Join us for a MLC Lean Virtual Coffee!
Virtual | Free For Members | 8:30am - 9:30am
In many organizations, individual functions operate as isolated island. As organizational projects progress, each function naturally optimizes around its own priorities. Therefore, it should be no surprise that projects often find themselves contending with safety issues, quality concerns, missed timelines, cost overruns, and lackluster morale. So how can we shift from functional silos and local optimization to cross-functional collaboration and organization-wide success? In this Coffee Chat, Dave Ostreicher - a 20-year Toyota Purchasing veteran and current University of Michigan lecturer (Ross School of Business + College of Engineering) - explores how cross-functional counterparts can align right from a project’s start. Drawing on his lived experience and practical frameworks, Dave will discuss how to distill thousands of decisions into focused joint discussions, set shared targets that incentivize collaboration, and navigate the complexities of global teams. Whether you are looking to accelerate your product development cycles or build stronger cross-functional harmony, join us to learn how an intentional, standardized process can drive continuous improvement across your organization.
Dave Ostreicher
Lecturer | University of Michigan
Dave Ostreicher is a Lecturer at the University of Michigan, holding appointments in both the Ross School of Business and the College of Engineering. He is driven by a mission to get the next generation of global operations leaders passionate about socio-technical systems. Dave’s current teaching portfolio includes Toyota Production System, Project Management, Operations Management, and Business Administration, alongside mentoring students in high-impact, action-based learning engagements. Dave brings over 20 years of industry experience from his time at Toyota, where he worked in the Purchasing Supplier Development Division at Toyota's North American Research & Development Headquarters. He completed two multi-year assignments in Japan, serving as a liaison between the North American Purchasing organization and Toyota’s global headquarters. In his last role at Toyota, Dave led strategic sourcing initiatives for North America’s first battery electric vehicles and steered cost reduction efforts for billions of dollars of outsourced parts. Dave previously held leadership roles that included overseeing procurement for North American production of all Toyota and Lexus sedans. He also played a significant role in educating and developing over 500 supply chain professionals, managed supplier-facing information systems, and oversaw an annual $1.5 billion spend for North American stamped body shell components. Dave earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial & Operations Engineering, and a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese Language & Literature from the University of Michigan. In his free time, Dave enjoys cycling, trumpeting, international travel, and creating memorable moments with his wife and three children, often centered around good food and drink.
A Virtual Coffee offers a relaxed and engaging platform to connect with Lean professionals and explore meaningful discussions in a collaborative virtual environment. These sessions combine the best of our Coffee Chats and Book Club, offering a platform to discuss all things Lean, share professional challenges, and explore solutions with like-minded peers.
Opportunity to connect with other Lean practitioners and like-minded individuals.
Attendees are able to ask questions, interact with the presenter and other attendees virtually.
Leverage Collective Knowledge: Tap into the expertise of our MLC membership.
Focus on Lean Implementation: Discuss practical applications of Lean tools and strategies.
Networking Opportunities: Expand your network of Lean professionals.
Share and Learn: Exchange best practices and gain insights from others' experiences.
Stay Engaged: Stay connected with the MLC community and learn about upcoming events.
Join us for a session filled with ideas, insights, and inspiration—all from the comfort of your home or office!
Members: Free
Non-Members: $20
At the MLC, we do our best to be inclusive at every level of experience, whether it’s a conference, Gemba walk or any other of our membership activities.
An individual or organizational membership gives you a year’s worth of great Lean learning and networking at low- or no-cost!
