About Us
Daniel Garner
President & Founder – OpEx in Action
Executive Lean Leader
Daniel Garner is a transformational executive and Lean thought leader with over 25 years of experience driving operational excellence and enterprise-wide business transformation for Fortune 50 companies, including Raytheon Technologies, United Technologies Corporation, and Owens & Minor. As the Founder and President of OpEx in Action, Daniel brings his deep expertise in Lean Operating Systems, strategy deployment, and cultural change to help organizations accelerate growth, improve decision-making, and achieve sustainable results.
Daniel has designed and deployed high-impact Lean Management Systems across complex global operations, embedding practices such as Tiered Accountability, Gemba Walks, Visual Management, and Leader Standard Work.
A recognized authority in Hoshin Kanri (Policy Deployment), he has led strategic planning processes that align corporate vision with daily execution, enabling cross-functional teams to deliver breakthrough results with focus and discipline. Throughout his career, Daniel has coached teams and executive leaders through KPI development, value stream transformation, and organizational turnaround including the recovery of a $250M customer account and $140M in capital cost avoidance. His work has spanned aerospace, healthcare, and distribution, building and maturing continuous improvement cultures from the ground up.
Daniel has led hundreds of Kaizen events and VSM sessions and developed enterprise training programs that empower leaders to execute with clarity, alignment, and purpose. He holds advanced degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Lean Master Practitioner, and Change Management Leader.
At OpEx in Action, Daniel serves as the strategic engine behind every engagement, bringing unmatched energy, empathy, and excellence to help organizations transform how they operate—and thrive. He is a passionate advocate for focusing on the process, not the people, when solving problems—an approach that builds trust, accelerates learning, and empowers teams to create lasting, positive change.
Key Highlights
- Founder and Principal Consultant of Opex in Action
- Expertise in Lean Management, Shopfloor Management, and Digital Transformation
- Proven track record of leading Kaizen events and Value Stream Analysis to enhance productivity
- Achieved a 30% reduction in production cycle times, driving cost savings of $140 million
- Skilled in coaching and mentoring leadership teams to instill a culture of continuous improvement
- Advocate for innovative, customer-centric solutions that drive long-term success.
Meet the Team
Miroslav Vrvic
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Operational Excellence
With over 20 years of global experience, Miroslav Vrvic is a seasoned Operational Excellence leader and Continuous Improvement strategist with a proven track record of driving transformative changes across manufacturing, biotechnology, and supply chain industries. A certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and servant leader at heart, Miroslav has successfully led more than 200 Kaizen events worldwide, delivering measurable outcomes in productivity, quality, and cost reduction.
Miroslav’s leadership is defined by his ability to build high-performing, cross-functional teams and instill a culture of data-driven decision-making, collaboration, and innovation. His expertise spans Lean transformations, Real-Time Problem Resolution (RTPR), Value Stream Mapping, and strategic planning methods such as Hoshin Kanri. Notably, his projects have led to significant operational breakthroughs, including over $100M in inventory reduction and a 30% improvement in First Pass Yield.
From executive roles in multinational corporations like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Collins Aerospace to his entrepreneurial ventures in bioremediation, Miroslav blends hands-on experience with strategic vision. He brings a rare ability to bridge global business strategy with local execution, making him an invaluable advisor to organizations seeking sustainable growth and operational excellence.
At OpEx in Action, Miroslav brings his deep expertise and mentorship to our clients and teams alike, championing the belief that people are the driving force behind every successful transformation.
Josh Schramm
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Strategic Operations & Continuous Improvement
Josh Schramm is a dynamic operations leader and certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with over 15 years of experience driving large-scale transformation across manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare sectors. Known for his results-oriented approach and strategic mindset, Josh has successfully led multi-million-dollar initiatives that enhance efficiency, increase capacity, and improve profitability across global organizations.
Currently serving as Director of Continuous Improvement at Owens & Minor, Josh leads cross-functional teams to optimize supply chain and distribution operations. His work has delivered measurable impact—including a $40M logistics consolidation strategy and a 300% production output increase through Lean-driven Kaizen events. Prior to this role, Josh held multiple leadership positions at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he spearheaded productivity programs, cost takeout strategies, and value stream management across multiple business units.
With an MBA in Operations and a diverse portfolio of certifications, including PPI Master Mentor, OMPower Lean Certification, and multiple Lean Six Sigma designations, Josh brings both technical rigor and executive-level insight into his work. He is adept at strategy deployment, ERP/WMS implementation, and aligning improvement programs with long-term business goals.
At OpEx in Action, Josh partners with clients as a trusted advisor, guiding strategic initiatives and cultural transformations through data-driven decision-making and a relentless focus on results. He is passionate about empowering teams, simplifying complexity, and creating systems that deliver sustainable success.
Outside of work, Josh serves as a firefighter and EMT, demonstrating his commitment to service, teamwork, and community impact.
Michele Menegotto
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Lean Transformation & Cultural Change
Michele Menegotto is a passionate Lean leader and Six Sigma expert with over 17 years of experience driving transformational change across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, chemicals, oil and gas, and private equity. Known for her energetic problem-solving approach and dedication to building Lean culture, Michele has successfully led more than 200 kaizens and improvement events across the globe.
Michele’s career spans key leadership roles in renowned organizations such as Prime Natural Resources, Graftech (USA and Brazil), Dow Chemical, and Next Level Partners®. Her areas of expertise include Lean Daily Management, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Problem Solving, Standard Work, SMED, 3P, TPM, Mistake Proofing, and Six Sigma-based variation reduction. She has also driven performance in transactional and new product development environments, bringing structure, speed, and sustainability to operational change.
Fluent in English and Portuguese, and conversational in Spanish, Michele brings a global mindset and cultural agility to every engagement. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from UFGRS and an MBA in Business Administration from FGV in Brazil.
