Senior Coach, Lean Six Sigma
B.S., industrial engineering and operations research, Wayne State University; M.B.A, University of Toledo
Steve Hoeft is a Toyota-trained Lean Six Sigma Coach who has helped organizations win 14 Shingo prizes. He is a practitioner, teacher, and thought leader in applying Lean principles to unique, knowledge-worker processes such as healthcare, new product development, supply chains, and manufacturing.
While at General Motors, Mr. Hoeft was trained by Eli Goldratt in the theory of constraints-based scheduling package OPT. His deep lean experience began at Delta (Kogyo) USA with sensei Joe Shimada. Mr. Hoeft then continued to learn about Lean systems when he moved to Johnson Controls, Inc., and studied directly with Toyota in Georgetown, KY.
At Johnson Controls, Steve co-authored their ASTD award-winning JCI Manufacturing System, and started implementation at all plants winning numerous Shingo Prizes. Later, his Lean enterprise transformation success at Transitions Optical was recognized at the 8th Annual Lean Manufacturing Conference. His work at Tenneco Automotive’s Marshall Plant helped them win the 2002 and 2005 Most Improved Plant Worldwide honors.
Mr. Heoft has worked for hundreds of clients in multiple industries and applications. A few of his recent Lean Six Sigma projects include:
- Vancouver Coastal Health (Lean Layout)
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
- Henry Ford Health System (New Hospital)
- University of Michigan Health System Pre-Transplant Process
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Eglin AFB Air Armament Center
- Air Force Smart Ops for the 21st Century (AFSO21)
- Air Force Material Command Depot Maintenance Transformation
- Lean Six Sigma training for the US Navy Sub PEO in 2005
- Defense Logistics Agency’s Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service
- Air Force Materiel Command’s Purchasing Supply Chain Management (PSCM)
Mr. Hoeft holds a dual bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and operations research from Wayne State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Toledo. He is a Certified Project Manager Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute, and is a key instructor for the University of Michigan College of Engineering’s Lean Healthcare, Lean Manufacturing, and Lean Product-Process Design Certificate programs.
Areas of Expertise
Lean Six Sigma