Roberto Priolo is a writer and editor based in Barcelona. Prior to joining the Lean Global Network and launching Planet Lean, Roberto was editor of Lean Management Journal and associate editor of The Manufacturer magazine. Coupling his love for travel with his passion for lean, Roberto is interested in seeing the methodology in action across the globe. He holds a degree in Political Science from the Università Cattolica in Milan, Italy, and a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the London School of Journalism.
Reach Roberto at editor@planet-lean.com
EDITORIAL BOARD
Management expert James P. Womack, is the founder and senior advisor to the Lean Enterprise Institute. The intellectual basis for the Cambridge, MA-based Institute is described in a series of books and articles co-authored by Jim himself and Daniel Jones over the past 25 years. During the period 1975-1991, he was a full-time research scientist at MIT directing a series of comparative studies of world manufacturing practices. As research director of MIT’s International Motor Vehicle Program, Jim led the research team that coined the term “lean production” to describe Toyota’s business system. He served as LEI’s chairman and CEO from 1997 until 2010 when he was succeeded by John Shook.
John Shook is recognized as a true sensei who enthusiastically shares his knowledge and insights within the lean community and with those who have not yet made the lean leap. Originally an industrial anthropologist, John learned about lean management while working for Toyota for nearly 11 years in Japan and the US, helping it transfer production, engineering, and management systems from Japan to NUMMI and subsequently to other operations around the world. While at Toyota’s headquarters, he became the company’s first American kacho (manager) in Japan. As co-author of Learning to See John helped introduce the world to value-stream mapping. In his latest book Managing to Learn, he describes the A3 management process at the heart of lean management and leadership. John is the Chairman of the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Lean Global Network.
Founder and chairman of the Lean Enterprise Academy in the UK, Daniel T. Jones is a senior advisor to the Lean Global Network, a management thought leader, and mentor on applying lean process thinking to every type of business. Together with Jim Womack, he is the author of some of the most influential and popular management books available. A sought-after keynoter, Dan also has organized lean conferences around Europe. He advises organizations in different sectors on their lean transformations, and has experience supporting lean journeys in sectors including construction, manufacturing, supply chain, healthcare.
José Roberto Ferro is president of the Lean Institut Brasil, the Brazilian affiliate of the Lean Global Network. José has also held positions as professor at a number of Brazilian universities and as visiting scholar at MIT. Over the course of his career, he has worked with dozens of organizations in Brazil and beyond, helping them with their lean transformations.
Michael Ballé is co-founder of the Institut Lean France. An associate researcher at Telecom ParisTech, he holds a doctorate from the Sorbonne in Social Sciences and Knowledge Sciences. Michael is a best-selling author and an engaging speaker, and managing partner of ESG Consultants. He also works as a lean executive coach in various fields, from manufacturing to engineering, services to healthcare.
René Aernoudts is the president of Lean Management Instituut in The Netherlands. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Lean Global Network since 2008. Since 1998, René has been active in a director role and as a lean coach, trainer and transformation leader in many organisations worldwide, in a wide range of industries.
He took the initiative to start Planet Lean in 2012 to share great cases and stories on Lean with the Lean Community. With the support of Dan Jones, Jim Womack, John Shook and Michael Ballé we keep on sharing these inspiring stories from the gemba and our great thinkers and practitioners. Always happy to talk to readers of Planet Lean!