About Lean Improve
When Downtime, Waste and Rising Costs Hold You Back —
Lean Improve Moves You Forward.
Founded by Brad Ahbe, an experienced Forging Industry executive, Lean Improve is your industrial manufacturing partner that gets on the floor and in the trenches of your business to help you streamline operations, improve efficiency, reduce costs and elevate quality and safety by utilizing the latest Lean/6-Sigma tools.
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Brad Ahbe brings 35 years of executive leadership, management and lean enterprise transformation, specializing in organizational and operational turnarounds and strategic growth to mid-tier industrial manufacturing organizations for preeminent operational dominance.
Brad Ahbe, Founder & CEO - Lean Improve
Why Lean Improve?
Proven Top and Bottom Line Growth
Experienced leadership that transformed an old-line forging business from survival mode into a world-class company recognized throughout the world as one of the best mid-sized forging companies in the world. A humble style that respects business customs and culture, we will work with you and your team to improve your enterprise.
Turnaround...
Proven turnaround results and achievements with previously underperforming businesses. Tapped to revive an underperforming subsidiary of Park Ohio, Kropp Forge, and responsible for exceeding growth and P&L projections in less than 6 months.
Lean/6-Sigma Implementation with an Employee Involvement Cultural Change
Implemented a culture of improvement that increased sales of Canton Drop Forge from $30 million to $120 million in 3-years while providing EBIT margins of over 10%. Canton Drop Forge was acquired by Park Ohio in 2018 and remained as one of its best performing businesses.
Global Supplier & Customer Networks
Expanded customer and supply chains globally to include networks, negotiations and contracts in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Customers and suppliers include well-known Fortune 100 companies.
Extensive Human Capital Experience
Developed an engaged workforce in an unionized environment with United Steel Workers,
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and Operating Engineers. Negotiated win-win solutions in difficult market situations.
Shareholder Returns & M&A
Led M&A of Canton Drop Forge and sale to publicly traded, Park Ohio, NASDAQ, in February 2018, and principal and investor in ACIG, a Denver-based investment and advisor group.