David Veech

Executive Director, Institute for Lean Systems

David Veech is a founding member of the Institute for Lean Systems and serves as its Executive Director. He also serves as Senior Advisor and Director of Finance for the Compression Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to guiding learning organizations to dramatically reduce consumption of resources while maintaining or improving the quality of life of its people and its community.

His consulting focus is on people in organizations and how lean and learning systems contribute to overall employee satisfaction and well-being. He develops and teaches courses on topics related to problem solving, suggestion systems, employee involvement, team building, and creating satisfying workplaces. He has lead seminars and workshops around the world in aerospace, automotive, wood products, textiles, healthcare, construction, chemical and pharmaceutical, continuous process, and marine industries for audiences reflecting the diversity of experience in modern corporations.

Mr. Veech brings a wealth of experience to client engagements having taught at the University of Kentucky for 5 years, and having served in a variety of positions in a 20 year career as an officer in the US Army including Operations Officer, Defense Contract Management Command, at Lockheed Martin Vought Systems, and Professor of Production and Quality Management at the Defense Acquisition University. He currently is a faculty leader for Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business Executive Programs, and guest lecturer in The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business Masters program in Operational Excellence.

He is the co-author of “The C4 Process: Four Vital Steps to Better Work” (2011, Business Innovation Press, an imprint of Integrated Media Corp.) and “FirstLine: A team leader’s guide to lean thinking” (2005, PKI) (www.firstlineleaders.com) and has authored articles appearing in publications as diverse as the Cost Management Journal, Defense Acquisition Review Quarterly, and Louisville’s Business First newspaper.

Mr. Veech serves on the Board of Directors of the World Trade Center – Kentucky, and IdeasAmerica, the professional society for idea management and suggestion systems. He also on the programming and membership committee of Greater Louisville, Inc.’s Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics Network, and on GLI’s Environmental Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Society for Manufacturing Engineers, the American Legion, and the Military Officers Association of America.

Mr. Veech earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Western Kentucky University, and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Management from Clemson University. He has completed doctoral work in Psychology at the University of Kentucky and Capella University.

Mr. Veech is married and has three children. They live in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.