Dave Rizzardo
Dave Rizzardo received his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University in 1982. He worked in industry for 17 years in various positions focusing on quality/productivity improvement and the implementation of Lean Manufacturing principles. Dave joined Mtech, a program within the University of Maryland, in 1999 where he served as the Lean Services Manager for over 15 years. Currently he is an Associate Director of the Maryland World Class Consortia (MWCC) and founder of Lean Peer Groups & Consulting LLC.
Dave’s career began as a Manufacturing Engineer with AMP, Incorporated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While there, he learned and applied Lean concepts through AMP’s Value Adding Manufacturing process and served as a VAM team leader. Following nine years at AMP, he obtained a Project Engineering position with Becton Dickinson in Sparks, Maryland where his major responsibilities included developing and improving manufacturing processes for Disposable Diagnostic Devices. Dave gained experience in applying Lean practices within an FDA/cGMP controlled environment while at BD. He then worked for Stewart Connector Systems, Incorporated in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. There, his primary responsibility was leading employee teams in the planning and implementation of SCS’s Lean manufacturing strategy.
In 1999, Dave joined Mtech in the Baltimore Office. As the Lean Services Manager, his area of concentration was the development of Lean training and implementation services. He assisted a diverse range of organizations in applying a Lean/Continuous Improvement strategy to effectively address each company’s unique situation and challenges. In 2012 he was co-developer of the Lean Peer Group service and has been facilitating multiple groups since that time. The focus of these groups is to help organizations develop a true Lean Culture of Continuous Improvement. Dave has lectured at the University of Maryland, and as adjunct faculty member for the Community College of Baltimore County he has taught “Introduction to Lean” and “Advanced Lean” courses.
Dave’s career began as a Manufacturing Engineer with AMP, Incorporated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. While there, he learned and applied Lean concepts through AMP’s Value Adding Manufacturing process and served as a VAM team leader. Following nine years at AMP, he obtained a Project Engineering position with Becton Dickinson in Sparks, Maryland where his major responsibilities included developing and improving manufacturing processes for Disposable Diagnostic Devices. Dave gained experience in applying Lean practices within an FDA/cGMP controlled environment while at BD. He then worked for Stewart Connector Systems, Incorporated in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania. There, his primary responsibility was leading employee teams in the planning and implementation of SCS’s Lean manufacturing strategy.
In 1999, Dave joined Mtech in the Baltimore Office. As the Lean Services Manager, his area of concentration was the development of Lean training and implementation services. He assisted a diverse range of organizations in applying a Lean/Continuous Improvement strategy to effectively address each company’s unique situation and challenges. In 2012 he was co-developer of the Lean Peer Group service and has been facilitating multiple groups since that time. The focus of these groups is to help organizations develop a true Lean Culture of Continuous Improvement. Dave has lectured at the University of Maryland, and as adjunct faculty member for the Community College of Baltimore County he has taught “Introduction to Lean” and “Advanced Lean” courses.