Profile Information

Profile

Dr. Zachary Moran Leffakis is a Lecturer of Operations Management at Clemson University since 2012. He holds a Ph.D. in Manufacturing Management from The University of Toledo, and both an M.B.A. and B.S. (Industrial Management) from California University of Pennsylvania. His intellectual interests centers on the broad areas of operations management and research attention primarily revolves around the question of 'how manufacturing companies can improve production ramp-up performance through effective managerial and operational practices, especially in the lean production systems?' His articles have been published in journals including OMEGA: The International Journal of Management Sciences and the Journal of Individual Employment Rights.

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.