Joshua Howell is president and executive team leader at the Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI). Howell was an architect and implementer of a lean operating system for retail stores at Starbucks Coffee Company, where he also created a team of lean coaches who helped facilitate and sustain the transformation globally. The system enabled improved quality for products and experiences, increased product availability, and reduced waste (eg. brewed coffee). It was implemented by creating “problem-solving experiences” for managers at all levels, developing that critical capability enterprise-wide.
As senior coach, Howell supports co-learning partnerships across a variety of sectors, most notably retail, restaurants, and construction. He designs and facilitates hands-on learning experiences that develop capability for practices like work improvement, skill building, and A3-based problem solving. Through direct involvement in lean transformation efforts, he conducts research into the implementation of lean business systems. Howell holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.
