Ronald Bercaw is the president of Breakthrough Horizons, LTD, amanagement consulting company specializing in world-class improvementthrough the application of the Toyota Production System, more commonlyknown as “Lean.” With over 30 years of experience in operations, hisLean management experience was gained through multiple enterprisetransformations in different industries, including custom packaging,power reliability electronics assembly, and test and measurement products.Educated at Purdue University, Ron learned the details and disciplinedapplications of Lean principles, habits, and tools from both the ShingijutsuSensei and their first-generation disciples. Working in both shop floor andabove-the-shop-floor areas, Ron has vigorously strived to remove wastefrom businesses through the involvement and ideas of the people doingthe work.Ron has consulting experience in the healthcare sector (U.S. andCanadian health systems, including health insurance, primary care,acute care, and community applications of both clinical and back shopimprovement), the commercial sector (administration, manufacturing,distribution, supply chain, and engineering), and the public sector (U.S.Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, including MRO, Pentagon, Veteran’sHealth Administration, and Surgeon General Assignments), the healthinsurance sector, and Lean in agriculture.In addition to operating his consulting practice, Ron has publishedthree books: Taking Improvement from the Assembly Line to Healthcare,Lean Leadership for Healthcare, and The Lean Electronic Medical Record.The first two books have been awarded the Shingo Research Award forhelping advance the body of Lean knowledge.