Stephen A. Ruffa

Stephen A. Ruffa is an aerospace engineer, a business researcher, and a Shingo Prize winning author. His distinctive observations on lean dynamics are framed by his unique government-industry study of aerospace producers, his projects demonstrating key underlying principles, and his research of today's leaders across manufacturing and service industries.

Mr. Ruffa spent the first 25 years of his career engaged in activites supporting the Defense Department's dynamic needs--from the design, manufacture, test and repair of cutting-edge aircraft, to implementing major business improvement initiatives. He ultimately led a worldwide manufacturing benchmark study of 17 major aerospace manufacturers, demonstrating how "lean" concepts could break the cycle of escalating costs in aircraft production. His results were praised by the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, the Aircraft Industries Association, and academia.

Mr. Ruffa conducts research and provides training and consulting in applying lean principles to overcome challenging business conditions through his firm, Lean Dynamics Research, LLC. Learn more at www.leandynamics.net