Simultaneously achieving the quality, delivery and cost objectives of a cross-functional program requires more than just excellent project management skills. To improve their odds of success, project and program managers must understand fundamental continuous improvement and value stream concepts, educate their teams on these concepts and take preventative action to ensure common cross-functional pitfalls do not occur on their program. In this presentation, Brant will demonstrate some of these pitfalls, share some of his best practice preventative actions and share lessons learned from multiple industries that have leveraged these methods.
Brant Nieminski is an operational excellence leader with over 20-years of engineering, operations, project management and lean six sigma experience. Most recently, Brant has been leading the integration of Lean and hybrid project management techniques at Best Buy. Prior to Best Buy, he worked in the organic foods industry for SunOpta where he was the portfolio manager for their enterprise-wide capital and productivity projects. Brant spent 10-years with Ingersoll Rand & Thermo King where he was the owner of their product development process and a Master Black Belt in their lean six sigma program. He started his career designing heavy-duty trucks for International Truck in Indiana where he earned two design patents. Brant earned his mechanical engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he participated in their hybrid vehicle design program. Brant was born and raised in the Twin Cities and married his high school sweetheart when they were in college. He is raising his three sons in Apple Valley, MN who are all active in sports, music & academics.
