Michael Hoseus – Co-Author of Toyota Culture
Mike is President of Lean Culture Enterprises.
Mike was a corporate leader for 13 years at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Kentucky. Mike’s operational responsibilities began in manufacturing with the start up of the plant in 1987 as front line supervisor in vehicle assembly.
Eventually Mike’s responsibilities increased to include both assembly plants including operations, maintenance, and engineering. Mike was then rotated to Human Resources as the Asst. General Manager where his responsibilities included Safety, Employee Relations, and Training and Development.
Mike currently supports organizations making Lean Culture transformations and focuses on the roles of Executive Management and Human Resources, and how the quality people value stream connects to the production value stream.
David Meier – Co-Author of The Toyota Way Field Book and Toyota Talent
David Meier is an internationally recognized authority on Lean Manufacturing and The Toyota Production System (TPS). David is the co-author of the best selling books, The Toyota Way Fieldbook, (McGraw-Hill, 2005), and Toyota Talent, (McGraw-Hill, 2007) with Jeffrey Liker. In these hands-on books David and Jeff detail the language, concepts, and tools that managers need to bring Toyota’s success-proven practices to life in any organization.
David had the opportunity to learn the Toyota Production System as one of the first group leaders hired at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky facility in the plastics molding department. He was trained and mentored in Japan and Kentucky over a ten-year period by TPS experts including full-time coaching by several Japanese coordinators. In 2001, David founded Lean Associates, Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to supporting companies that are pursuing implementation of the Toyota Production System.
David has been a trainer and speaker for over ten years and he has presented training workshops in North America, Russia, Europe, Brazil, and Asia for many groups including: the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, AME, The University of Michigan, the Montreal Board of Trade, ORGPROM Russia, Made In China, Inc., The Window and Door Manufacturers Association, AIM Inlines Thailand, Continuous Quality Improvement Network, and the Shingo Prize Conference. David has supported many companies in a variety of industries including healthcare, food, automotive, aerospace, wood and plastic products, chemical processing, metal machining, fabricating, welding, and assembly operations in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing work areas. He specializes in developing TPS expertise within organizations so that they become capable of achieving lean transformation.
Tracey Richardson – Toyota Veteran and Lean Trainer
Tracey Richardson brings over 21 years of experience in Toyota Business Practices (8 Step Problem Solving), Practical Problem Solving, Meeting Facilitation/Teamwork, Quality Circle Methodologies, Lean Manufacturing methodologies, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Job Instruction, Toyota Way Values, Culture Development, Visualization (Workplace Management Systems), and Continuous Improvement (Kaizen), and Manufacturing Simulations. Tracey is one of only a few people to be certified by The Toyota Institute in Japan to teach Toyota Business Practices within Toyota facilities.
Tracey currently works within Toyota Motor Manufacturing plants and their suppliers across North America where she supports the development of team members and leaders and aligns their role with the company business plan (Hoshin). These capabilities are vital to sustain a positive relationship between leadership and team members ensuring mutual trust and respect within the company (Positive culture). Tracey also works with other interested companies who are on the Lean journey and seek support in the implementation of key elements for success.
Tracey began her career with Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Kentucky in 1988 as a Team Member in the Plastics Department. She was one of the first team members hired, and was fortunate to learn TPS directly from several Toyota trainers. Tracey was promoted from Team Member to Team Leader, and then to the position of Group Leader. As a Group Leader, her responsibilities included responsibility for training and developing all Team Members and achieving goals in the areas of safety, quality, productivity, and cost for the groups.
Tracey grew up in Lexington, KY and currently lives there with her husband Ernie who is a Manager at Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY. She attended Eastern Kentucky University, and University of Kentucky, studying Business Marketing, and Education.
