Marley Lunt is a Lean Strategist who partners with people and organizations to achieve world class performance. Marley uses a “People First” style to build capability which has led to many successes. By understanding the struggles leaders and team members experience, Marley tailors each approach to harmonize the needs of individuals with business goals and objectives.
In his prior role at The Boeing Company as a Lean Practitioner, Marley established the standard for the Lean Management System and oversaw implementation across all Boeing Commercial Airplane programs. Marley was also recognized for creating a Lean culture and enabling the success of the GoldCare program, Boeing's premier integrated service that brings together engineering, materials, and maintenance to service customer airplane fleets.
A balance between real life application and Lean theory is important. Marley has in-depth understanding of the Lean body of knowledge including the Shingo Model and rich historical sources that greatly influenced the Toyota Production System.
Marley uses his creative talents to build trust with people and to keep the stuffy consultant stereotype at bay. Marley's favorite talent is playing the didgeridoo. He is a very good performer with over 12 years experience playing and making didgeridoos.
Marley's Lean Journey Begins (short version)
Marley's Lean journey started while working a summer job at a beef processing plant to pay for college. One day Marley reported a problem with a workstation on the production line and was told the issue would be fixed. After weeks of inaction, the problem resulted in Marley losing the function of his left hand requiring months of physical therapy.
During the following semester at Utah State University, Marley was introduced to Lean, The Shingo Model, and Toyota Production Model through Dr. Randy Cook. When Marley saw and felt the deep level of respect for people and culture of continuous improvement at Shingo Prize recipient companies, such as Autoliv and O.C. Tanner, Marley decided to change his career path from becoming a stock broker to a Lean champion.
While attending Utah State University, Marley co-founded the Lean Leaders Club (now Shingo Student Chapter) to provide more in-depth Lean experience for students. He also worked for the Shingo Institute managing the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award.
Career Highlights
The Boeing Company
Lean Management System While at The Boeing Company, Marley established the standard for the Lean Management System and oversaw implementation across all Boeing Commercial Airplane programs. The implementation of the Lean Management System aligned the workforce and increased support for employee ideas to improve the business.
GoldCare Marley was formally recognized for transforming the culture of the GoldCare program, Boeing's premier integrated service that brings together engineering, materials, and maintenance to service customer airplane fleets. The impact of Marley's work at GoldCare enabled the team to perform above contracted levels and gain the trust of old and new customers. Marley's influence led to record setting multi-billion dollar service deals for The Boeing Company.
Utah State University
Lean Team Leader After graduating, Marley led the Lean effort at Utah State University with primary responsibilities in Housing and Residence Life additionally supporting the Hotel and Conference Center, Transportation, Bookstore, Dinning Services, Distribution, and Print Services. Marley led the committee that established the 'Model of Excellence' for Utah State University Support Enterprises.
Marley led many projects including: cleaning up the Facilities compound, establishing the daily management system, coaching team members in Visual Workplace theory, coaching standard work for the custodial team, improving the planning process, and developing the idea system.
The Shingo Institute
Research Assistant and Research Award Coordinator As the Research Award Coordinator, Marley managed the application and review process for the Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award and oversaw the restructuring of criteria and examiner base.
Marley studied world class practices of Shingo Prize recipient companies including Autoliv and O.C. Tanner and supported the International Shingo Prize Conferences. Marley was relentless in making certain the Shingo Institute practiced what they preached and put in place methods that improved operations including morning huddles, standard work, 5S, A3 thinking, and visual management practices.
Creative Interests
Ceramics Marley has been getting his hands dirty in the ceramics lab since he was 15 years old. In high school, he was presented with the art department award for his pottery skills and originally went to college to become a ceramic artist, before deciding to study business. Ceramics remains a passion for Marley to this day. Lidded jars, mugs, bowls and didgeridoos are Marley's specialty.
Didgeridoo In 2004, Marley discovered the didgeridoo for the first time in a fair trade shop. Intrigued, Marley went home to research what a didgeridoo was supposed to sound like. When he heard it for the first time, the sound resonated with his soul, and he knew he had to play it. Marley plays the didgeridoo in the traditional manner and also performs using a bass amplifier resulting in a sound that has been described as "ancient techno dub-step". Marley has performed for schools, assisted living centers, Lean conferences, workshops, open mics, and Boeing's 6-Step Mentoring program.
Ukulele Marley picked up the ukulele as a personal challenge for his injured hand. Marley always wanted to play the ukulele but saw his shaky, weak hand as the limiting factor. Nine years after his hand injury, Marley decided to just go for it to see what was possible. After months of practice, Marley learned to play the ukulele well and was amazed to discover the practice strengthened his hand, improved dexterity, and nearly stopped all hand tremors.
Education
Utah State University In December 2009, Marley graduated Cum Laude from the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University with a B.S. in Finance and B.S. in Economics.
Lean Specific Education Destra Facilitative Leader Training and Certification - 2008 Shingo Institute - Discover Excellence Workshop - 2009, 2011 Visual-Lean Institute - Visual Workplace Visual Thinking - 2009 USU - Management 5730 - Continuous Improvement - 2009 Autoliv Production System University - 2010 Shingo Institute - Continuous Improvement Workshop - 2011 Visual-Lean Institute - Visual Scoreboard, Visual Problem Solving - 2011 Visual-Lean Institute - Visual Displays - 2011 Shingo Institute- Build Excellence Workshop - 2013 Shingo Institute - Enterprise Alignment and Results Workshop - 2013 The Boeing Company - Accelerated Improvement Workshop Training - 2013 University of Kentucky - 8 Step Problem Solving, 2013 Shingijitsu Global - Japan Study Mission - Kaizen Promotion Office - 2014 The Boeing Company - Value Stream Mapping certified - 2015 University of Kentucky - People Side of Lean - 2016 University of Kentucky - Lean Systems - 2016 The Boeing Company - Boeing Production System 101 - Instructor - 2016 The Boeing Company - Lean Management System - Course Owner and Instructor - 2016 +Many plant tours, conferences, and over 70 books read on Lean theory and leadership.
