Ruffa Releases Latest Book; to Speak in November

Stephen A. Ruffa, BSAE ’82, has released his latest book on lean dynamics, “Going Lean: How the Best Companies Apply Lean Manufacturing Principles to Shatter Uncertainty, Drive Innovation, and Maximize Profits (Kindle Edition).” He is the originator of the concept of lean dynamics.

As an aerospace engineer, Ruffa worked for the United States' Department of Defense and researched lean manufacturing across seventeen large aerospace producers. His distinctive observations are framed by a quarter-century of background engaged in supporting many of the Defense Department's dynamic needs from the design, manufacture, test, and repair of cutting-edge aircraft, to projects ensuring the availability of critical supplies for wartime demand surges.

Ruffa’s works have been widely cited and recognized. His previous book, "Breaking the Cost Barrier: A Proven Approach to Managing and Implementing Lean Manufacturing" (John Wiley & Sons, 2000), was awarded the 2001 Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing Research.

Stephen Ruffa has agreed to speak as part of the Clark School of Engineering's Whiting-Turner Lecture Series on the evening of November 6 at 5 p.m.

More details will be available in the near future at: http://www.eng.umd.edu/whitingturner

Published August 7, 2008