Less-than-truckload carrier Con-way Freight has promoted Brian McGowan to the position of vice president of lean. In his new position, McGowan will direct the company-wide rollout of lean methodologies throughout the company’s service center network, as well as institute Lean processes for business functions including human resources, marketing, sales and maintenance.
“Lean is central to our strategy at Con-way Freight as we engage all employees in continuous improvement to provide the highest level of safe, responsive, and reliable service to our customers,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, president of Con-way Freight. “Brian and his team have played a critical role driving the effective adoption of lean, improving employee engagement, customer performance, and ultimately, company results. We look forward to his leadership as we continue to roll out Lean across the entire Con-way Freight network.”
McGowan has nearly 20 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industry. He began his professional career in 1994 with Ford Motor Co. in warehouse operations for the parts distribution organization. He subsequently advanced into supervisory roles, then as a warehouse and plant manager before becoming global planning manager for parts supply and logistics in 2004.
In 2006 he joined Menlo Worldwide Logistics, a sister company of Con-way Freight, as senior logistics manager-automotive, and later became director of operations. McGowan came to Con-way Freight in 2011 as director of operations for the Detroit region. A year later he was named senior director of Lean operations, his most recent assignment before being promoted this month to vice president.
