Keith Stout is executive vice president of ACE Metal Crafts Company, where he began his career in 1992. He has held various leadership positions and has been instrumental in creating a continuously improving lean culture throughout the organization, which contributed to the company winning the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the state of Illinois. Stout’s passion for excellence in manufacturing has been highlighted in various trade journals and associations, and he has given numerous speeches, tours, and presentations on lean manufacturing and capacity planning. Stout is a passionate supporter of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence and is a past board member of its (USA) Midwestern Region.