John Cook

Adjunct Professor

Operations and Supply Chain Management Department

Education:

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Ann Arbor

B.S. – Chemical Engineering/Forestry, 1983

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Master of Engineering, 1986

Teaching: Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Project Management Process Optimization, Process Design, Quality Systems, LEAN

Tell us a little bit about you.

I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Forestry from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. I continued my education at Western Michigan University at Kalamazoo and received a Master's degree in Engineering.

I worked for thirty years in the field of manufacturing. I was involved with the design, construction, start-up, and optimization of manufacturing at sites throughout the world. I led teams of professionals with an emphasis on product development and high volume manufacturing of consumer products. My scope included engineering and production with extensive collaboration with suppliers and design personnel from Corporate R&D. I also led Quality Improvement and Information Technologies teams to create world-class process monitoring systems.

I retired but got very bored and decided to start a new career in teaching. I use my knowledge developed from working in private industry to give students real-life, practical techniques in operations management, supply chain management, project management, process optimization, quality control, and LEAN. I continue to consult with consumer products companies which allows me to stay aligned with the latest management techniques.

What excites you about the MBA program?

I like that the MBA students come in with a wealth of knowledge to share. This allows us to have detailed discussions on critical topics. I encourage students to share experiences with the topics being taught, which allows the entire class to learn from one another. I appreciate it when I have students say they were able to apply something they learned in the class. My goal is to teach students skills that will make them successful. When I hear they are using the materials learned in class I am very pleased.

What projects are you working on now?

Currently I am helping a consumer products company improve bath tissue production. I am also helping to design a new winery in Northern California. I just finished my certificate for ACUE teaching to optimize my teaching skills. Now I am working on another certificate for advanced techniques in remote learning.

What was your first job?

My first job was washing dishes in a restaurant. If you ever want a strong incentive to go to college, wash dished for six months! I was also a Park Ranger in the Rocky Mountains and a professional logger in Northern Michigan. This gave me a strong appreciation for the environment and the outdoors.

What would your students say about you?

Most of my students would say I am passionate about process improvement and I love teaching. I get excited when I get to share new techniques with my students. The focus in my classes is on teaching practical techniques for improvement of any business. I believe my students would say they are taking the techniques learned in class and are using them in their jobs today and throughout their entire careers.

What is your best advice for someone building their career?

Find something you are passionate about and make it your career. If you can do this, you will always be exciting about your job!