Chapter Meeting - November 13, 2007 - 5:30pm

Partnering with ASQ and ISM

        Process Improvement

Phil Ward is the current Associate Director of Operations Engineering at Stryker Instruments in Kalamazoo, MI.  Prior to joining Stryker, he held various management positions in engineering and quality assurance at both Tier 1 and Tier 2 Automotive suppliers.

Phil has been with Stryker since 1997, starting at the Medical division.  Some of his accomplishments at Stryker Medical included managing a production unit, the development of the Mfg. Eng. /Engineering Support Service team, forming the Stryker Medical Welding Council to focus on quality and process improvements and as an R&D leader he led the major redesign project of the Stryker Maternity Bed.

In his most recent role as Associate Director of Operations Engineering, Phil has led the company through continuous improvement of Stryker Instruments manufacturing units.  He developed the Continuous Improvement Team and has led the implementation of the Theory of Constraints in 2 business units in Stryker, all which have seen exceptional results in increased throughput and cost savings to the company.  He also led the initiative to re-engineer and re-design the flow of materials moving through the manufacturing facility.

Phil attended Lawrence Institute of Technology where he received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management and Walsh College in Troy where he received his Masters of Science in Management. 

Stryker Corporation is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies with the most broadly based range of products in orthopaedics and a significant presence in other medical specialties. Stryker works with respected medical professionals to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. The Company's products include implants used in joint replacement, trauma, craniomaxillofacial and spinal surgeries; biologics; surgical, neurologic, ear, nose & throat and interventional pain equipment; endoscopic, surgical navigation, communications and digital imaging systems; as well as patient handling and emergency medical equipment.

Date:  Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Speaker:  Phil Hood, Assoc. Director, Operations Engineering, Stryker Instruments

Location: M-TEC at KVCC

Time:  Hors d’oeuvres & Networking @ 5:15 pm, Presentation @ 5:30pm