Work Perfect

The day we strive for

Jeffrey Quarberg

Value Stream Owner - Aerospace & Defense
Donaldson Company Inc.
Baldwin, Wis.

Resumé
2008  Certified, lean manufacturing
2007  Value stream owner – Aerospace & Defense Business Unit, Donaldson Company Inc.
2007  Manufacturing process engineer, GN Resound Inc.
2003  Senior process engineer – supplier development, Goodrich Aerospace
2001  M.S., integrated manufacturing systems engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis
1998  Continuous improvement and process development engineer, Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
1998  B.S., industrial and systems engineering, University of Wisconsin-Platteville
1993  Joined IIE

My role as value stream owner for our aerospace and defense group at Donaldson Company’s Baldwin, Wis., plant focuses largely on continuous improvement. In developing and sustaining the lean program for our facility, I train and mentor co-workers in lean concepts, coach improvement teams and facilitate lean events. In addition, I have concurrent and development process engineering responsibility for both legacy products and new product introductions. New product introductions center on design for manufacturability, advanced quality planning and the voice of the customer. We use design for lean Sigma early in the development process with input from all key players. This activity develops a product focused on quality in design and manufacturing.

Donaldson is one of the largest and consistently growing filtration manufacturers in the world. We serve a wide range of markets, including aerospace, agriculture, construction, defense, disc drive, manufacturing, power generation and transportation. At the Baldwin plant, our products serve aerospace and defense applications and manufacturing and industrial applications.

The best part of my job is facilitating and implementing continuous improvement activities and initiatives. I interact with every level of the company for our corporate lean program, from production floor workers to business unit directors.

What probably gives me the most satisfaction is leading and facilitating 3P activities (product and process preparation). It’s very beneficial when a team comes to the event with essentially an electronic version of a napkin drawing and works with individuals from different departments, and even a customer or supplier, to determine a product and manufacturing process.

I hold my professional development to the same philosophy that I apply in my career: continuously improving what I do.

– Interview by David Brandt