Upcoming Events
October 7 | 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | In-Person Workshop
Join the Center for Operational Excellence for an interactive workshop designed to introduce the fundamentals of the A3 problem-solving method—a structured, proven approach to tackling complex challenges and driving continuous improvement.
The workshop begins with an introduction to A3 Thinking, a structured approach to problem solving that underpins continuous improvement. Participants will learn how the A3 framework helps individuals and teams define problems, understand current conditions, identify root causes, and develop effective countermeasures. Rather than focusing on completing an A3 report, the workshop emphasizes the disciplined thinking behind the process, using the A3 as a tool to organize and communicate key insights.
Participants will apply these concepts through a guided case study before bringing one of their own organizational challenges to the workshop. Working in small groups with guidance from the instructors and input from peers, participants will practice using the A3 framework to analyze a real problem, refine their thinking, and develop a practical path forward.
In this workshop, participants will:
- Strengthen their problem solving skills using a structured, time tested methodology
- Apply data driven thinking to continuous improvement efforts
- Learn to identify root causes rather than treat symptoms
- Build clarity, alignment, and consensus around improvement opportunities
- Receive coaching and peer feedback in a collaborative learning environment
To get the most value from this session, participants should come prepared with a real organizational challenge, along with any relevant data or background information. Additional preparation guidance will be provided in advance.
This workshop is designed for individuals who are new to Lean or early in their continuous improvement journey. It is ideal for those seeking a practical introduction to A3 Thinking and a structured approach they can immediately apply in their work.
Whitney Mantonya is a Senior Lecturer in the Fisher College of Business Operations and Business Analytics Department, where she teaches Operations, undergraduate electives and in the Master’s of Operational Excellence program. Whitney serves as a mentor for the Pathways for Women in Supply Chain program and teaches in multiple Executive Education programs. Prior to joining Ohio State, Whitney worked with organizations as a leader and consultant to empower organizations including Mount Carmel Health System, Cardinal Health, and Nationwide Insurance to empower people and achieve extraordinary results through Operational Excellence. Whitney earned her BS in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and an MBA from the Baker College Center of Graduate Studies.
Jill Treece is a senior lecturer in the Department of Management Sciences. Treece began her career as a registered nurse and has nearly two decades in the healthcare industry. Her most recent role before joining Fisher, was the Director of Nursing for one of Central Ohio’s largest hospitals. In addition, she has experience with leading large hospital re-design and build projects, including leading teams through workflow design and optimizing patient flow. She has coached in Fisher’s Executive Education, Master of Business Operational Excellence program since 2015, and continues to teach in this program as well as several other offerings at the business school.
This is a limited-capacity, in-person only workshop on the campus of the Fisher College of Business. The interest form for this experience is now closed. Questions and waitlist inquiries can be directed to Wendy Douglass at douglass.162@osu.edu.
October 21 | 12 – 1 p.m. | Zoom Webinar
Lean Into AI Series
Many organizations are waiting for the perfect AI strategy, the perfect use case, or the perfect level of readiness. But just as successful lean transformations begin with learning by doing, successful AI adoptions must start with action and experimentation.
To continue the Lean Into AI series, expert Art Smalley will join series facilitator Steve Pereira for a conversation on lessons learned from Japanese business contexts, the parallels between lean and AI adoption, and what’s holding organizations back from meaningful AI implementation today. They’ll discuss Art’s journey out of AI skepticism, explore companies using AI as a tool to enhance human capability rather than replace it, and examine common myths and roadblocks.
Webinar attendees will gain insights on:
- Art’s research and development of AI-powered lean coaching tools
- AI adoption lessons from Japanese manufacturing environments
- Practical ways to experiment and build momentum around AI-enhanced continuous improvement
Speakers
Art Smalley is president of Art of Lean, Inc., which he founded in 2003, and a senior advisor to the Lean Enterprise Institute. He worked for Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan at the Kamigo Engine Plant and later served in McKinsey & Company's operations practice. He is the author of Understanding A3 Thinking, Creating Level Pull, Toyota Kaizen Methods, and Four Types of Problems, and a Shingo Prize Life Member for Excellence in Manufacturing. More recently he has been building AI tools for Lean practitioners, teaching how to use AI for improvement, and writing about where AI fits in operational strategy.
Steve Pereira, emcee, is obsessed with making tech human and leveraging it to deliver continuous value. Steve has spent over two decades improving the flow of work across organizations. He’s worked through tech support, IT management, build and release engineering, and as a founding CTO for enterprise SaaS.
He serves as lead consultant for Visible Value Stream Consulting, as a board advisor to the Value Stream Management Consortium, Chair of the OASIS Value Stream Management Interoperability technical committee, and co-founder of the Flow Collective to bring flow-focused professionals together. Since 2017, he has been developing and facilitating Flow Engineering to make flow improvement in large organizations accessible, collaborative, and actionable.
