Education

  • University of Michigan, School of Business, Ann Arbor, MI. (MBA, 1984)

  • Stanford University, Stanford, CA (1975)

  • University of Michigan, Dept of Far Eastern Languages & Literature (BA,1974)

  • Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT (1972, 1973)

Professional Education: Certificate and Non-Certificate Courses

  • Creating Successful Innovations: General Theory of Innovation (GTI) and its Applications by Greg Yezersky, 2006.

  • Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) by T. Saaty and E. Foreman, 1996, 2003

  • Co-instructor at QFD Master Classes by Yoji Akao, 1994, and T. Ohfuji, 1995, Advanced QFD by Yoji Akao, 1998.

  • TRIZ Seminar and Individual TRIZ Instruction by Ideation, 1995-1996.

Dr. Deming's Seminar: "Quality, Productivity, and Competitive Position" 1992.

  • Value Engineering by Tom Snodgrass, University of Wisconsin, 1992.

  • Software QFD, Zultner & Co., Ann Arbor, MI, 1991.

  • 2-Day Statistician, Jack ReVelle, Flint, MI. 1991.

  • Basics of Kaizen: Kaizen Institute of America, 1990.

  • Hoshin Planning, GOAL/QPC, Detroit, 1990.

Quality Function Deployment (QFD): GOAL/QPC, 1989.

  • QFD Facilitator Update by Yoji Akao, 1987.

  • See more Certificates…

Awards and Honors

  • IAQ Kondo Prize Yoshio Kondo Academic Research Prize – Recognizing Contributions of Academicians to Excellence in Published Research (2017).

  • IAQ Founders Medal for Distinguished Service that has Significantly Advanced the Mission of the International Academy for Quality (2014).

  • QFD Red Belt® for Mastery of QFD (2000).

  • Akao Prize® for Excellence in QFD (1998).

  • Additional awards & honors

Work Experience

  • Some of my clients and examples (published papers)

  • Japan Business Consultants, LLC., Ann Arbor, MI, President, 1982-present.

  • QFD Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, Executive Director, 1993-present.

  • International Council for QFD, Ann Arbor, MI, Executive Director, 1997-present.

  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, TQM Adjunct Lecturer, 1993-2003.

  • GOAL/QPC, Methuen, MA, QFD Instructor, Research Committee,1989-1995.

  • West Side Automotive Warehouse, Detroit, MI, Manager, 1978-1984.

  • E.C.C. Foreign Language Institute, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Japan, Instructor, 1975-1978.

Professional Associations

  • QFD Institute (1993-present).

  • International Council for QFD (1997-present).

  • American Society for Quality, Senior Member (1994-present).

  • Japanese Society for Quality Control (1994-present).

  • QFD Institut Deutschland (2007-present) QFD-Architekt #A21907.

  • Chairman of the North American Symposium on QFD (1998-present).

  • Institute of Professional Innovators, Founding Member (2006-present).

  • The National Academies Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy (2004-2005).

  • Program Chairman of the Symposium on QFD (1992-1997).

  • GOAL/QPC Research Committee (1989-1994).

  • GOAL/QPC TQM in the Classroom Advisory Board (1993).

  • American Translators Association (1982-2001).

  • Member of International Scientific Board for International Symposia on QFD 1997—present.

  • Convenor: ISO TC69-SC8-WG2 Working Group to develop ISO16355 for QFD (2009-present).

  • Member: ISO TC176-SC3 for Quality Management standards (2012-present).

  • Academician, International Academy of Quality (2010-present). Secretary-Treasurer (2013-2020).

  • Honorary President, Hong Kong Quality Function Deployment Association (2011-present).

  • Advisor, Asian QFD Association (2016-present).

  • more Affiliations…