Home : Volume 24 : Fall 1997 :
Distinguished Service Award for William A. Thurwachter

William A. Thurwachter (28K JPG)

William Thurwachter knows the manufacturing process inside out. An industrial products partner with the Phoenix office of Andersen Consulting, his career has entailed work in almost all functions of manufacturing organizations. After graduation, Thurwachter spent the first half of his career in the Midwest, assisting automotive and equipment manufacturers. He now lives in the West, primarily serving aerospace and electronics industries.

Specializing in operations management, Thurwachter's entire career has focused on assisting his clients in effectively responding to customer and market demands for their products and services. He is routinely called upon to help with the design and implementation of large-scale, enterprise management systems for some of the world's largest companies. Some examples include leading a pioneering design effort to develop a constraint-based planning system for a vertically integrated pulp, paper and converting mill; designing a computer-integrated manufacturing plan for a large aerospace/defense firm; and conducting strategic planning for a marine power equipment producer. Currently, he oversees development of a global supply chain management system for a major semiconductor manufacturer.

Thurwachter's interest in combining engineering and management began while he was a student at UW-Madison. He earned a BS in mechanical engineering in 1972 and an MBA in 1973. He has been a member of the American Production and Inventory Control Society for more than 20 years, is a certified fellow in production and inventory control, and is also certified in integrated resource management.

Thurwachter is a frequent speaker on operations management as well as a founding executive member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence.