The JBA Team
The right people doing the right job, in the right way, at the right time — this is how JBA brings consultants together to support clients. Whether you need complete healthcare transformation, a tour, or a sensei with deep expertise in Kanban or 3P Lean design, we bring the specific experience, skills, and expertise you need to transform your healthcare system. JBA consultants include Lean pioneers, career healthcare professionals, and globally recognized experts in the Toyota Production System.
John Black, MBA, president and CEO of JBA, is one of the nation’s leading authorities on Lean operations, becoming known as a Lean expert through four decades of first implementing Lean at Boeing and then consulting for industry and major healthcare systems, including Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. Substantially as a result of JBA work, Virginia Mason was named Top Hospital of the Decade in 2010 by the Leapfrog Group. Most recently, his consulting team worked with Saskatchewan Ministry of Health to deploy the Saskatchewan Healthcare Management System, based on the Toyota Management System, across the province, which employs 43,000 people in more than 270 facilities. In just three years, this implementation significantly reduced healthcare defects, increased capacity, and saved millions of dollars. In the 1980s, while with Boeing, Black helped innovate with the first moving assembly line in aerospace and was subsequently appointed to President Reagan’s White House Council on Productivity. He is the author of four books on Lean, including the forthcoming revised edition of The Toyota Way to Healthcare Excellence: Increase Efficiency and Improve Quality with Lean. Black has studied the Toyota Production System in numerous trips to Japan and with direct protégés of Taiichi Ohno. In addition to his MBA, Black holds Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees as well as a diploma from the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College.
Joanne Poggetti, MA, has spent more than three decades dedicating herself to improving quality and productivity in a wide variety of government, business, industry, and educational settings. Her clients have included the Saskatchewan health system, PeaceHealth, Fred Hutchinson, Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Microsoft, University of Washington, and a variety of U.S. government agencies. In 1986, Joanne was recruited to Boeing to help design and implement the quality improvement process for 100,000 employees, work that resulted in a model still being used today in Lean transformation work. In 1996, along with John Black, Joanne launched the first comprehensive Lean implementation in healthcare in the United States. She developed the initial training, certified the first Lean leaders, and led the first executive team in healthcare to Japan to do kaizen on the factory floor. In 2014, she helped launch the first Kaizen Fellows program in Canada.
In the late 1980s, she was offered a rare opportunity to shadow Dr. W. Edwards Deming as he consulted with companies such as Ford, GM, and Harvard. She then became a small-group leader at some of his seminars. Joanne holds a Master of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in organizational change.
In the late 1980s, she was offered a rare opportunity to shadow Dr. W. Edwards Deming as he consulted with companies such as Ford, GM, and Harvard. She then became a small-group leader at some of his seminars. Joanne holds a Master of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in organizational change.
Richard Abercrombie, TWI Master Trainer, has over 25 years of experience in Lean implementations. Most recently, Richard consulted on the application of Lean principles at multiple Saskatchewan hospitals to improve patient safety, shorten service lead times, increase capacity, and reduce cost. In the Five Hills Health Region, for instance, he helped shorten ER waits, reduce mental health waiting lists, reduce delays in discharge, and improve bed utilization in a transition unit.
Richard started his Lean journey as a member of the Boeing Supplier Support Center, where he led key Boeing suppliers, both domestic and international, in the implementation of Toyota Production System principles. He is among a handful of Training Within Industry (TWI) Master Trainers in North America. In this role he has worked internationally to bring TWI to companies including Bombardier, Northrup Grumman, General Dynamics, Union Pacific, ABB, Gemalto, Friesland Campina, Robert Bosh, BMW, Esterline, and DeBortoli Wine, as well as Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon Health Region.
Richard started his Lean journey as a member of the Boeing Supplier Support Center, where he led key Boeing suppliers, both domestic and international, in the implementation of Toyota Production System principles. He is among a handful of Training Within Industry (TWI) Master Trainers in North America. In this role he has worked internationally to bring TWI to companies including Bombardier, Northrup Grumman, General Dynamics, Union Pacific, ABB, Gemalto, Friesland Campina, Robert Bosh, BMW, Esterline, and DeBortoli Wine, as well as Virginia Mason Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon Health Region.
Candice Bryden, RN, B.Sc.N, is a dynamic, certified Lean leader with extensive experience in clinical nursing, progressively more senior leadership roles, and additional training in kanban, hoshin planning, and project management. Candice directed the first Kaizen Promotion Office (KPO) of Saskatchewan’s Saskatoon Health Region, supporting implementation of the Saskatchewan Healthcare Management system. Under her direction, the region achieved significant results in three years, including the completion of more than 100 RPIWs, five 3P Lean design events, eight kanban seminars, and six mistake-proofing tours that completed 19 mistake-proofing projects. Within those three years, 4,000 staff and physicians were trained in kaizen basics, more than 50 Lean leaders received certification, and 94 staff were certified in TWI (Training Within Industry) job instruction. These activities improved patient safety and increased provider productivity, saving an estimated $1.6 million.
Candice began her 34-year healthcare career as a registered nurse, and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Her passion for patient-centered care, planning, and healthcare improvement led her into management roles that included clinical coordinator/educator, nurse manager, general manager, and director. Candice has successfully developed and led a variety of clinical and non-clinical improvement teams.
Candice began her 34-year healthcare career as a registered nurse, and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Her passion for patient-centered care, planning, and healthcare improvement led her into management roles that included clinical coordinator/educator, nurse manager, general manager, and director. Candice has successfully developed and led a variety of clinical and non-clinical improvement teams.
Takeshi Iwata is president and COO of Shingijutsu Global Consulting, with which JBA has partnered since 1997. He consults in Japan and abroad, promoting kaizen by comprehending the flow of companies’ materials and information and supporting implementation of just-in-time (JIT) and inventory management. He has contributed to lead-time reduction for healthcare patients and improved capacity and reduced inventories in surgery, inpatient care, and cancer care service lines and in women’s and children’s hospital services. Iwata has managed KPO tours in Japan as well as gemba kaizen seminar and workshops. From 2012-2015, he supervised supply chain kaizen implemented by the Corporate Services Division of the Saskatoon Health Region in Saskatchewan, Canada. This work included leading logistics improvements and standard work in and between hospitals to implement kanban and achieve significant inventory reduction, FIFO quality improvement, and work time reductions while also establishing workflow management and visualization of supplies. His previous career included 10 years of kaizen at Rinnai Corporation, plus a degree in management administration.
Bruce Lawson, B.Sc., has been a Lean manufacturing leader, consultant, executive coach, and teacher for more than 20 years, working with manufacturing and administrative teams to improve utilizing the principles and tools of the Toyota Production System. Since 1997, Bruce has worked extensively with JBA and its clients (Park Nicollet, Premera, Florida Hospital, and the Saskatchewan healthcare system). Most recently, he led successful production preparation process (3P) Lean design efforts at two Saskatchewan hospitals. During his career, which spans work for Boeing Commercial Airplane Company and Genie Industries (a Terex Company), Bruce has led over 150 kaizen events. He has also received invaluable training and guidance from Shingijutsu Global Consulting, whose leaders trace their linage directly to Taiichi Ohno and the Toyota Autonomous Study group. This training has included multiple trips to Japan to study shop floor kaizen and 3P methods. Bruce also has led multiple executive study missions to Japan, and for the last several years, he has directed the Kaizen Promotions Office (KPO) for Terex Aerial Work platforms. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing Management.
ShinShigeru Narita is a senior consultant for Shingijutsu Global Consulting USA, Inc. JBA has partnered with Shingijutsu Global Consulting since 1997. Narita consults in Japan and abroad as a seminar instructor and sensei, with primary responsibility for consulting activities in China. He also takes responsibility for Japan KPO tours, 3P Lean design events, kanban and gemba kaizen seminars, and workshops for various healthcare clients in the U.S. and Canada.
