Profile Information

Profile

Zachary Moran Leffakis is a Senior Lecturer of Operations Management at Clemson University. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Management from the University of Toledo, and both an MBA and BS (Industrial Management) from California University of Pennsylvania. His research papers have been published in journals including OMEGA: The International Journal of Management Science, Journal of Manufacturing Systems, Production Planning and Control, Quality Management Journal and the Journal of Individual Employment Rights. In addition, Dr. Leffakis has published several practitioner articles in the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE). His research and industry interests centers on the pragmatic application of operations management in general, and the successful implementation of lean manufacturing systems on the shop-floor more specifically.

Research Interests

• -The Impact of Managerial Practices on Production Ramp-up Performance
• -The Adoption of Innovative New Product Development Practices in Diverse Mass Customization Manufacturing Environments
• -A Conceptual Framework to Optimize the Scale and Scope of Product Differentiation in Dynamic Markets that Maximizes Firm Profitability
• -Developing best managerial and manufacturing practices in production ramp up of new products in a mass customization context
• -Developing High Performance Work Systems to enhance individual, operations, and business performance in complex mass customization manufacturing environments
• -Determining the optimum scope and scale of product variety in a turbulent market place

Research Publications

• Leffakis, Z, and Dwyer, D., "The Effects of High Performance Work Systems on Operational Performance in Mass Customization Manufacturing Systems", Production Planning and Control, originally submitted 23-Feb-2011, received reviewer comments 9-4-11, revised and re-submitted for publication on 1-30-12; conditionally accepted on 4-1-12.
• Leffakis, Z. and Schoff, R., 2011, "Using High Performance Work Systems to Increase Employee Safety in the Workplace", Industrial Engineer Magazine, accepted November 2011.
• Leffakis, Z., 2011, "The Integration of 'Wisdom' in Supply-Chain Decision Making: An Emerging Concept in Supply-Chain Management", Industrial Management Magazine, May/Jun, Vol. 53, Issue 3, pp. 25-30.