Ron Crabtree, CPIM, CIRM, is President of MetaOps™ Inc, and is an internationally recognized expert in leading-edge business process improvement methodologies, change management and communications. He has provided several thousand hours of consulting, training and facilitation for large and small groups in hundreds of organizations internationally on a wide range of topics. He draws on more than 20 years’ experience in implementing Lean, Six Sigma, and other best practice methodologies as both an insider and as a consultant in many international industries – from automotive assembly plants to small A&D suppliers, complex manufacturing, process manufacturing, printing, injection molding, consumer goods, distribution/retailing, financial services, medical services, and job shop operations.

Mr. Crabtree is a world-renowned author and public speaker and is published in many international venues, including his current role writing the Lean Culture Department in APICS magazine. APICS is an award-winning magazine featuring innovative ideas and real-world strategies for inventory, materials, production, and supply chain management; planning and scheduling; purchasing; logistics; warehousing; and e-business solutions. Learn more about APICS at www.apics.org.

In addition, Mr. Crabtree currently serves as adjunct faculty for Villanova Universities’ professional education on-line programs in the capacity of educational developer and instructor to deliver curriculums on Lean, Six Sigma, and Business Analysis. Learn more by visiting www.villanovau.com.

Mr. Crabtree has held positions in Plant General Management, Materials Management, and Manufacturing Operations Management. In addition, he has held consulting posts as Oracle Practice Leader for a top-ten accounting and management-consulting firm, and a Technical Director for the world’s largest Lean manufacturing training/consulting practice.