His previous roles have included executive vice president for TB Logistics Service Corporation, where he implemented distribution kaizen of domestic transportation and import /export business; and president and CEO of TB Service Corporation, where he gained executive management experience in all aspects of company operations. Narita also spent more than 35 years in various roles with Toyota Boshoku (TB) Corporation. There, he was a member of the Toyota Autonomous Study Group of the Production Control Division, working under Taiichi Ohno and Mr. Niwa. Later, he served as general manager of manufacturing for the company’s Kariya, Toyohashi, and Oguchi plants. His technical skills include gemba kaizen in manufacturing, distribution kaizen, production control, and 3P.
His previous roles have included executive vice president for TB Logistics Service Corporation, where he implemented distribution kaizen of domestic transportation and import /export business; and president and CEO of TB Service Corporation, where he gained executive management experience in all aspects of company operations. Narita also spent more than 35 years in various roles with Toyota Boshoku (TB) Corporation. There, he was a member of the Toyota Autonomous Study Group of the Production Control Division, working under Taiichi Ohno and Mr. Niwa. Later, he served as general manager of manufacturing for the company’s Kariya, Toyohashi, and Oguchi plants. His technical skills include gemba kaizen in manufacturing, distribution kaizen, production control, and 3P.
Kumi Iwata Otake is chairman and CEO of Shingijutsu Global Consulting USA, Inc. JBA has partnered with Shingijutsu Global Consulting since 1997. Kumi serves as one of the leading authorities on the implementation of the Toyota Production System. She has most recently worked with her consulting team on kaizen improvement across the provincial healthcare system of Saskatchewan, Canada, as well as in manufacturing organizations worldwide. These improvements include better patient safety and care, significantly reduced service lead times, increased service and facility capacity, reduced work time and waste, and capital and operating cost savings.
Kumi draws on a broad range of experiences and relationships with world-class companies over more than 25 years. Clients rate her consultation service highly, particularly for her support implementing effective JIT, completely eliminating process and time wastes, and fostering personnel to integrate kaizen into their own production and service processes for the benefit of their clients and customers. Previously, Kumi was director and executive vice president for Shingijutsu Company, Ltd, where she was responsible for process development and all administration and facilitation of consultant team activity worldwide. Current clients include Boeing and other aerospace organizations, Hitachi Computer, Aquity Brands, and Yokohama Rubber Company.
Kumi draws on a broad range of experiences and relationships with world-class companies over more than 25 years. Clients rate her consultation service highly, particularly for her support implementing effective JIT, completely eliminating process and time wastes, and fostering personnel to integrate kaizen into their own production and service processes for the benefit of their clients and customers. Previously, Kumi was director and executive vice president for Shingijutsu Company, Ltd, where she was responsible for process development and all administration and facilitation of consultant team activity worldwide. Current clients include Boeing and other aerospace organizations, Hitachi Computer, Aquity Brands, and Yokohama Rubber Company.
Tom Schmidt, MD, combines the experience of a board-certified family physician and former medical director with an intimate knowledge of Lean. Prior to joining JBA, Tom was medical director for patient safety for Park Nicollet Health Services. As such, he exercised direct responsibility for medical staff credentialing and indirect responsibility for the Patient Safety/Quality Assessment and the Infection Control and Prevention departments. One of Tom’s innovations was incorporating mistake-proofing (jidoka or “stop the line” in Lean parlance) into Park Nicollet’s root-cause analyses and corrective-action plans. The results reduced hospital-occurring falls, pressure ulcers, and “wrong-side” surgeries, among other improvements.
Tom was certified in Lean by JBA in 2005, completing gemba kaizen in Japan the same year. His training in Lean played a vital role in his approach to his responsibilities, including those of chief of patient care and medical director for patient safety for Park Nicollet. In these roles, he led significant safety and efficiency improvements, including a reduction in cardio-respiratory arrest codes on medical/surgical units from 4.4 per month to less than one.
Tom was certified in Lean by JBA in 2005, completing gemba kaizen in Japan the same year. His training in Lean played a vital role in his approach to his responsibilities, including those of chief of patient care and medical director for patient safety for Park Nicollet. In these roles, he led significant safety and efficiency improvements, including a reduction in cardio-respiratory arrest codes on medical/surgical units from 4.4 per month to less than one.
