Miami recognized for best practices in use of lean methodology

Al Ryan and Carol Hauser receive award for use of lean methodology.

Miami University's use of lean methodology earned second place in the Central Association of College & University Business Officers' (CACUBO's) Best Practices Award recognition.

CACUBO sponsored the competition as part of its continuing effort to create better, more efficient and customer friendly business practices within its membership institutions.

CACUBO awarded second place and $1,500 to Carol Hauser, associate vice president for human resources, and Al Ryan, director of lean initiatives at Miami.  Their submission was “Facing Challenging Times by Creating an Engaged Culture and Embracing Systemic Change through Lean Methodologies.”  

Miami’s division of finance and business services utilized lean methodology to increase revenue, lower costs, avoid unnecessary spending, increase productivity and develop metrics for measuring productivity and adopt sustainable practices.  To date Miami has increased revenue by $2 million, reduced costs by $4.1 million, and avoided $7.5 million in other costs.

CACUBO is one of four regional associations making up the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO). It has 606 member institutions/organizations that include 548 higher education institutions, 47 corporations and 11 other organizations from 28 participating states.