John Grover – MassMEP Employee Highlights

John Grover is one of MassMEP’s Project Manager’s that has joined the organization in 2021. “It’s been great so far! We go out to local manufacturers and help them to eliminate waste and improve their bottom line. We do that by teaching Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, SMED, and other training like Front Line Supervisor. We start by observing and conducting an assessment of where they are and to get a feel for the flow, how material moves, and how the workers are working. This helps us to identify what we need to train in and where our focus should be. It also allows us to customize our training to their needs. Once our initial training is completed, we can continue with other products as well.”

There are many ways that MassMEP personnel have found their way to the organization, and John’s path was through LinkedIn. “My resume was matched up with the job description. I interviewed with about 6 different people, and it seemed like a great fit. It is a great opportunity for me to share my manufacturing knowledge and skill. I’ve been in manufacturing since 1982, where I started at Parker Hannafin and put in 20 years. I started on the shop floor where my first job was picking burrs out of parts. After I learned that job, I started machining. Following that I got into lead roles in sub-assembly, assembly, wet paint, and powder coat. In the early 90’s, I got a lean position because of things I had been doing on my own. So I’ve now been doing 26 years of lean implementations. I went to Cornwall, England and got some training there with a sensei named Jeff White. After I spent some time there, I came back and worked with our president, who was a big lean/six sigma guy, and did a lot of events with him. Then it got so I was doing them on my own.”

“I really like going out and working with people. For example, getting people off the shop floor, you’ll see a huge difference between the time you start the event and time that you end. Then when they go back out to the shop floor and the process is better, so their job is easier.”

What is John up to outside work hours? John shares, “One thing I do is play drums, at home and with friends sometimes. I also like old cars so sometimes I work on them. My wife and I also enjoy spending time on the beach, just having a relaxing time in the sand.”

How well do you know John? Two of these statements are true and one is not. Can you guess which one?

• I’ve owned three ‘69 Camaro’s in my life.
• I played in a rock band called Chain in the 80’s and 90’s.
• My first flight was to Cornwall, England.