Throughout the course of the year, we work to bring operations speakers to campus that will help enrich the perspectives of Sloan students. Below are a few of the past speakers...
2006 - 2007
Pete Skurla, Senior Partner, Oliver Wight Americas - Mr. Skurla provided a fascinating overview of Sales and Operations Planning and its evolution over the past 25 years. He then discussed some of his experiences implementing the S&OP process with an array of leading companies including Caterpillar, Procter & Gamble, Campbell’s, Kraft, DuPont, and Unilever.
Dermot Shorten, Vice President, Booz Allen Hamilton, Operations Practice - Mr. Shorten provided an overview of work that he has done on next generation sourcing. He discussed Toyota's sourcing model and how this methodology can be applied to other industries.
Prof. Steven Spear, MIT Sloan School of Management - Dr. Spear presented a sneak peak of his current research analyzing what the high tech, biotech, and healthcare indstries can learn from the world's best manufacturers. This presentation described the management principles employed by industry leaders including
2005 - 2006
Dr. Anisya S. Thomas, Managing Director, The Fritz Institute - Dr. Thomas introduced some of the key issues facing organizations that respond to global disasters and humanitarian needs. She discussed the Fritz Institute's efforts to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the humanitarian sector by collaborating with the corporate sector and academic community. The Institute leverages best practices, technologies, and resources from these groups that can be used by all humanitarian organizations.
J. R. Lowry, Principal, McKinsey & Company, Operations Practice - Mr. Lowry described an effort where McKinsey worked with a Fortune 50 US telco to apply lean principles to their back office operations. The resulting changes led to substantial improvements in productivity/cost, quality, and cycle times and offer an excellent example of how manufacturing-based lean principles can be applied with success in a service-based industry.
Sam Israelit, Partner, Bain & Company - Mr. Israelit talked about his use of System Dynamics in real life situations. This talk was especially interesting for people that took system dynamics and for those still thinking about it.
BK Johnson, Vice President Six Sigma, Fidelity Investments - Mr. Johnson spoke about Fidelity Investment's use of lean operations principles in the services industry. He walked the group through a number of examples of how he improved processes in a services-based industry.
2004 - 2005
Joseph DeFeo, President & CEO, The Juran Institute - Dr. DeFoe invented the six sigma definition of quality control and improvement. The Institute is a leader in consulting for quality. This event was co-sponsored with Sloan Fellows program.
Anthony Boas, Chairman, JanseenBoas Company - JanssenBoas is a major outsourcing agent to North American MNCs, bridging the divide with offices in New York and China. They represent client interests through sourcing representation, quality control and supply chain management. Mr. Boas discussed major trends in Asian sourcing, and present a case study on the topic.