotes because, while it was my formal title, it is a misnomer to call yourself an "expert" in lean manufacturing. It is a presumptuous title. I preferred to call myself "lean coach," but "lean expert" was on my business card, unfortunately.
Sr. Consultant, Professional Services

Factory Logic (Acquired by SAP)

(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Information Technology and Services industry)

November 2000 — June 2004 (3 years 8 months)

Implementation of software to support lean manufacturing activities for Tier-1 auto suppliers (heijunka, kanban, supermarkets, takt time and labor planning). Served as lean expert for project team and for internal development efforts. Participated in sales engagements and assessments. Contributed to product management and marketing initiatives. Firm acquired by SAP in December 2006.
Supply Chain Management Engineer

Dell Computer

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; dell; Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing industry)

June 1999 — November 2000 (1 year 6 months)

Implemented innovative production scheduling and material planning tools to support "pull to order" materials for Dell factories. Participating in process design and planning for new factory rampup. Awarded one U.S. Patent for work with materials planning and schedule algorithms and processes.
MBA/MSME Student, LFM Fellow

MIT Sloan Leaders for Manufacturing Program

(Educational Institution; 11-50 employees; Logistics and Supply Chain industry)

June 1997 — June 1999 (2 years 1 month)

Completed dual masters degree program and six-month operations internship with Kodak's Microprocessor Technology Division. Thesis was tiled "An Inventory Planning Methodology for a Semiconductor Manufacturer with Significant Sources of Variability."
Industrial Engineer

General Motors

(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; gm; Automotive industry)

June 1995 — June 1997 (2 years 1 month)

Industrial Engineer supporting multiple engine component machining lines. Implemented lean and GM "Competitive Manufacturing" methods in production areas. Led ergonomic improvement projects.

Mark Graban’s Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MSME, MBA, Mechanical Engineering, Business, 1997 — 1999

Activities and Societies:

Leaders for Manufacturing Program, Leaders for Manufacturing Fellow
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Sloan School of Management

MBA, Operations Management, 1997 — 1999
Northwestern University

BSIE, Industrial Engineering, 1991 — 1995

Activities and Societies:

Northwestern University Marching Band, Phi Mu Alpha
Churchill High School

HS, 1987 — 1991

Additional Information

Mark Graban’s Groups:

APICS, American College of Healthcare Executives, Northwestern University Alumni, MIT Alumni, Participated in Phoenix FastTrac entrepreneurship/new ventures class 2005, Association for Manufacturing Excellence, Society of Manufacturing Engineers