Eric Olsen
Associate Professor of Industrial Technology
E-mail: eolsen@calpoly.edu
Phone: (805) 756-1754
Fax: 805 756-6111
Office: 03-435
Staff Profile Download: PDF
Dr. Olsen serves as Associate Professor of Industrial Technology in the Orfalea College of Business at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. Dr. Olsen teaches in the undergraduate and master’s programs emphasizing courses in lean thinking, six sigma, and operations management. Dr. Olsen had over 20 years of industry experience in engineering and manufacturing management before getting his PhD at The Ohio State University. His dissertation compared the financial performance of lean versus non-lean companies.
Dr. Olsen continues his professional development with a focus on creating new knowledge in operations management, biasing his research towards working with real companies and organizations. He has published, consulted, and trained in lean performance improvement, strategy deployment, and six sigma. Growing areas of interest and work for Dr. Olsen are sustainability and lean packaging.
Dr. Olsen is active in obtaining grants and external funding for his research and consulting activities. This includes over $460,000 from organizations such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and CalRecycle.
Dr. Olsen is active in professional organizations with memberships in APICS – The Association for Operations Management, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME), and the Decision Sciences Institute.
Education
- BS Forest Engineering – University of Maine at Orono
- MBA – Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- MA/PhD Operations Management – The Ohio State University
Experience
- Hewlett Packard
- Production Manager – Wireless Semiconductor Division
- Worldwide Manufacturing Education Manager – Components Group
- Manager, Product Engineering – Optical Communication Division, Fiber Optic Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Development Engineer – Optical Communication Division, Fiber Optic Manufacturing
- Litton Poly Scientific
- Manager – Fiber Optic Engineering
- Senior Engineer – Slip Ring Products
- Caterpillar Tractor Company
- Test Engineer – Product Development Center