Lean Problem Solving - Tom Canellakis - profile sustainable continuous improvement specialist // lean coach

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Summary
Professional Experience
Education / Qualifications
Expertise & Industry Experience
Tom's focus on sustainable improvements to flow leads him to look at lead time and
job satisfaction together. Tom is ready to contribute to building a lean culture and to
quickly broaden his experience applying lean tools. He has solid experience applying
and teaching the A3 Report, and has a good grasp of Value Stream Mapping and
other lean tools. Prosci ADKAR Model. Visio. Supplier development. Supply chain.
Industry experience includes apparel, home textiles, boots, gloves, sporting goods,
fast food restaurant (QSR), healthcare, pharmaceutical, automobile, warehousing.
Lean Coach
Challenging the status quo can create greater mutual
prosperity for the business, employees, and customers.
A strategy that enables a culture of team-based learning
and reflection can generate sustained performance
improvements. With humility, Tom helps the people
who do the work engage in problem solving to remove
obstacles in their own standard work and in sustaining it,
and helps management embrace supportive roles.
Tom Canellakis is an experienced and passionate
hands-on lean teacher and coach, and is fluent in
Mandarin Chinese. He has 13 years experience
implementing lean in the service and manufacturing
sectors at all organizational levels, internationally and
domestically. He has worked in leadership, operational,
production and consulting roles, and has over 20 years
experience leading entrepreneurial companies.
• Gained unique perspective
working alongside frontline
Toyota Team Members on
a continuous one-piece
flow production line
• Piloted system improving
lead time and wellbeing to
make the inverse
relationship visible to all
• Multidisciplinary graduate
courses related to lean in
engineering, healthcare,
business, anthropology at
University of Kentucky
• Workshops by LEI, Chihiro
Nakao of Shingijutsu, UK
• B.A. Vassar College
Tom Canellakis
• Fixing Problems Reduces Cost, Develops More Capable People
Manufacturing (USA) – Jointly created a Material and Information
Flow Diagram to identify problem areas. Led team to develop an A3
report with 8-step problem solving. By changing the Preventative
Maintenance schedule from monthly to every 7 days, we could
reduce 2% of the 12% gap in first-pass quality, resulting in cost
avoidance of $3,000/week or $150,000/year. Within three months,
these team members were promoted at the highest rate of all teams
and one was promoted three levels – the company’s biggest ever!
• Standardization Improves Output, Quality & Lead Time- Apparel
(China) – Standardized information flow for new trim development
from NYC designers to China manufacturers. Tenfold increase in
samples; 50% reduction in lead time; quality increased by 66%.
• Improving Morale Increases Revenue - Fast Food Restaurant
QSR (China) – Taught problem solving, standard work, and visual
management. Team collected data; corporate recognized problem;
shop morale improved. Revenues increased 14% in two months.
• Leadership Development Improves Awareness & Results
Healthcare (USA) - Created an innovative co-learning collaboration
with the CEO of a healthcare organization. Guided the CEO to
recognize how the current work environment had been affected by
his leadership style. He began experimenting with changes in his
thinking and behavior that could lead to improving the organizational
culture and its performance. Applicable to every level of leadership
from team leader to group leader, and up.
• Problem Solving Accelerates Learning - Startup (Greece)
Piloted delivery of a training program in structured problem solving.
Improved flow of learning around product market fit. Learners
developed countermeasures to adapt to obstacles in environment.
• Partnering With Suppliers Improves Quality & Grows Business
Purchasing (China)– Led teams at multiple sites to help standardize
and develop suppliers’ capabilities to manufacture and ship product
on time. Exceptional quality performance led to mutual growth.
+1 (203) 687-4650
tcanellakis@gmail.com
SUSTAINABLE Continuous Improvement Specialist
This is my public profile. Resume available upon request.
Corporate: Toyota Motor Manufacturing – Production Associate (variable VWF)
Fishman & Tobin, acquired by Li & Fung - Worldwide Sourcing
The Economist Group – Business Development
Selected Clients: WestPoint Stevens, Mitre Sports
Entrepreneurial: Lean Problem Solving Coach / China Procurement Consultant
Beijing Trade Exchange – President
Volunteer: non-profits, including chambers of commerce and roundtables