About the Center for Operational Excellence

At the Center for Operational Excellence at The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, we believe the way to get ahead - and stay there - is to remain in a constant state of motion. That means digging deep and refining how you do business.

COE’s mission is to work alongside your company to foster a problem-solving culture grounded in the tried and tested tools of lean methodology. We’re committed to providing the thought leadership to drive the far-reaching changes in behavior necessary to sustain long-lasting excellence.

Over two decades and across all industries, COE has developed two crucial strengths: The capacity to stage large-scale seminars and forums that foster best-practice sharing, and the agility to work intimately with your company as problems arise. COE has proven experience in helping our members improve speed to market, reduce lead time, eliminate process waste, develop leaders and gain competitive edge.

Drawing upon your needs and tapping into the thought leadership we provide, COE offers you the tools to:

• Access Fisher faculty committed to fueling your lean journey with their thought leadership, industry research, and expertise.
• Build a vision for operational excellence through close contact with high-ranking executives from successful lean enterprises.
• Connect with peers in fellow member companies to share best practices on neutral territory.

Being a member of the Center for Operational Excellence is a great opportunity to share my company’s story, learn from others and build connections across a wide range of industries. 

–Whitney Mantonya, vice president of operational excellence, Cardinal Health Inc.

As a member, we’ve taken advantage of having classrooms come in and run a project at our plant, value stream-mapping processes. The exchange between students, professors and our associates has been valuable. 

– Marty Blazic, president and COO, Tosoh SMD Inc.