About Bob Emiliani
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I worked in industry for 15 years and had management responsibility in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain management at Pratt & Whitney. I was also part of a team responsible for implementing Toyota Production System principles and practices in my manufacturing business unit and later in the small machined parts supply chain at Pratt & Whitney.
Subsequently, I became a full-time professor for 23 years. I now hold the honorary title of Professor Emeritus. I am a prolific, versatile, and award-winning writer whose books and papers span engineering, business, social sciences, and humanities.
My work is widely recognized, and I have received praised for being a unique voice and a creative thinker. My goal is to help manufacturing company leaders improve how their business operates from the executive office to the shop and office floor. Learn more about me here.
Trusted Advisor & Coach
Who am I?
A practitioner-scholar. I have management work experience in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain management in the aerospace industry (Pratt & Whitney). And I am also a scholar who has spent 30 years carefully studying the most persistent leadership and management problems in organizations and finding practical solutions.
How am I different?
I have built a huge body of influential work in leadership and management and a range of related knowledge that is unlike others. Most executive advisors are either practitioners or scholars. I am both — and that is rare.
What I do.
I advise and coach small- and mid-size business leaders. I do that by applying an engineer’s diagnostic eye to help leaders find solutions to recurring socio-technical business problems. The goal is to continuously improve organizational effectiveness so that the company and employees can grow and prosper together.
How I can help you.
My role is to help company leaders become more effective, calmer, less stressed, more confident, and develop a more engaged workforce. I help improve the quality of decision-making and develop leaders to expand their range of capabilities.
Leaders come to me because I am practical, an original thinker who speaks plainly, and great at helping business leaders solve problems.
Let's get started! Schedule time with me via Google Meet.
Strengthening Companies Through Trust, Learning, and Improvement
When I was manager of the small machined parts business unit at Pratt & Whitney, I did not manage relationships with suppliers the way my colleagues did.
Ninety-nine percent our first-, second-, and third-tier suppliers were local – north and south from Westfield, Massachusetts to Middlefield, Connecticut, and east and west from Glastonbury, Connecticut to New Britain, Connecticut.
I visited all the machine shops, the heat treaters, welders, casters, forgers, platers, shot-peeners, etc. I developed relationships with the owners to solve problems they had with us and with their business. They taught me a lot.
When there were problems, I did not demand that the owner come to my office to receive a scolding. I went to them to understand the situation, not to blame them for the problem.
Unlike my bosses, I respected the owners and viewed Pratt & Whitney’s local supply base of small- and mid-size businesses as a precious resource to work closely with for business improvement, mutual benefit, and survival.
As a leadership advisor and coach, I have the same view today. I want to bring that philosophy to – plus 30 years of knowledge about leadership, management, and improvement.
Lead Better. Decide Better. Worry Less.
Let's Make Life at Work Better!
Elevate your leadership team and company-wide processes through expert advising and coaching tailored for small and mid-size companies.
Get This Book!
"As a machine shop owner in Birmingham, AL., I found this book practical and easy to apply. It's not theory, it is real leadership for a job shop & small businesses. It covers how to set clear expectations, build accountability without drama, and create a culture where quality and safety stay consistent even when the shop is busy. What I like most is the focus on systems and daily habits, not just motivation. It helped me think about how to lead better, train better, and grow without everything depending on me. I'd recommend it to any small manufacturing owner or small business leader or owner in any field who wants steady growth and a stronger team." – Cindy
"This book stands out because it is written by someone who is actually in the trenches of small manufacturing. It is not theory or generic leadership talk. It is real-world experience translated into clear, practical lessons you can apply immediately. The author does an excellent job connecting leadership, culture, accountability, and daily operations – especially in job-shop and fabrication environments where complexity and pressure are constant. Topics like responsibility, communication, mindset, and continuous improvement are explained in a straightforward way that feels authentic and earned." – Andrew M.
Get copies for the management team from Amazon or local bookstore. Just $12!
Leadership and Management Books
For Leaders at Every Level
Read · Reflect · Improve
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