Kenji Shuno is a senior consultant for Shingijutsu Global Consulting USA, Inc. JBA has partnered with Shingijutsu Global Consulting since 1997. Shuno consults and leads seminars in Japan and abroad, with expertise in gemba kaizen, Lean production, just-in-time, jidoka (automation), and 3P Lean design processes. His most recent engagements include support for kaizen in Canadian healthcare and the U.S. insurance industry, contributing lead time reduction for patients, inventory reduction, and improvement of patient satisfaction for mental health, cancer, and CDC services and women’s and children’s hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. Shuno spent more than 40 years working for Toyota Auto Body Co., Ltd. His work there included process improvement and energy saving through kaizen and participation in production preparation for the painting process of a new plant. He was promoted to the Toyota Production Autonomous Study Group created by Taiichi Ohno of Toyota Motors Company. He has also taught efficient production systems, including production preparation process kaizen, to suppliers in China, Thailand, and Indonesia. He also contributed to the1974 Japan Quality Award. His clients have included the Saskatchewan Provincial Health Services Authority, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, and Park Nicollet Health Services.
Maria Veber, RN, MBA, is a Lean transformation and change management zealot who has worked with executives and employees at all levels to drive cultural change. These efforts have eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful practices from organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune companies. She has managed multi-million-dollar projects, governed implementation and maintenance of high profile works, and trained and managed hundreds of people while getting her hands dirty. These experiences demonstrate her ability to understand and build rapport with those who do the real work.
Maria has consulted in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and other industries, helping teams to eliminate waste and see the opportunity for improvement while expertly teaching how to implement the journey. Maria has been a Lean leader, either on staff or as a consultant, at Park Nicollet Health Services, EV3, and General Electric, among others. Previously, Maria spent 10 years working in an ICU float pool, where unpredictable situations and compassion for patients and families were the foundation of her work. She holds an MA and an MBA as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing.
Maria has consulted in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and other industries, helping teams to eliminate waste and see the opportunity for improvement while expertly teaching how to implement the journey. Maria has been a Lean leader, either on staff or as a consultant, at Park Nicollet Health Services, EV3, and General Electric, among others. Previously, Maria spent 10 years working in an ICU float pool, where unpredictable situations and compassion for patients and families were the foundation of her work. She holds an MA and an MBA as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing.
Brent Williams, B.Sc., has been a Lean manufacturing practitioner, studying and implementing the Toyota Production System (TPS), for the past 18 years. He has led over 300 kaizen events covering all aspects of business, including administrative processes, shop floor kaizen, material distribution, and major 3P Lean design events specializing in new product and process development. In addition to his Genie responsibilities, Brent has worked with JBA since 2007, consulting to manufacturing and healthcare organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
Brent began his Lean journey in 1996 while working with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, where he led Lean manufacturing assessment and implementation of cellular manufacturing and studied the TPS under Chihiro Nakao, a direct disciple of Taiichi Ohno. In 1999, Brent joined the Genie Industries Lean Promotions Office, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the first continuously moving assembly line at Genie Industries. After Genie’s acquisition by the Terex Corporation, Brent began supporting all Terex business sectors as they began their Lean transformations. He currently manages the Terex Operating System Specialist program, which was designed to educate and develop future Lean leaders. Brent holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology.
Brent began his Lean journey in 1996 while working with the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, where he led Lean manufacturing assessment and implementation of cellular manufacturing and studied the TPS under Chihiro Nakao, a direct disciple of Taiichi Ohno. In 1999, Brent joined the Genie Industries Lean Promotions Office, where he was responsible for the development and implementation of the first continuously moving assembly line at Genie Industries. After Genie’s acquisition by the Terex Corporation, Brent began supporting all Terex business sectors as they began their Lean transformations. He currently manages the Terex Operating System Specialist program, which was designed to educate and develop future Lean leaders. Brent holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology.