process optimization Archives - Executive Platforms: Thought Leader Series

Evolutionary Progress in a World of Revolution: Moving Forward Within the Chaos

April 22, 2025

Jeff Pehler is a partner in West Monroe’s Consumer and Industrial Products practice. He is known for his relentless pursuit of improvement, consistently driving measurable value for his clients. Recently, Jeff developed a product launch strategy that generated over $20 million in annual sales growth for a consumer services company. Additionally, he redesigned back-office operations, boosting EBITDA by more than 4% for an industrial products distributor. His expertise encompasses growth strategy, pricing, process optimization, and M&A strategy.

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Kylea Robb is a Senior Manager with West Monroe in the Consumer & Industrial Products practice and is part of the Dallas office. She is a results-driven, relationship-oriented project leader experienced in developing and delivering more efficient processes and productivity enhancements with a technology layer. Her expertise includes enterprise digital strategy value creation, in depth manufacturing diagnostics, ERP and business applications strategy development, supply chain strategy and implementation, and overall process improvement.

MANUFACTURING, VIDEO, PODCAST

How Data-Based Simulations Find the Fastest Wins and Best Options for Optimization — A Conversation with ChiAha

May 27, 2025

At the 2025 edition of the North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit series we sat down with Andrew Siprelle and Tom Lange to talk about something every manufacturing leader with shopfloor experience knows intuitively but has spent a career trying to prove: Sometimes fixing the little things even when everything else is working right pays bigger dividends than the ‘big wins’ that everyone understands but require time and resources to deliver an often temporary solution. Figuring out where to get the most ROI has too often been a thankless task done after the fact whose lessons learned may well be forgotten by the time the next time a proactive maintenance decision or process optimization strategy session comes around.

Recent advances in digital simulations unlocking plant data and demonstrating where the actual dollars and cents are waiting to be saved and earned are taking the pain out of how to prioritize how people spend their time and energy. For a fascinating conversation about making a difficult thing easy while looking for the best results the easiest way, give this episode a listen!

LIFE SCIENCES, VIDEO, LIFE SCIENCES

FUTURE READY: Addressing Current Challenges in Biomanufacturing with Reliability, Efficiency, Agility, Data & (High) Yields

November 27, 2024

Jerry Murry, is Senior Vice President of Process Development at Amgen. Jerry started his career at Amgen in 2006 as Executive Director, Process Development within the Translational Sciences organization in R&D, and was promoted to Vice President, Process Development in 2010. In 2012, Jerry joined the Amgen Full Potential Transformation team as lead of the initiative “Transforming Process Development at Amgen”(AFP3).

In 2014, as part of the integration and reorganization of a new single, global process development team, Jerry was named the head of CMC Lifecycle management with responsibility for Operations Commercialization activities including regulatory filings and launches.

In 2016, Jerry became head of Drug Product Technologies with responsibility for all formulation and product and process development.
In 2018, Jerry was promoted to Senior Vice President Process Development at Amgen with responsibilities for all global Process Development activities.

Prior to joining Amgen, Jerry spent 8 years at Pfizer Central Research and 6 years at Merck Research Laboratories in Process Development.

Jerry earned BA/BS in Biology and Chemistry at Texas Lutheran University, a PhD in Chemistry from University of Utah and was an NIGMS NIH Fellow at Harvard University.

LIFE SCIENCES, VIDEO, LIFE SCIENCES, PODCAST

‘First in Human’ Continuous Manufacturing in Biopharmaceuticals — A Conversation with Magnus Schroeder of Just – Evotec Biologics

December 10, 2024

At the 2024 edition of the Biomanufacturing World Summit series we sat down with Magnus Schroeder, the VP, Process & Product Design for Just – Evotec Biologics, to talk about some of the advantages of continuous manufacturing in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, especially for companies whose products are approaching the First in Human (FIH) stage. It is never too early to think about process optimization, scalability, and controlling costs, but there is an understandable position where companies focused on the medicine and the science believe that can be sorted out later. Just – Evotec Biologics is a passionate advocate for taking lessons from other industries that build their businesses’ success into the R&D stage of their products’ development. So what does that look like in the Life Sciences? What role do CDMOs need to play to help the industry succeed at this, especially at the crucial FIH stage? For all this and more, give this episode a listen!

FOOD MANUFACTURING, VIDEO, PODCAST, ROUNDTABLES

The Speaker Roundtable from NAFMS24 — A Conversation About Food Manufacturing Issues and Ideas

November 14, 2024

At Executive Platforms’ North American Food Manufacturing Summit, two of our keynote speakers and one of our leading solution-providers sat down to record a special episode of the BluEPrint Podcast series reviewing the top-of-mind issues and ideas of food manufacturing executives today as chosen by the NAFMS24 attendees, weighted by popularity.

With topics ranging from process optimization, to digital transformation and artificial intelligence, to controlling costs, building and maintaining culture, supporting growth, workforce development, sustainability, and much more, this is a conversation that should be of interest to every food and beverage manufacturer working today. Give it a listen!

SUPPLY CHAIN — NA, VIDEO, SUPPLY CHAIN

How to Win through Delivering Value Transformation on Indirect Spend

September 24, 2024

Jenny Harris is an experienced Procurement leader with a proven track record of driving strategic sourcing and supply chain optimization across global markets. Currently serving as Chief Procurement Officer at Duracell Inc., overseeing procurement sourcing strategies and function leadership since April 2023. Prior to this role, held pivotal positions at Procter & Gamble for 20 years, with the most recent being Senior Director of Purchases for Fabric & Home Care. A diverse and versatile set of leadership experience across multiple functions (commercial brand building, sales, and procurement) and various geographies (NA and Asia Pacific). With a career spanning 20 years at Procter & Gamble and ongoing leadership at Duracell, I bring deep expertise in procurement and strategic sourcing, coupled with a strong business acumen. I have experience in leading functional and organizational transformations, all underscored by a commitment to enhancing organizational performance and driving value.

LIFE SCIENCES, VIDEO, LIFE SCIENCES

Accelerate Your Bench to Production Timeline by Collocating Research with Process Development and Pilot Scale Production

May 21, 2024

Peter is a biopharmaceutical manufacturing expert with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. He comes to SmartLabs from Catalent Biologics where he managed business development efforts in the northeast region. Prior to that, he held various roles in Product Development and Product Management for GE Healthcare’s Biomanufacturing Solutions business incorporating both automated unit operations and single-use connectivity.

FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY, VIDEO, FOOD SAFETY & QUALITY

Reshaping the Process: How to Enhance Food Safety & Quality through Performance Metrics and Digital Transformations

October 6, 2023

Spir is currently serving as Vice President, Food Safety, Quality and Technical Services for processed meats, further processed poultry, fresh poultry, fresh pork at Maple Leaf Foods (MLF). As overall leader of this function Spir is accountable for the strategic direction to deliver on MLF’s Food Safety & Quality (FS&Q) strategy, Food Safety Promise, Quality Vision, day-to-day operations of the FS&Q Management Systems and Microbiology and Chemistry labs that service all MLF’s plants.

Spir began her professional career at Unilever Canada, one of the world’s largest CPG company. She progressed through various roles that included food scientist, sales representative, brand manager, innovation manager, R&D/QA manager, Canada and customer activation manager, North America. During this time, Spir achieved two prestigious Global Innovation Awards for innovative concepts and successful execution. Throughout this time her efforts on the commercial side of the business enhanced her appreciation of the importance of innovation, and customer-centric focus.

SUPPLY CHAIN — NA, VIDEO, SUPPLY CHAIN, PODCAST

Eliminating Waste in the Supply Chain, Process Optimization, Automation, and Workforce Issues — A Conversation with Dheeraj Prasad of Zebra Technologies

February 27, 2024

At the 2023 edition of the North American Supply Chain Executive Summit series we sat down with Dheeraj Prasad to talk about how AI is helping supply chain organizations reduce waste, improve processes, enhance sustainability, and empower workers. From end to end of the value chain, AI-enabled automation is transforming how companies use data and allow their teams to be more productive without increasing headcount by using the right data to create an accurate demand forecast, which improves S&OP, and inventory management, and on and on step-by-step. Throughout the organization, people are freed from mundane repetitive tasks and data analysis to focus on the issues that matter most, which both boosts productivity and job satisfaction. What does training and coaching a workforce to engage with these tools effectively look like? How should supply chain organizations build trust for AI systems that are directing and prioritizing work? Listen to this episode for more!

process optimization

Evolutionary Progress in a World of Revolution: Moving Forward Within the Chaos

How Data-Based Simulations Find the Fastest Wins and Best Options for Optimization — A Conversation with ChiAha

FUTURE READY: Addressing Current Challenges in Biomanufacturing with Reliability, Efficiency, Agility, Data & (High) Yields

‘First in Human’ Continuous Manufacturing in Biopharmaceuticals — A Conversation with Magnus Schroeder of Just – Evotec Biologics

The Speaker Roundtable from NAFMS24 — A Conversation About Food Manufacturing Issues and Ideas

How to Win through Delivering Value Transformation on Indirect Spend

Accelerate Your Bench to Production Timeline by Collocating Research with Process Development and Pilot Scale Production

Reshaping the Process: How to Enhance Food Safety & Quality through Performance Metrics and Digital Transformations

Eliminating Waste in the Supply Chain, Process Optimization, Automation, and Workforce Issues — A Conversation with Dheeraj Prasad of Zebra Technologies

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