Thomas Norris, Jr.
About Thomas Norris, Jr.
Thomas Norris, Jr. serves as the Director of Continuous Improvement at Chobani, where he leads a team focused on enhancing operational efficiency. He has extensive experience in various roles across multiple companies, including significant contributions to performance improvement and cost reduction initiatives.
Current Role at Chobani
Thomas Norris, Jr. serves as the Director of Continuous Improvement at Chobani, a position he has held since 2023. In this role, he leads a team of four global Continuous Improvement managers, focusing on enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness within the organization. Norris has implemented significant initiatives, including the construction of a Kaizen calendar and the facilitation of monthly focused events. These efforts have resulted in a notable $9 million improvement in site cost of goods sold.
Previous Experience at Siegwerk
Before joining Chobani, Thomas Norris worked at Siegwerk as the Global Head of Service Excellence from 2022 to 2023. During his tenure in Des Moines, Iowa, he was responsible for overseeing service excellence initiatives on a global scale. His leadership in this role contributed to the development and implementation of strategies aimed at improving operational performance.
Experience at Abbott
Norris served as the Operations Manager for the BinaxNOW Covid-19 Test Kit Manufacturing at Abbott from 2016 to 2022. Based in Abbott Park, Illinois, he managed operations during a critical period in public health. His experience in this role included overseeing manufacturing processes and ensuring the efficient production of testing kits.
Background in Lean Six Sigma
Thomas Norris has a robust background in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, having worked in various capacities that emphasize process improvement. He was a Black Belt at Sun Chemical from 2006 to 2011 and later served as a Master Black Belt at Boehringer Ingelheim from 2014 to 2016. His expertise in Lean Six Sigma has enabled him to implement key performance indicators and improve overall equipment effectiveness in previous roles.
Education and Expertise
Thomas Norris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his extensive career in operations management and continuous improvement. Norris has also trained and influenced global executive leadership teams through a change management curriculum, showcasing his commitment to professional development and organizational growth.