George Rofail
George Rofail
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson (Ohio, US), Certified Energy Auditor, Certified Energy Manager, B.Eng., MBA
Languages
He has a strong educational background with a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from Penn State University. He also has formal training in Lean Six Sigma from Ohio State University and University of Tennessee.
George has made impactful improvements with employers including Ford Motor Company, Sherwin-Williams, KeyBank, Cummins Engine Company, and Signet Jewelers.
George has a unique ability to identify true root causes and implement realistic improvements that can be better sustained.
George was raised in an entrepreneur family with a small business in retail and real estate. He has used his technical ability along with his family roots in his ownership of four Cleveland area restaurants and transitioned into a new start-up business in property management.
Manufacturing
5+ Years of Experience
Tool & Die
George spent two years at Wyman-Gordon, a division of Precision CastParts specializing in die forging for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications. His work focused on improving die wear on forging presses, optimizing performance and longevity. He also developed die storage procedures and a database to enhance organization and efficiency. Additionally, George addressed various quality issues, implementing solutions to reduce forging defects. He introduced a scrap walk initiative, fostering awareness among team members and management to drive continuous improvement. Through these efforts, George contributed to enhancing process reliability, quality control, and operational efficiency within the manufacturing environment.
Automotive
George served as Reliability Engineering Manager for three years at the Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant in New York within the automotive industry, overseeing 1,000-hour engine reliability tests, emissions testing and compliance, engine teardown audits, back dock inspections, and warranty reduction projects. He also played a key role in emergency quality committees, ensuring swift resolution of critical issues.
Additionally, George worked at Ford Motor Company’s newly established Aluminum Casting Plant in Cleveland, tackling startup challenges, including improving engine head saw reliability. His expertise in quality control, reliability testing, and process optimization contributed to enhancing operational efficiency and product performance.
Chemicals
George served as Regional Continuous Improvement Manager at Sherwin-Williams, earning CI Manager of the Year in 2010. As an early adopter of Lean Manufacturing, he played a pivotal role in implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies across 17 domestic chemical manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
He conducted Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training and developed Lean and Kaizen Event training materials, many of which remain in use today. George also standardized Value Stream Mapping across all manufacturing sites, serving as the company’s subject matter expert. He traveled extensively, mentoring project leaders and leading Kaizen Events to drive continuous improvement.
Machinery & Equipment
George worked for two years at Wyman-Gordon, a division of Precision CastParts, specializing in die forging for the aerospace, automotive, and medical industries. His work focused on improving die wear on forging presses, optimizing die storage procedures, and developing a die database for better organization and efficiency.
In addition, George played a key role in reducing forging defects by addressing various quality issues and implementing process improvements. He also developed a scrap walk initiative, increasing awareness among team members and management to enhance quality control and minimize waste.
Service/Transactional
11+ Years of Experience
Banking
George worked at KeyBank, the 18th largest U.S. bank, as a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and corporate Six Sigma trainer. In this role, he redesigned the Lean Six Sigma training program and successfully implemented it across all bank divisions, ensuring consistency and effectiveness.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by project leaders, George also developed and introduced Lean PDCA, a tailored training program that became widely adopted within the organization. This initiative provided practical, customized solutions, equipping teams with the tools needed to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence across KeyBank.
Retail
George worked at Signet Jewelers, one of the largest retail jewelry businesses in the U.S., with brands including Kay’s, Jared, Diamonds Direct, and Zales. In his role, he developed customized training programs tailored to address the specific challenges faced by Signet’s project leaders.
These targeted training initiatives enabled teams to identify inefficiencies, streamline operations, and drive process improvements, resulting in millions of dollars in cost savings and additional revenue for the company. Through his expertise in Lean Six Sigma and continuous improvement, George played a key role in enhancing operational performance across Signet’s retail and corporate divisions.
Education
George served as a Six Sigma Green Belt trainer and mentor at Cuyahoga Community College – Corporate College, where he guided professionals through process improvement methodologies. His work included mentoring project leaders and facilitating training sessions to enhance operational efficiency.
Many of his projects focused on the healthcare industry, where he helped organizations streamline workflows and reduce waste using Lean Six Sigma principles. Through his expertise, George equipped professionals with the tools and strategies needed to drive meaningful improvements in their respective organizations.
Other Service Sectors
George has owned and operated four restaurants in the Cleveland area, successfully managing all aspects of the business. At its peak, his restaurant group employed 80 team members and generated over $3 million in annual sales. His hands-on leadership in operations, customer service, and financial management contributed to the sustained success of his establishments.
In 2020, George expanded his entrepreneurial pursuits by founding a real estate company, which has since grown into one of Cleveland’s largest property management firms, overseeing 1,100+ units. His strategic approach to business development and operational efficiency has been key to the company’s rapid growth.