Transportation Insight Invests in Transformational Solutions with Second Shingo Prize Leader

HICKORY, N.C., Feb. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationally-recognized third-party logistics (3PL) provider Transportation Insight announces the hire of Jo Ann Sharp, the second Shingo Prize Examiner to join the enterprise's LEAN Solutions team. The addition of another LEAN leader with Shingo Prize credentials differentiates Transportation Insight in the logistics industry. The organization is growing its LEAN intellectual capital to help manufacturers, retailers and distributors transform their end-to-end supply chains.

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"Beyond providing exceptional supply chain management services, we want to invest in true continuous improvement partnerships with our clients," says Paul Thompson, Founder and Chairman of Transportation Insight. "Jo Ann's knowledge and experience strengthens our commitment to exceed client expectations with best-in-class solutions that provide long-term value."

Sharp brings over 20 years of experience in manufacturing process improvement, having spent her entire career focused on continuous improvement methodologies and the implementation of these concepts. As a Shingo Prize examiner, Sharp participated in more than 20 site visits and led her Freudenberg-NOK site to receive the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence in 2003.  

"We feel like we have taken a huge step forward in our future-state," says Eric Lail, Vice President of Continuous Improvement at Transportation Insight and Vice President of LEAN Performance Solutions at sister company, Total Insight. "Jo Ann brings a wealth of knowledge in LEAN and Six-Sigma practices. Her expertise is now going to be shared with our team and our clients."

Prior to joining Total Insight, Sharp acted as Director of Business Excellence Education at Dell, Inc., where she was responsible for leading a team of LEAN Sigma Training professionals in deploying training for all global operations. Sharp also directed the North Carolina Shingo Prize administered by N.C. State, where she was able to educate and coach companies across North Carolina on their LEAN journey. 

Sharp's addition to the LEAN Performance Solutions team expands on their strong leadership, ensuring that Total Insight continues to provide clients with a Wholistic Path™ to excellence for positive and lasting change. Total Insight provides full service support for strategic execution, continuous improvement and cultural enhancement.

"Through my entire career I have been a student, teacher and practitioner of continuous improvement," says Sharp. "Joining the Transportation Insight family has given me a unique forum to apply this methodology to the extended supply chain."

This approach of extended supply chain optimization is referred to as Extended LEAN™ and is designed to take companies from tactical to transformational by focusing on process improvement both inside and outside the four walls of a facility. Manufacturers and suppliers will have an opportunity to learn about Extended LEAN when Transportation Insight presents at IndustryWeek's Best Plants Conference in Greenville, SC on April 22-24, 2013. Using the Extended LEAN approach, Transportation Insight gives clients something not commonly found in LEAN or logistics communities.

About Transportation Insight, LLC

Transportation Insight is a global lead logistics provider with more than $1.4 billion in supply chain spend under management. For over a decade, the 3PL has partnered with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to achieve significant cost savings, reduce cycle times and improve customer satisfaction rates by providing customized supply chain solutions. Transportation Insight offers a Co-managed Logistics™ form of 3PL, carrier sourcing, freight bill audit and payment services, state-of-the-art transportation management system (TMS) applications, and business intelligence. Its logistics services include domestic transportation, international transportation, warehouse sourcing, LEAN consulting and supply chain sourcing of indirect materials. For more about Transportation Insight, visit www2.transportationinsight.com/PRnewswire.  

About Total Insight, LLC
Total Insight designs customized, enterprise-wide LEAN solutions to help businesses navigate turbulent economic times while also improving operation performance, execution strategies and corporate culture. By combining LEAN principles with a non-invasive, diagnostic approach, Total Insight helps companies maximize profit by removing waste, reducing costs, streamlining processes and achieving supply chain excellence. By taking the Wholistic Path™ to excellence, organizations can achieve positive and lasting change within the extended supply chain. For more information about Total Insight, visit www.totalinsight.com.

Contact: Lisa Santos Farley - Manager Public Relations and Marketing
Phone: 828-485-5000 Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Transportation Insight