Kevin Flynn

Kevin started his career as a mechanical engineer at a major integrated steel manufacturer in Hamilton, Ontario.  While there he obtained an MBA at night school while managing technical projects and developing his ability to work effectively with people.  By the time he left Dofasco to pursue a career in management consulting he had been promoted to be manager of his department’s technology group.

He started his management consulting career at Carpedia Group International, a start-up firm that eventually grew to over 50 consultants with clients in Asia, North America and Europe. During his tenure at Carpedia he rose to the level of Operations Director where he sold and delivered all of his own client engagements.  In this role he was responsible for as many as seven concurrent profit improvement projects in many different industries.  He taught and installed a wide range of management techniques including Lean manufacturing in every area of business from Sales and Marketing through to Accounts Receivable and all stops in between.  For his contribution in helping to build the firm he was elected to the company’s Results Council on three separate occasions.

Kevin left Carpedia to assume the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Superior Machine and Tool, an automotive supplier with customers that included Toyota, Honda and the “big 3” automakers.  Under his leadership the company grew the Mexican market to over 80% of revenue, and established a supply chain throughout Korea and China.  The management systems he put in place were described by the ISO auditors as “benchmarks in this and any other industry.”

Kevin left that role to found his own consulting company shortly before the recent global recession changed the rules for everyone.  While the need for improvement services was at an unprecedented high, plunging revenues and an across-the-board reluctance to spend limited capital on anything other than “keeping the lights on” meant that few firms were willing to pay for traditional consulting services.  In response to this opportunity Kevin turned his Lean microscope on his own company.  By listening to the Voice of the Customer (VOC) and aggressively challenging every preconceived notion of Value, he was able to bring to market a unique suite of Lean management consulting solutions.  This unique approach costs a tenth of what conventional consulting engagements do, and virtually eliminates all of the frustration frequently associated with “consultants.”

Kevin remains the founder of MSA Management Consulting Inc. with offices in Canada and the United States.  The firm is based on what Kevin refers to as the three R’s of management consulting; Respect for Results, Respect for Clients and Respect for Each other.  Unlike traditional consulting firms MSA minimizes the role of the consultant by helping its clients leverage the knowledge of their own people.  Kevin and his associates have helped deliver Lean solutions in diverse industries ranging from Healthcare, Government and IT.  Clients range from owner operators up to and including Hewlett-Packard, Accenture and the Ontario government.

Kevin has firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities facing today’s organizations.  And he brings to the table many business-related skills, hands-on experience, and a humble passion to achieve results.