Jay is the President and Chief Innovation Officer for QualiFine -- a company he started in 1996. Leadership comes naturally to Jay but his passion for innovation and quality improvement continues to be the driving force behind his company.
"In addition to creating successful value-added relationships, I think everyone has the ability to innovate," says Jay. "I believe it is my responsibility to nurture the spirit of innovation in each of my customers."
Jay’s aptitude and interest in innovation and quality improvement initiatives surfaced almost immediately in his work history prior to founding QualiFine. Jay became a corporate staff member at a very young age in a quality improvement position that also gave him a bird’s eye view of the inner workings of a $50 million company. His next job landed him on the shop floor of a major General Mills contract manufacturer where he gained a practical grasp of the daily challenges faced by operation personnel working to improve quality and ship product on time. He then rose to a key role in the company’s quality improvement program before attracting the attention of the Webber Group, a highly experienced quality consulting firm.
Jay was recruited to handle the company’s quality software business. In his talks with customers Jay realized that customers didn’t want software, they wanted solutions capable of solving their quality problems. Jay responded to customer needs with a breakthrough approach. He created and customized the first networked database-driven quality data systems. The result was powerful custom solutions so well received they became the building blocks for one of the most successful Hertzler Systems franchises in the world. Though Jay had a small team he won the business of large companies like Briggs & Stratton, ITW and Omron Automotive.
Over time the software business, more focused on solving shop floor challenges, took a different path from Webber’s quality consulting business and paved the way for Jay to purchase the Hertzler franchise and establish QualiFine.
In 1999 QualiFine expanded and enhanced its offering by partnering with Minitab. Jay’s broad comprehension of the manufacturing data market also landed his company an invitation to participate in Minitab’s Voice Of The Customer roundtable.
Today, Jay continues to push the envelope for new advances in innovation and quality improvement. But he is equally committed to his family. Jay and his wife, Katie, have three children: Jack, Margaret and Molly.
