Welcome and Pre-conference Workshops
Stay informed about conference updates and other LPPDE opportunites by joining our email newsletter and follow up on LinkedIn.
We welcome full-time academic students and faculty to participate in the conference.
Reach out to us to get a 50% discount.
Reach out to us about other discount offers for groups and special guests.
Curious about what to expect from the LPPDE conference workshops? In this short video, the conference chair and co-chair offer a personal invitation to join us for the pre-conference workshops, where hands-on learning and expert-led sessions take center stage. You’ll get a sneak peek into the workshop topics, the dynamic format, and the experienced facilitators who will guide you through practical, real-world applications of lean product and process development.
Whether you're new to LPPDE or a returning participant, this is a great way to understand how the workshops are designed to spark insight, foster collaboration, and deliver immediate value. Hear directly from the leaders shaping the event and get inspired to kick off your conference experience with energy and purpose. Watch now and start planning your pre-conference workshops!
Stay with us!
We’re excited to have you join us and invite you to stay with the LPPDE Board at the Home2 Suites by Hilton. It’s a great opportunity to connect, relax, and make the most of your conference experience.
Use the link below to book your room at a discounted conference rate — but don’t wait too long! The special rate is only available until September 25.
👉 Book Your Stay at Home2 Suites by Hilton
We look forward to seeing you there!
LPPDE North America 2025 - Milwaukee, WI
October 27 - 30, 2025
In partnership with:
Accelerate Knowledge : Accelerate Innovation
LPPDE North America 2025 in Milwaukee, WI is approaching!
Dear participant!
Innovation is the engine that drives growth, progress, and transformation. Whether it’s the development of groundbreaking products or the refinement of existing processes, innovation plays a critical role in shaping the future. At the heart of every innovation lies knowledge—both the knowledge we already possess and the knowledge we continuously create. The faster we can access and generate this knowledge, the faster we can innovate, adapt, and lead.
In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to quickly tap into relevant information and insights is more important than ever. Organizations and individuals alike are seeking ways to accelerate their learning, improve collaboration, and stay ahead of the curve. But how do we do that effectively? What tools, strategies, and communities can help us unlock the full potential of our collective knowledge?
That’s where you come in.
We invite you to join a vibrant community of peers, innovators, and thought leaders this October for an exciting opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. This gathering is more than just an event—it’s a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and discovering new ways to drive innovation through knowledge.
You’ll hear from leading practitioners and seasoned entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the challenges of product and process development. They’ll share their insights on how to accelerate knowledge access, how to foster a culture of continuous learning, and how to turn that knowledge into innovations that can truly change the world.
But this isn’t just about listening—it’s about participating. Bring your own experiences to the table. Share your successes, your lessons learned, and your unique perspective. Engage in meaningful conversations with others who are just as passionate about innovation as you are.
Who knows? Maybe something you share will spark a new idea in someone else. Maybe you’ll be the one to inspire a breakthrough. Maybe your story will be the catalyst for the next big innovation.
Let’s come together to build a stronger, smarter, and more innovative future—one idea, one conversation, and one connection at a time.
We hope you’ll join us in Milwaukee, WI, October 27-30, 2025!
Geoff Neiley and Andy Wagner
2025 North Americal Conference Chair and Co-Chair
The slides from most of the presentations will be shared as a pdf after the conference and the speakers are normally very open to answering questions and to continue the EXCHANGE of knowledge.
Geoff Neiley
Chair of Conference
Andrew Wagner
Co-Chair of Conference
Conference site:
11000 W Park Pl, Milwaukee, WI 53224
The conference hosts speakers from the following organizations:
Monday, October 27, 2025
Pre-Conference Workshops
09:00 - 5:00 Lunch Included
Full day workshop
Carolyn Carter + Marcos Esterman, Carolyn Carter Consulting + A.O. Smith – Creating a Healthy Product Development System
This workshop is focused on more advanced participants. To create a good baseline we will discuss and dive into the foundational principles of lean product and process development. In a very interactive way we will discuss what makes a Healthy Product Development System and go through Dantar Oosterwal´ s model “The Lean Machine 7+1”
7 Keys to successful Lean Product Development that will be covered include:
- Manufacture customers Portfolio
- Cadence & Flow
- Set-Based
- Reusable Knowledge
- Visual Management
- Lead with Entrepreneur System Designers
- Teams of Responsible Experts
- + 1:
- Match Throughput to Business Need
These 7+1 key aspects to Lean Product Development and the all-important connection to the business are summarized in a one-page document called Lean Product Development in a nutshell and can be downloaded here: https://www.developlean.com/lean-product-development-in-a-nutshell and is recommended as a pre-read before the workshop.
This first part demonstrates what Lean Product Development is and why it is sometimes referred to as Knowledge-Based or Set-Based Product Development as well as which benefits of Lean Product Development for the organization.
We will also go through the participants own Product Development system and discuss advantages, disadvantages and areas to change to create a healthy product development system.
The afternoon is focused on showing the participants how LPPD could solve their problems. The key take-away will be examples of problem-solving using the LPPD system.
Carolyn Carter is Principal Consultant at Carolyn Carter Consulting after an extensive career at the Kimberly-Clark Corporation where she got her experience in Research Product Development with additional focus on Lean and LPPD in Development, and Engineering, Operations and Quality in Manufacturing.
Carolyn's experience include:
- Leader of Lean Product and Process Development launch across multiple Business Units
- Co-lead of Lean Product and Process Development launch into Research Teams
- Lean Coordinator for initial launch of Lean Culture into Research Team
- Product Developer in programs across multiple businesses
- Product Development Leader for commercialization of large Personal Care Program
- Leadership and development of Process Optimization Program Product Supply for North America and European Personal Care
- Lean Strategic and A3 Problem Solving applications as Quality Manager in Personal Care Manufacturing
- Quality Manager in multiple regulated and non-regulated Personal Care Manufacturing Plants
Marcos Esterman has over 30 years of combined experience in industrial and academic settings His passion is to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of product development so that the amazing innovations developed by technologists reach the communities that need them. He is an expert in product development and complex systems engineering. At A.O. Smith, Marcos is responsible for the development, deployment, and support of the product development process. Prior to joining A.O. Smith, Marcos served on the faculty of the RIT Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, where his research contributions included: The Integration of Lean Principles with Systems Engineering, Sustainable Development, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Development, Community Engaged Design, and Medical Device Innovation. Marcos’ previous industry experience includes General Electric Medical Systems and Hewlett-Packard. His analysis work at HP enhanced design and product architecture decision-making.
Links Below to Content of All Days of This Event:
Register Now!
LPPDE events have an impressive gathering of lean product and process development practitioners. We’ve assembled an impressive lineup of keynote speakers.