The Leadership Roadmap

Russell "Russ" Scaffede is one of America's most knowledgeable and successful leaders of lean manufacturing operations. A former Toyota manufacturing executive, Russ has been the chief operating architect of the successful lean transformations at Donnelly Corporation and Tiara Yachts, and he is a former chairman of the Shingo Prize board of advisors. Russ is a much sought-after speaker and consultant on lean manufacturing implementation. He stands out from many well-known lean disciples because he is a strong hands-on manufacturing leader, and his experience far transcends book learning and outside consulting. Russ has actually led successful lean transformations as the leading operating executive of manufacturing organizations.

Russ joined Toyota as general manager of Powertrain Operations at Georgetown, Kentucky, in 1988, after almost 20 years with General Motors (GM). He spent the next several years learning deeply from Toyota's most experienced operational leaders and visiting many high-performing lean manufacturing sites, as he studied the much-admired Toyota Production System (TPS) in great depth. Russ's powerful ability to implement lean in U.S. operations is based on his unique opportunity to dissect and understand TPS in detail, after he had spent years mastering GM's oldline mass production systems. He also developed his understanding of the critical missing process in most lean manufacturing implementations, which is the integration of a truly participative people-based belief system utilizing the tools for continuous improvement.
He was recruited to Donnelly, where he led manufacturing operations for 7 years, followed by his 4-year assignment at Tiara Yachts. When Toyota organized a tier-one interior trim group in the America's (Toyota Boshoku America), Russ was recruited to lead Manufacturing Production Control, Manufacturing Engineering, and the TPS implementation operations. He recently retired from that assignment, and taught part time at the University of Michigan's "Lean Certification Program" as well as consulting for various organizations.

Russ lives in Holland, Michigan, with his wife. He has two children and three grandchildren.


Dwane Baumgardner served his career at Donnelly Corporation for 44 years, which included 24 years as chairman/CEO and 7 years as president and CEO.
During this time Donnelly Corporation grew in sales from $30 million to $950 million; expanded globally from 3 to 26 facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and China; and became widely known as the market leader focused on customers, technology, and people as critical success factors.
The Donnelly commitment to people resulted in the company becoming nationally known as a leader in the practice of participative management long before participative management became the popular thing to do. During this period the company was recognized in two editions of the book The Top 100 Companies to Work for in America, and in one edition made the top 10.
Another major milestone achieved was the world-class capability in lean manufacturing Russ Scaffede brought to the company and how he effectively integrated it with the Donnelly participative management system to produce a truly industry-leading business system. With Russ's leadership the company has received much recognition including the Society of Automotive Engineers rating it as a benchmark standard in lean manufacturing.

During his career, Dwane is most proud of the many achievements made by the people and teams of Donnelly Corporation, and his opportunity to be part of the team. He has served on four additional corporate boards and is currently retired in Holland, Michigan, with his wife. They have four children and five grandchildren.