Austin Adams
St. Louis,MO
Summary
Dynamic Senior Continuous Improvement Manager with a proven track record at SSM Health, driving operational excellence through Lean methodologies and strategic coaching. Achieved a significant reduction in mortality O:E ratio and enhanced patient care initiatives. Skilled in 6S methodology and leadership development, fostering a culture of continuous improvement across diverse teams.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Continuous Improvement Manager
SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital
06.2022 - Current
- Led continuous improvement initiatives across SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital and SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital, driving operational excellence and patient care enhancements.
- Collaborated with hospital executives to establish SSM’s Adult Academic Platform, formalizing strategic alignment between SLUH and St. Mary’s to strengthen academic and clinical integration.
- Provided strategic coaching and advisory support to hospital executive teams and front line leaders, aligning improvement projects with SSM Health’s Operating Model standards and organizational goals.
- Led regional KPI initiatives focused on Mortality since 2024, contributing to a reduction in the region’s mortality O:E ratio from 0.97 to 0.81 through targeted projects including GIP Hospice optimization, enhanced Goals of Care conversations, and improved clinical documentation.
- Supported the regional KPI team addressing Food Insecurity by implementing a standardized discharge practice across all regional hospitals, ensuring food-insecure patients received multiple days of food upon discharge.
- Served as the primary liaison for Vizient Quality and Accountability rankings and data, leading initiatives that elevated SLUH to median performance within the academic medical center cohort and positioned St. Mary’s in the top 33% of its cohort in 2025.
- Presented at the 2025 Vizient Connections Summit with a poster titled “Playing Catch To Improve Patient Outcomes and Reduce Variation,” showcasing SSM’s strategy deployment and Catchball collaborative goal-setting methodology.
Site Lean Deployment Leader
GKN Aerospace - St. Louis
10.2019 - 06.2022
- Responsible for implementing GKN’s global Lean Operating Model across the St. Louis Site. This consisted of coaching and training site leadership on the new roll out, as well as leading the site through the multi-phased implementation of the Lean Operating Model.
- Act as first point of contact for all Lean and Continuous Improvement activities on site. Managed a master list of all projects on site to track their benefits and their fully realized cost savings.
- Primary lead on the development and deployment of Tier 1-4 daily management boards across the site along with a site-wide 6S plan and TPM plan.
- Led and facilitated numerous Kaizen events across F/18, CH53K and AP programs, leading to significant impact in lead time reduction, reduction in material waste and significant improvements in cost, quality and delivery metrics.
- Lead GKN St. Louis’ site-wide Lean training initiative in which I have trained 413 employees at the site as of EOY 2021. I have also coached those who have taken the training in the completion of their first Kaizen.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Industrial And Manufacturing Systems Engineering
University Of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO05-2019
Skills
- 6S methodology
- Operations management
- Quality management systems
- Workflow optimization
- Lean Manufacturing
- Six Sigma Methodology
- Kaizen Event Planning Process
- Sustainable Planning & Design
- Supply Chain Management
- 8 Step Problem Solving Process
- Standard Work & Leader Standard Work
- Facilitating leadership development for process improvement
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification - GLSS - June 2025
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - GKN Aerospace - October 2021
Timeline
Senior Continuous Improvement Manager
SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital
06.2022 - Current
Site Lean Deployment Leader
GKN Aerospace - St. Louis
10.2019 - 06.2022
Bachelor of Science - Industrial And Manufacturing Systems Engineering
University Of Missouri - Columbia
Publications
Adams, A., & Anderson, J. (2025). Playing “Catch” To Improve Patient Outcomes & Reduce Variation. American Journal Of Medical Quality.
Similar Profiles
Amy StuckelAmy Stuckel
Transplant Coordinator at SSM Health St. Louis University HospitalTransplant Coordinator at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital
LATONYA CLEVELANDLATONYA CLEVELAND
Surgical Technician at SSM Health St. Louis University HospitalSurgical Technician at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital
Cynthia FollettCynthia Follett
RN Echo Lab/ Cardiac Cath Lab at SSM Health St. Louis University HospitalRN Echo Lab/ Cardiac Cath Lab at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital
Alayna DucharmeAlayna Ducharme
Quality Assurance Lead at Peraton, LLCQuality Assurance Lead at Peraton, LLC
Jill GuessJill Guess
Office Coordinator, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MOOffice Coordinator, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO