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Paul Stafford

  • Institute of Research for Technology Development
  • True Lean

Lean Practitioner

 

Paul’s 31-year career at Toyota culminated in six years at Toyota’s Engineering Headquarters serving as the North American Engineering Manager for Body Weld Production Engineering - New Technology and Manufacturing Innovation Group.  This group develops, refines, installs, then issues Engineering Memos to release the technology to the 14 North American Manufacturing Companies.

Before his Corporate role, Paul developed his system-wide understanding of the Toyota Production System in positions of increasing responsibility in Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility in Georgetown, KY.  Paul held positions in Body Weld Production Engineering, Assembly Line Control, and Planning and Project Management for the facility, including Powertrain over his 25 years at TMMK.

His focus in these positions included process improvements for Safety, Quality, Productivity, and Cost. One major project was the design, development, and implementation of a 120-unit Automated Guided Vehicle System for the two Body shops.  This system was featured in several Material Handling publications and received the Manufacturing Innovation Award from Modern Material Handling Magazine.  He also led supply part localization to North America when Toyota opened their second plant in Georgetown, as well as numerous other projects to improve process efficiency.

Prior to Toyota, Paul worked for Whirlpool Corporation for eight years in various roles of increasing responsibility in Findlay, OH, Danville, KY, and McAllen, TX / Reynosa, Mexico.
Paul received his Marketing degree from the University of Kentucky in 1983.