Austin English is president of RCF Associates and is an expert in improving operational performance by implementing Lean Enterprise concepts and practices. Austin’s successful line operations experience in manufacturing is the basis of his ability to convert business theories into practical bottom-line solutions. His twenty five years of managing change enable him to foresee problems and assist clients in avoiding potential pitfalls. He has helped transform various organizations in multiple industries as diverse as refrigeration, HVAC, healthcare, consumer goods, construction, aerospace and shipbuilding.
For over nine years with United Technologies Corporation, Austin embraced and applied Lean Enterprise concepts as he progressed through management roles in Strategy, Materials and Operations in a career that included General Manager with P&L responsibilities of a Pratt & Whitney business unit. This provided Austin an opportunity to apply Lean tools and concepts on a total enterprise basis. Under his leadership, each unit improved from a critical bottleneck to a showcase of efficient processes and significantly improved customer satisfaction. Austin left UTC to become Senior Vice President of Operations at Crutchfield Corporation. There he applied the same continuous improvement tools to the significantly dissimilar environment of retail electronics. This breadth of experience has proven Austin’s ability to produce and improve customer focused products in most any type of environment from the design center to the sales group. In each of these instances, he has embraced the same philosophy – spotlight the customers’ needs, define the products and then focus on the process.
Austin founded RCF Associates Incorporated in 2001. He has built the firm’s reputation by applying the same concepts in his business that he advocates in his clients’ businesses. He focuses on creating value for his clients through practical, custom solutions that are immediately implemented. He has been engaged to improve manufacturing, distribution, engineering, finance, human resources and sourcing processes. English’s clients have consistently become satisfied repeat customers.
Austin is a graduate of the Unites States Merchant Marine Academy where he excelled in academic, athletic, and class leadership endeavors. He graduated with a BS in Marine Transportation, a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve and a US Coast Guard license. From the University of Virginia, he earned an MBA at the Darden Graduate School of Business and an MA in Foreign Affairs at the School of Arts & Sciences. He has also received training from the premier Lean Enterprise training institutes. He has frequently spoken, as a Lean expert, at academic institutions and industry conferences. He is also a Visiting Executive Lecturer at the Darden Graduate School of Business.
A native of Georgia, Austin lived all over the United States prior to settling with his wife and two children in Charlottesville, Virginia. He enjoys woodworking, organized sports and outdoor activities with his family.
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