Bob Emiliani

Dr. Bob Emiliani is an engineer, educator, management historian, trainer, and executive coach. Before entering academia, he spent 15 years in industry, holding management roles in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain operations.

A prolific and award-winning writer, his work spans engineering, business, the social sciences, and the humanities. He applies an engineer’s rigor to practical problems often overlooked by others, integrating insights from political economy, sociology, history, philosophy, and institutional analysis.

He has authored or co-authored 28 books and 45 peer-reviewed research papers across leadership, management, management history, supply chain management, higher education, and materials engineering.

His work on Lean management and Toyota's management system is distinguished by direct training under Chihiro Nakao and the original Shingijutsu sensei. He also helped implement TPS at Pratt & Whitney and its machining suppliers.

Following his industry career, he became a tenured professor, teaching leadership, supply chain management, strategy failure analysis, and research methods. He applied TPS principles to his teaching practice and is now professor emeritus.