Operational Excellence

Shaping Excellence Through Lean Leadership and Continuous Improvement

By Dan Sullivan

September 9, 2024

SPX Technologies, a global supplier of infrastructure equipment, faced the need to streamline operations across new acquisitions through continuous improvement (CI) and leadership development.

In these short videos Dan Sullivan, Executive VP at TBM, and Shelby Jarvis, VP of Continuous Improvement at SPX, discuss SPX’s CI journey and the integration of its Lean Leadership program. They explore the model’s origins, structure, and its alignment with SPX’s strategic goals, emphasizing the importance of adapting leadership approaches to evolving business needs.

 

How has SPX incorporated CI into the leadership model?
(5 min.)

Shelby explains the evolution and structure of CI in the leadership model aligning talent and resources with customer needs. Tune in to understand the challenges of adoption of this model across various company levels and the importance of continuous reflection and learning.


What is the impact of the Leadership Model on the Eden, NC plant?
(7 min.)

Shelby and Dan highlight the Eden plant’s successes in applying the leadership model where they cultivate effective, respectful leaders. Listen in to get the details about the importance of aligning CI initiatives with the company’s strategic goals and leadership model to maintain overall success.


Why are Kaizen workshops important to culture?
(5 min.)

This segment elaborates on how Kaizen workshops help align the program to the needs of the business and leveraging existing talent. They discuss starting with a pilot and then expanding the program globally. Watch the video to discover the impact that cross-regional collaboration and hands-on learning has had on SPX’s culture.


What would you or TBM do differently looking back on your CI implementation?
(9 min.)

Dan and Shelby reflect on the past four-years of finding the right balance between advancing initiatives and change management processes. Discover how the leadership model and Lean initiatives play a crucial role in the company’s growth through divestitures, M&A, and adapting to evolving challenges.


Will the Lean Leadership Programs and CI always be core to driving new acquisitions?
(2 min.)

Discover how the SPX leadership model and Lean initiatives play a crucial role in the company’s growth through divestitures, M&A, and adapting to evolving challenges. Listen to this short video where Shelby emphasizes the need for flexibility in approach, adapting to the readiness and opportunities presented by new acquisitions.


As an executive leader at SPX how do you stay motivated?
(4 min.)

In this final segment Shelby reflects on the CI journey at SPX, highlighting the satisfaction derived from knowing he will leave a legacy of developing talent and driving improvement that impacts business success. Watch the video to discover what ultimately excites Shelby about the lean leader program.

 

 

TBM Consulting Group

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Shaping Excellence Through Lean Leadership and Continuous Improvement” about?
This customer spotlight shares how SPX Technologies, a global supplier of infrastructure equipment, has advanced its continuous improvement (CI) journey and integrated a Lean Leadership program to help streamline operations across new acquisitions. In a series of short video segments, TBM’s Dan Sullivan and SPX’s Shelby Jarvis discuss the origins and structure of SPX’s leadership model, how it supports CI, and why aligning leadership practices to business strategy matters as the organization evolves.
How has SPX incorporated continuous improvement into its leadership model?
SPX has incorporated CI into its leadership model by evolving the structure of CI to better align talent and resources with customer needs, while recognizing that adoption requires focus across different organizational levels. The discussion emphasizes that successful CI integration depends on ongoing reflection and learning, and on adapting the leadership approach as business conditions and priorities change.
Why are Kaizen workshops important to culture and scaling CI across acquisitions?
Kaizen workshops are presented as a key cultural mechanism because they help align the program to the needs of the business and make better use of existing talent. The spotlight also describes the importance of starting with a pilot and then expanding more broadly, highlighting how cross‑regional collaboration and hands‑on learning contribute to building a stronger CI culture that can scale across sites and acquisitions.

Meet the Expert

Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan

Email Dan
Dan Sullivan is an Advisor and serves on the TBM Board of Directors. He is a coach at heart and is passionate about operational excellence, cultural change and results.

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