John E. Layden
President and CEO

While many have witnessed or been on the periphery of innovation, John Layden’s experience centers on it.  One of the founding fathers of the Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) industry, Layden brings profitable insight to challenges honed sharp in the trenches of manufacturing, distribution and its supporting infrastructure.  He is well-known in the industry for leading and assembling no-nonsense teams that identify profit-draining issues and fix them.

The author of more than 40 major articles and papers on both the theory and practice of manufacturing and supply chain operations, Layden is the originator of the Return on Capacity modeling process for analysis and improvement of supply chain profitability and delivery performance.  As a key partner to Motorola, Layden developed the quality control concepts that became popularly known as the Six Sigma Initiative.  He introduced these same concepts to GE and the Cadillac Division of General Motors.  Layden holds three American patents and is the only American to hold a Japanese patent in quality control.

Before launching PREVEL Consulting, a company committed to achieving precise velocity in manufacturing, Layden’s experience included more than 20 years executive-level manufacturing and another 18 years in enterprise software.  Layden’s expertise is reflected in his authorship of the supply chain chapter in Maynard’s Industrial Engineers Handbook, and in his many professional speaking engagements, including delivering the keynote address at the Automation Hall of Fame Awards, sponsored by Managing Automation magazine.

Layden has held numerous CEO and other executive-level positions, including serving as vice president of Supply Chain Management for SAP and vice president of Supply Chain Market Development for Frontstep, Inc.  As a software company CEO, Layden delivered to market the first real-time APS system, the first real-time SPC system and the first real-time fourth-normal-form database system.

He serves on the board of directors for several corporations and as an advisor to several start-up technology companies.  Layden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA (executive program) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  He remains active with the Purdue University Laboratory for the Extended Enterprise, the Purdue President’s Council, and the Villanova University Supply Chain Forum.  A popular guest lecturer, Layden regularly speaks to graduate students at Columbia University (New York), Villanova, Ball State University (Indiana) and others.