Adam Asher

About Adam Asher

Senior Manager of Operational Excellence at Rivian, where I lead the design, deployment, and scaling of the Rivian Production System (RPS) — a human-centered operating system built on principles of continuous improvement, respect for people, and relentless problem-solving.With deep roots in the Toyota Production System and decades of hands-on lean transformation across GE Appliances, Amazon, and high-growth environments, I partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and cross-functional leaders to eliminate waste, reduce lead times, enhance flexibility, and build a culture where every team member is empowered to see problems, solve them, and grow.My approach blends technical mastery (value stream mapping, Jishuken, standardized work, karakuri, TPM, A3 thinking) with leadership development through immersive experiences Jishukens, workshops, and squad-based incubation rotations. The goal: develop capable people first, then build exceptional vehicles.Passionate about gemba, kaizen, and creating workplaces where people thrive. Let’s connect if you’re driving operational excellence, scaling lean systems, or building the future of sustainable manufacturing.

Experience

1. Senior Manager, Operational Excellence

   Rivian

   Aug 2025 — Present · Normal, IL, US

   Senior Manager of Operational Excellence at Rivian, where I lead the design, deployment, and scaling of the Rivian Production System (RPS) — a human-centered operating system built on principles of continuous improvement, respect for people, and relentless problem-solving.With deep roots in the Toyota Production System and decades of hands-on lean transformation across GE Appliances, Amazon, and high-growth environments, I partner with manufacturing, supply chain, and cross-functional leaders to eliminate waste, reduce lead times, enhance flexibility, and build a culture where every team member is empowered to see problems, solve them, and grow.My approach blends technical mastery (value stream mapping, Jishuken, standardized work, karakuri, TPM, A3 thinking) with leadership development through immersive experiences Jishukens, workshops, and squad-based incubation rotations. The goal: develop capable people first, then build exceptional vehicles.Passionate about gemba, kaizen, and creating workplaces where people thrive. Let’s connect if you’re driving operational excellence, scaling lean systems, or building the future of sustainable manufacturing.

Education

• Penn State University

  Master's degree, Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management

  2012 — 2014

• University of Louisville

  Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Electrical and Electronics Engineering

  2005 — 2010

Skills

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Word
• Powerpoint
• Outlook
• Lean Manufacturing
• Lean Thinking
• Lean Tools
• Lean Startup
• Lean Operations
• Lean Transformation
• Material Handling
• Material Flow
• Material Flow Analysis
• Manufacturing Operations Management
• Design for Manufacturing
• Manufacturing
• Level Loading
• Kaizen
• Gemba
• Kaizen Leadership
• Value Stream Mapping
• Continuous Improvement
• Root Cause Analysis
• Toyota Production System
• Jit
• Kanban
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Process Improvement