Bill Kraus

Bill Kraus

Manager of Client Services

Areas of Expertise

As a Manager Client Services with Arkansas Economic Development Commission Manufacturing Solutions (AEDC-MS), Bill’s current focus includes training, facilitating and coaching in the areas of Toyota Kata, Lean Manufacturing and Training Within Industry. In this capacity, he has worked with over 300 Arkansas companies during his time with AEDC-MS.

Education
  • MS, Engineering Administration
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • BS, Civil Engineering
    Christian Brothers University, Memphis
Delta Center for Economic Development

Arkansas State University
P.O. Box 2710
State University, AR 72467

Contact

Phone: (870) 680-8275
Mobile: (870) 897-5135
Fax: (870) 972-3806

Biography

Bill Kraus has nearly 50 years of direct hands on manufacturing experience. He spent 28 years with Monsanto Chemical Company, Engelhard Corporation and two privately held companies at Superintendent, General Manager and Vice President levels. His areas of responsibility involved construction, maintenance and manufacturing within 12 manufacturing plants across the U.S. In 1996, he joined the Arkansas Economic Development Commission Manufacturing Solutions NIST MEP team and began a career that afforded the opportunity to participate in world class manufacturing concepts including:

  • Certified Plexus ISO/QS-9000 trainer/coach
  • NIST MEP Certified Lean Manufacturing trainer
  • NIST MEP Certified Professional Business Advisor
  • Completed 4 weeks of ASQ/Six Sigma Academy Black Belt training
  • Passed the SME/AME/ASQ/Shingo Institute Lean Bronze Certification Exam
  • Senior Baldrige Examiner for the Arkansas Quality Award
  • Kaizen Event facilitator
  • Certified TWI Institute Job Instructions, Job Relations and Job Methods trainer
  • Toyota Kata (Improvement and Coaching) trainer/facilitator/coach
  • Association for Manufacturing Excellence Southeast Region immediate past President