James K. Franz

Shingo Prize-winning author, researcher, and globally recognized lean expert, James K. Franz has over 30 years of manufacturing, engineering, and service experience and learned Lean as a Toyota Production Engineer in Japan. He started at the NUMMI plant in California, moved to Motomachi in Japan, repatriating to support Toyota's launch of their second factory in Kentucky.

In 1993, Jim left Toyota to apply his Lean knowledge at Ford Motor Company, beginning in production engineering. In 2000, he accepted a 3-year assignment at Ford of Australia and led their Stamping, Assembly, Casting, and Powertrain facilities to global leadership in Lean. During this time he also worked with Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier plants in their transformation efforts. Upon his repatriation he became a Lean advisor in Powertrain for global alignment of Lean practices.

Jim left Ford in 2004 to work with twelve-time Shingo Prize-winning author Dr. Jeffrey Liker as a Senior Lean Consultant. In 2008 he partnered with Dr. Liker to co-found the Toyota Way Academy. His work has taken him to over 50 countries and innumerable companies around the globe including Bosch, the U.S. Air Force, Exxon Mobil, AMCOR, Android Industries, Applied Materials, Benteler Automotive, Case New Holland, Caterpillar, Chicago Metallic, Dakkota, Fisher Coachworks, Grand Rapids Chair, Henry Ford Health System, Hertz, JLG, MENLO Logistics, Rio Tinto, SAF Holland, Continental VDO, Visteon, WABCO, and others. He also taught for the University of Michigan’s Center for Professional Development’s Lean Certification course and has guest lectured around the world as a recognized expert on Lean and Continuous Improvement Cultures and transformation.