Cliff Ransom, an experienced institutional investor who was bitten by the “lean bug” over fifteen years ago, explores the intersection of lean practices and stock market valuation.  His research work for institutional investors stresses the significant potential business impact of successful lean implementations. His central thesis is that while lean is often espoused because it reduces waste, cycle time, and floor space and enhances quality, safety and delivery time (which it does), the most powerful drivers are customer intimacy, capital avoidance, improved valuation, and the development of a self-sustaining culture of continuous improvement, employee empowerment, and respect for employees. 

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About the Presenter:

Cliff Ransom is the President of Ransom Research, Inc., an independent equity investment research firm that acts as an outsourced resource for a limited number of major investment management organizations.  The central focus of his firm is on industrial companies, including manufacturing, machinery, aerospace and defense, construction equipment, and water-related securities, among other sectors. The hallmark of the work of the firm is his focus on “going to the gemba”, where he meets corporate managers and insists upon plant tours.  He also attends trade shows and canvasses suppliers, customers, and competitors of his target companies. In the last five years, he has become increasingly interested in the migration of “lean” off the traditional factory floor, into back office, service, financial, sales and marketing, and new product development realms.  Cliff believes that these “transactional” realms offer even greater opportunities for beneficial process change than lean’s historical focus on manufacturing.

A few of Cliff’s many accomplishments in the lean community:

• The first financial services executive made a Life Member of the Shingo Prize Academy; also elected to the Academy’s Board.
• The only investment professional made a "Champion" of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence.
• Chairman of the Advisory Board of Lean Horizons Consulting LLC.
• Frequent program speaker to a wide scope of lean audiences, including the Lean Enterprise Institute, Shingo Prize, Association for Manufacturing Excellence, the Lean Accounting Summit, Parker Hannifin, Regal-Beloit, Terex, and Wabtec, among others.

Cliff has over 35 years of experience on Wall Street, on both the “sell side” and the “buy side”.  He is an ex-Navy officer and holds degrees from Princeton University, The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, and the Executive MBA Program of Loyola College.