Craig Fredrickson

About Craig Fredrickson

When I first developed an interest in Lean practices, nobody in my company really knew what it was, how to implement, or even why we might want it. We just knew our competitors were using it, and we needed to keep up. At first, Lean was something “the manufacturing people” did, but as results proved its efficacy, other departments and groups started to take notice, and everybody wanted in. Now, after 30 years of Lean leadership, I can definitively speak to its significant value because I’ve seen the companies I’ve worked with on Lean truly evolve. Lean can be used to transform every process and every business. It is less about tools and most about changing people: how they work, how they think, and what they do when things don’t go well. So, when I say change through Lean, I mean changing people. What I’ve found most rewarding is using Lean to change underperforming business units, value streams, and markets from run-of-the-mill to world-class in a few short years. Being able to see a transformation flow through to real business results is invigorating. Seeing the lights come on for people who were hesitant, even hostile, to Lean is even better. But what I love most about my work is knowing that I’ve made a lasting impact and set in place a foundation on which future generations can build.

Experience

1. VP of Opex

   Woodward, Inc.

   Apr 2023 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Guiding Lean Transformation

Education

• Northwood University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration, Management and Operations

  2000 — 2004