Blog Posts
![Man playing chess](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/files.fisher.osu.edu/opex/public/styles/blog_featured_image/public/2020-11/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Congrats%21.png?VersionId=lMuHpvlODdx8ud17niZ6HCj6aAk50bFX&h=4872e0cb&itok=WVBNp4iz)
I recently had a conversation with a veteran operations manager about his new company and its plan to deploy a lean strategy. In fact, I often hear lean thinkers describe lean as a strategy. But is it? Lean thinking and practice certainly is strategic in the sense that it is an all-encompassing approach to running a business.
![Two laptops open with hands pointing to a paper report](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/files.fisher.osu.edu/opex/public/styles/blog_featured_image/public/2020-10/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Congrats%21.png?VersionId=vuoksFbrzfDH1QsYY8tTntzee__aUvFE&h=ea348f99&itok=TTG98L2Z)
I was reading yet another article on leadership responses to the COVID 19 pandemic on the importance of “purpose”. The “why” most call it. For example, “Leading with purpose and humanity” was the headline in an article on McKinsey’s interview with Best Buy CEO, Hubert Joly. It got me thinking about “why” we embrace Operational Excellence and “why not” look at it a little differently.
![Don White Headshot with "OpEx Spotlight" title](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/files.fisher.osu.edu/opex/public/styles/blog_featured_image/public/2020-09/member%20spotlight%20copy%202.png?VersionId=YKFH99m5obj6PKATWRCgj2qNuihC5YRb&h=73b1f5df&itok=vUe43ZGY)
At the Center for Operational Excellence, we work alongside our members to foster a problem-solving culture that’s grounded in tried-and-true operational excellence tools, and that’s constant and far-reaching. One way we do that is by connecting industry executives, Fisher College of Business faculty, and our consortium of member companies.
![Tracy Jones Headshot with "OpEx Spotlight" title](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/files.fisher.osu.edu/opex/public/styles/blog_featured_image/public/2020-09/Copy%20of%20member%20spotlight.png?VersionId=Iu9y3IcuStFua7laudg.PvARW395YqdX&h=b42ec023&itok=TpxGtI7A)
At the Center for Operational Excellence, we work alongside our members to foster a problem-solving culture that’s grounded in tried-and-true operational excellence tools, and that’s constant and far-reaching. One way we do that is by connecting industry executives, Fisher College of Business faculty, and our consortium of member companies.
![Giovanni Bernardo Headshot with "OpEx Spotlight" title](https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/files.fisher.osu.edu/opex/public/styles/blog_featured_image/public/2020-09/member%20spotlight.png?VersionId=AvwHnQy_Cd9udITI39tZ_yreq9oApM8v&h=d7dc1798&itok=ZYGy_KLE)
Our new OpEx Spotlight series highlights members of our OpEx community and allows them to share their experiences and perspectives with continuous improvement, organizational change, operational excellence, supply chain, operations, and any niche they feel passionate about. We're excited to introduce Giovanni Bernardo, Head of US Continuous Improvement at Agrana Fruit, as the first in our spotlight series.