Host Organizations
This series is part of the collaborative work of leading OpEx consortia under the shared initiative Future of People at Work:
- Catalysis
- Central Coast Lean
- Greater Boston Manufacturing Partnership (GBMP)
- Imagining Excellence / Eyes to See
- Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI)
- Ohio State’s Center for Operational Excellence (COE)
- Shingo Institute
- Toyota Supplier Support Center (TSSC)
- The University of Kentucky Lean Systems Program
This initiative represents an unprecedented collaboration among leading improvement-focused organizations dedicated to building better ways of working together. Together, these networks are reimagining work and continuous improvement for a new era of technological change.
October 28 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Hybrid Event
Explore collaboration and resilience at this year’s Supply Chain Forum, hosted by the Center for Operational Excellence and the Supply Chain Association graduate student organization.
This event will bring together Cardinal Health leaders from Global Product Marketing, Demand Planning, and Finance to discuss how cross-functional collaboration drives alignment, strengthens decision-making, and enhances supply chain resilience.
Attendees will gain insights into the strategies, behaviors, and partnerships that enable organizations to navigate complexity and deliver sustainable results.
This event offers a unique opportunity to learn and connect for both students and industry professionals. In-person attendees will be invited to keep the conversation going at a networking lunch following the presentation.
Event Agenda
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Panel Presentation and Q&A Session
12:30 – 1 p.m. | Networking Lunch (in-person attendees only)
Speakers
Leslie Hanlon is an experienced supply chain professional, with over 15 years of experience in medical product and device planning, manufacturing, and distribution, with expertise in demand and supply planning, inventory optimization, and global supply chain execution.
Joshua Ocheltree serves as Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, supporting the Upstream Marketing organization at Cardinal Health. A strategic finance leader with over 15 years of experience in forecasting, business planning, and commercial decision support, Joshua partners closely with marketing and cross-functional teams to drive profitable growth and informed investment decisions. Passionate about translating data into actionable insights, Joshua focuses on aligning financial strategy with customer and market opportunities, enabling innovation, optimizing resource allocation, and supporting the successful development of solutions that improve patient care and business performance.
Kendra Strother serves as U.S. Commercial Marketing Director for the Kangaroo™ Nutritional Delivery business at Cardinal Health. A purpose-driven leader with more than 15 years of experience in healthcare and MedTech, Kendra is passionate about driving business growth across the continuum of care by focusing on what matters most to clinicians: delivering high-quality patient care and improving patient outcomes.
Anjali Tewari is a supply chain leader with more than five years of experience driving strategic sourcing, integrated business planning, and supply chain transformation at Cardinal Health. A collaborative leader, Anjali is passionate about connecting teams across functions to solve complex business challenges, improve operational performance, and create sustainable value. She is recognized for leveraging data-driven insights, strategic thinking, and strong cross-functional partnerships to optimize working capital, enhance service, and strengthen business outcomes across the healthcare supply chain.
This is a hybrid event. Please select whether you wish to attend in-person or via livestream at the time of registration. The in-person event will be held on the Ohio State campus in the Mason Hall Rotunda (250 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH 43210) and will include a networking lunch from 12:30 – 1 p.m. The virtual event will be held via Zoom—the link to join will be included in the livestream registration confirmation email.
November 9 | 3 – 5 p.m. | In-Person Event
Join the Center for Operational Excellence and Fisher’s Office of Career Management for a unique networking event designed to bring Ohio State students and industry professionals together through hands-on problem solving and collaboration.
Through an interactive Lego-based workshop, participants will explore operational excellence concepts while working in teams to tackle challenges, improve processes, and think creatively under pressure.
What to Expect:
- Participate in a facilitated workshop focused on teamwork, problem solving, and OpEx fundamentals
- Connect with students, employers, and industry leaders from the COE member community
- Build and take home your own Lego mini-me figure
- Enjoy pizza and networking following the workshop
Whether you’re a student looking to make industry connections or a professional eager to find your next great hire, Built to Connect is the perfect opportunity to tap into COE’s network.
This event is open to undergraduate and graduate Fisher students and all COE member company employees, but space is limited.
Agenda
- 3 – 4:30 p.m. | Mini-Workshop and Facilitated Activities
- 4:30 – 5 p.m. | Pizza and Networking
This is a limited-capacity, in-person only event in the Mason Hall Rotunda on The Ohio State University campus (250 W Woodruff Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210). Please submit your interest using the form below. Student spots will be filled in the order in which interest form submissions are received. COE member spots will be filled using the interest form in coordination with COE board representatives. If you have been selected to participate, you’ll receive an email by October 19 with additional information.
Save the Date
December 4, 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. | 4th Annual AI Insights from Academia to Industry Event (Hybrid - In-Person at the Fawcett Center or via Zoom)
April 6 - 8, 2027 | COE Summit 2027