At OpEx in Action, Michele brings deep technical knowledge and a practical, people-first approach to Lean transformation. She partners with organizations to create sustainable improvement systems, foster leadership engagement, and unlock the full potential of their teams.
Chris Ramsey
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Operational Excellence & Quality Systems
Chris Ramsey is a transformative Operational Excellence and Quality leader with more than 20 years of experience driving strategic and cultural change in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, and industrial operations. A certified Lean Master, Six Sigma Black Belt, and seasoned change agent, Chris has led enterprise-wide Lean deployments, quality transformations, and Factory 4.0 initiatives that have delivered hundreds of millions in operational savings and performance gains.
Chris’s leadership journey includes pivotal roles at Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon Technologies, Char-Boil (gas grills), and NCR Corporation, where he led large-scale transformations in production, quality, and supply chain. He has successfully implemented Lean operating systems, trained and certified thousands of employees in continuous improvement practices, and developed high-impact leadership training that has scaled across business units. His strategic efforts have led to a 45% increase in productivity, 50% inventory reduction, and $100M+ in cost avoidance.
As Director of Quality and Operational Excellence at Denim North America, Chris currently champions Lean culture, product quality, and process efficiency through cross-functional alignment and real-time metrics integration. Known for building high-trust relationships across all levels of the organization, Chris thrives at the intersection of strategic planning, technical execution, and cultural transformation.
Chris holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Southern Illinois University and has earned a Master Certificate in Lean Manufacturing from the University of Michigan. At OpEx in Action, Chris brings a pragmatic, hands-on approach to solving complex challenges, empowering clients to unlock performance, embed excellence, and sustain results.
Jacob Humphrey
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Logistics & Resource Optimization
Jacob Humphrey is a seasoned logistics and supply chain professional with a strong track record of driving operational excellence across healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation industries. Currently serving as a Customer Advisory Services Specialist at Owens & Minor, Jacob partners with cross-functional teams and executive leadership to streamline hospital logistics, optimize supply chain performance, and elevate the customer experience through data-driven solutions.
With a background in Lean methodologies, KPI management, and continuous improvement, Jacob brings a sharp analytical lens to every initiative. His work has directly contributed to improved efficiency, reduced waste, and enhanced service levels within complex healthcare environments. Prior to his current role, he led strategic production planning and supply chain optimization efforts in the manufacturing sector and served as an Operations Analyst in transportation, where he honed his expertise in process standardization and system thinking.
Jacob holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Practitioner, equipping him to lead with both precision and purpose. As a trusted advisor to OpEx in Action, Jacob supports clients navigating logistics challenges with practical insights, innovative thinking, and a passion for continuous improvement.
Outside of work, Jacob is dedicated to lifelong learning and actively gives back to his community—reflecting the same servant leadership principles that guide his professional journey.
Lori Buchanan
Lean Practitioner & Partnering Consultant
Commercial Operations, Strategy Enablement & Continuous Improvement
Lori Buchanan is a collaborative and people-focused leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformation across commercial operations, sales enablement, and continuous improvement in Fortune 500 organizations. Known for blending analytical thinking with creativity, she builds frameworks that provide structure while flexing to meet dynamic business needs—helping teams deliver meaningful, measurable results.
Lori’s career spans a broad range of leadership roles at Owens & Minor, where she led commercial operations, business transformation, and process improvement initiatives across an $8B enterprise. Her work included designing sales operations frameworks, embedding Lean business systems, developing KPI management tools, and leading organizational alignment efforts that improved engagement, productivity, and margin performance. She also guided cross-functional teams through strategic planning and system implementation, fostering collaboration between commercial, product, and service teams to achieve shared outcomes.
A certified Lean practitioner and continuous improvement leader, Lori brings deep expertise in strategic enablement, change management, and performance systems that turn complex challenges into clear, actionable strategies. Her approach emphasizes empathy, clarity, and empowerment—helping leaders and teams align purpose with process to create results that last.
Lori holds a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, along with a Lean Specialist certification from Rath & Strong, OMPower Partner certification from Owens & Minor, and executive leadership training through the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
At OpEx in Action, Lori partners with clients as a trusted advisor—simplifying complexity, building alignment, and enabling organizations to achieve sustained improvement and lasting impact.
Our Mission
At Opex in Action, our mission is to empower businesses to achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence through the principles of Lean. We strive to simplify complex processes, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and deliver measurable results that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and drive innovation. By partnering with our clients, we create actionable strategies that translate into lasting success and added value to the customer.
Our Vision
To be the trusted leader in Lean Consulting and Operational Excellence, empowering businesses worldwide to unlock their full potential. We envision a future where every organization operates with optimal efficiency, delivers exceptional value to its customers, and thrives through a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. At Opex in Action, we believe in a world where continuous improvement is the cornerstone of every successful organization.
See why our clients trust us
Testimonials
Genuine stories of trust and excellence.
Marko M.
“Opex in Action’s Lean consulting services exceeded our expectations. Their team helped us eliminate inefficiencies and implement sustainable processes. The results were immediate – our operations are now more streamlined, productive, and aligned with our goals.”
Robin L.
“Partnering with Opex in Action was one of the best decisions we’ve made. Their expertise in Lean methodology empowered our team, driving continuous improvement and enhancing operational efficiency. Our productivity has never been higher!”
Robert J.
“The team at Opex in Action provided exceptional guidance throughout our Lean transformation. Their tailored strategies helped us reduce waste and improve workflow, leading to measurable improvements in performance. We’re seeing lasting results across the board.”
Alex D.
“Opex in Action delivered impactful training and coaching that transformed our operations. They helped us build a culture of continuous improvement, which is now embedded in our daily practices. We’re proud of our progress and results.”