USU College of Business Dean's Convocation to Feature 'Lean’ Leader

Utah State University students will get a chance to learn more about “lean” leadership at the next Dean’s Convocation at the College of Business Wednesday, Sept. 5.

Speaker Jerry Bussell will not be lecturing about obesity, however. Bussell is the chairman of the board for Shingo Prize for Operational Excellence, an organization that promotes a philosophy called “lean.”

 

Bussell will speak at 12:30 p.m. in the Orson A. Christensen Auditorium (room 215) in the George S. Eccles Business Building. The event is free and open to the public.

 

The lean philosophy was originally articulated by Shigeo Shingo, an industrial engineer in Japan whose teachings have been key to Toyota’s success. The approach emphasizes the importance of showing respect for employees, while eliminating waste, saving money, increasing productivity and improving quality.

 

The Shingo Prize is part of USU’s College of Business.

 

Bussell is also the business sector vice president of global operations for Medtronic ENT/NT. He said he will be drawing from his experience to talk about leadership and what he thinks is needed to “drive excellence throughout an organization.”

 

Bussell has 30 years operational experience working with high-growth companies. He is chairman of the Jacksonville Lean Consortium in Florida. Under his leadership, Medtronic ENT/NT was recognized by IndustryWeek as one of the Best Plants in North America in 2002, and it was a recipient of the Shingo Prize in 2003. Medtronics manufactures medical equipment used in the treatment of ear-, nose- and throat-related health issues.

 

Contact: Steve Eaton: 435-797-8640, cell: 435-760-4884