Innovating People. Elevating Systems. Creating Lasting Value.
Time does more than just mark the hours on a clock. It drives our decisions, shapes our memories, and even influences how we plan our future.
Founded in 2000 to help food manufacturers unlock new markets by leveraging untapped production capacity, Maxability LLC has grown into a premier Lean Innovation & Strategy consultancy. For over 30 years, we've helped organizations design bold growth strategies and accelerate innovation through Lean implementation, facilitation, and capability-building.
Today, Maxability is a team of thought leaders, facilitators, designers, and researchers committed to unleashing the untapped power of your people — creating value through innovation, clarity, and disciplined execution.
Why Organizations
Choose Maxability
- 30+ Years Operational ExcellenceAviation, CPG, HVAC, automotive, transportation, motorsports, logistics, and consulting experience
- US Patent HolderRecognized innovator with registered intellectual property in operational systems
- Registered TrademarkMaxability™ brand and methodology protected as registered intellectual property
- Lean Master Black Belt (FedEx) · Six Sigma Black Belt (MSOE)Also: Certified Manufacturing Engineer (SME), APICS CPIM, QDM Expert (FedEx), Certified Harada Instructor
- Lean Registry Founder · Shingo Prize ExaminerMember of AME/SME/Shingo Prize Lean Oversight & Appeals Committee; active Shingo Prize examiner
- Worldwide Remote ConsultingServing clients globally via Zoom, MS Teams, and on-site engagements
Jim Garrick — Founder & Principal Consultant
Jim Garrick is a Lean process improvement leader with more than thirty years of experience across aviation, consumer packaged goods, HVAC, automotive, transportation, motorsports, logistics, and consulting. Most recently, he served as Lean Master Black Belt at PSA Airlines, guiding enterprise-level transformation and operational excellence initiatives.
His career spans process improvement, plant layout and design, manufacturing optimization, CPG brand development, product design, and field sales operations — with deep expertise in Lean Manufacturing and end-to-end supply chain optimization. Jim's work consistently blends value creation with innovation, helping organizations unlock performance through clarity, disciplined execution, and people-centered improvement.
Jim holds a Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering and an MBA from Tennessee Technological University. His professional credentials include Lean Master Black Belt (FedEx), Six Sigma Black Belt (MSOE), Certified Manufacturing Engineer (SME), Production & Inventory Control Manager (APICS), QDM Expert (FedEx), and Certified Harada Instructor.
His recognitions include a United States Patent, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Award of Merit and Outstanding Young Engineer honors, Who's Who in Engineering, Who's Who in American Professionals, and the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Gannon University. Jim is a member of the AME/SME/Shingo Prize Lean Oversight & Appeals Committee and serves as a Shingo Prize examiner.
Meet the Full Team
Leanna Garrick — Operations & Financial Analyst
Leanna is a driven Operations & Financial Analyst with 25+ years of experience managing integrated business operations, software development, and technical programs that exceed productivity goals.
Astute in identifying operational requirements, creating action and implementation plans, and coordinating with cross-functional teams toward business goals, Leanna brings exceptional interpersonal and communication skills that create the progressive development of strong relationships with counterparts and clients.
Leanna is well-versed in gathering, organizing, and modelling data — practiced at reporting relevant financial information to facilitate strategic planning. She consistently demonstrates a strong desire to make a positive impact on business operations and is integral to Maxability's ability to deliver comprehensive, data-backed consulting solutions.
Organizations We've Served
WHAT WE VALUE
Six core values guide every engagement, every coaching session, and every solution we deliver.
We protect the most valuable resource in your operation — engineering solutions that eliminate wasted minutes and convert them into measurable profit.
Every engagement begins with clarity of purpose. Lean without strategy is noise; we anchor every initiative in a clear, aligned 'why.'
Sustainable growth comes from systems that scale. We design processes and teams that solve today's problems while preventing tomorrow's.
Data drives truth. We rely on rigorous time studies, simulation models, and performance benchmarks to reveal what's really happening — then act decisively.
Reactive operations cost more. We build proactive planning systems that stabilize performance, anticipate demand, and reduce operational chaos.
Intentions don't move the needle — outcomes do. Every engagement is measured against clear KPIs, and success is only declared when the numbers prove it.
RESULTS ARE
IN OUR DNA
What drives us is a belief that every organization holds untapped potential — potential that can be unlocked through clear strategy, disciplined execution, and the right blend of coaching and innovation. We are committed to helping leaders think more clearly, act more intentionally, and build the capability to sustain excellence long after the engagement ends. Our work is fueled by a passion for transforming complexity into clarity, designing systems that protect time and create value, and coaching people to become confident, self-reliant problem solvers. Innovation guides how we approach every challenge; coaching ensures the change endures. Together, they form the engine behind every solution we design and every result we deliver.
WE WROTE THE PLAYBOOK
Jim Garrick doesn't just teach Lean — he advances it. He has created original, protected methodology and built the full learning and certification infrastructure around it, informed in part by rare archival materials from Lean pioneer Norman Bodek.
US Patent Holder
Jim holds a registered US Patent for innovative work in operational systems — a distinction shared by fewer than 0.3% of professionals in the operations management field. His patented approach reflects a commitment to advancing the science of productivity.
Registered Trademark
The Maxability™ brand and its core methodology are federally registered trademarks — signaling to clients that they're engaging with a proven, legally-protected framework for operational improvement, not just another consulting brand.
Lean Registry Founder
Jim founded Lean Registry — a dedicated platform for Lean professionals seeking structured certification pathways, community resources, and continuing education. Lean Registry represents the next evolution of accessible, scalable Lean learning.