Tribute to Michael N. Kennedy, a leader not easily replaced
It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Michael N. Kennedy, a visionary leader and pioneer in lean product development, and co-founder and long-time CEO of TCC. Michael passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024, after a long illness. His impact on our field and his dedication to sharing knowledge will be deeply missed.
Michael's professional journey began at Texas Instruments' Defense Systems Group, where he spent 31 years in various leadership roles, including overseeing the Product Development Process that earned TI the Malcolm Baldrige award for quality. However, it was his encounter with Dr. Allen Ward that sparked a transformation in Michael's career.
In 1997, Michael took an early retirement package from TI, not because he was ready to stop working, but because he had discovered something fundamentally different and better. Dr. Ward introduced Michael to the Toyota Product Development System, which revolutionized his understanding of product development. Michael described it as a system built on the premise of learning – understanding customer interests and building the knowledge to meet them, rather than rigidly adhering to specifications.
Inspired by Dr. Ward's teachings, Michael wrote his first book, "Product Development for the Lean Enterprise" (Oaklea Press, 2003), while collaborating with Dr. Ward on the NCMS project and other joint efforts. Their plan was ambitious: Michael would write a business novel to introduce the change problems, while Dr. Ward would write a textbook to explain the details. Tragically, Dr. Ward's life was cut short in a plane crash, cancelling their plans and robbing us of a great interpreter of the Toyota System.
Mike's first book, fondly nicknamed the "blue book" by its readers, was a ground-breaking text when released, and remains a valuable learning tool today. As a business novel, it helps people connect on a personal level as well as a teaming level with the concepts and the potential impact they can have on their own organizations.
Michael Neil Kennedy (1941-2024)
After battling his cancer for decades, it turned surprisingly aggressive a few weeks ago; Mike died peacefully in the hospital with his wife, kids, and extended family on Feb 22, 2024. A decade ago when he got a prognosis measured in months, he took it as prodding from God that it was time to get on with a few things that he felt called to do. That calling became yet another of his deep learning journeys, but this one bringing him closer to God such that he was truly at peace as his journey came to an end. He accomplished what he felt he was put on Earth to do. He expressed his excitement to learn/see what comes next. Even doctors and nurses commented that they’ve never seen anyone so truly at peace, so truly ready. So, there’s no need to feel sad for Mike; but we do feel sad for each other as we will all miss him horribly.
Michael's dedication to spreading the principles of lean product development did not waver. In 2004, Michael co-founded and served as the visionary CEO of Targeted Convergence Corporation (TCC), a platform for enabling organizations with the knowledge, methodologies, and tools necessary to implement Toyota-based product development principles. He was also an active member of the Lean Product and Process Development Exchange (LPPDE) since its inception in 2008, serving as a participant, speaker, educator, and board member.
Michael was always passionate about learning and sharing what he had learned. He co-authored two more books, "Ready, Set, Dominate!" and "Success is Assured," and gave countless keynote presentations, further solidifying his reputation as a thought leader in the field. His work was the foundation of many of the thought paradigms and techniques widely used today such as: Learning First Product Development, Knowledge Based Design, and Set-Based Thinking. In 2018, he was awarded the very first LPPDE Lifetime Achievement Award, a testament to his dedication and impact on the community.
Michael's contributions extended beyond his own work.
Michael's love of learning, willingness to question conventional thinking, and genuine interest in helping others improve were qualities that endeared him to all who knew him. He will be remembered not only for his professional achievements but also for his kindness, humility, and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Mike was born July 26, 1941, in Brenham, Texas; grew up in Dallas, attending Jesuit High School; and then got a Mechanical Engineering degree at Texas Tech. He took a summer job between his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree at Pratt & Whitney in Florida, where he met his sweetheart, Betty Fauerbach. They got married in 1965 and he whisked her back to Texas where they had and raised three kids. They remained married for these last 58 years, nurturing many grandkids and great-grandkids (and numerous pups and other pets).
Professionally, he spent 31 years at Texas Instruments, eventually playing a major role in them earning the coveted Malcom Baldrige Award for quality. He later went into consulting , where he became a valuable asset to the world, particularly the Lean and Product Development communities where his books, keynote presentations, and leadership in ongoing learning made a tremendous impact on many. The Lean Product & Process Development Exchange awarded him their first Lifetime Achievement Award for his many contributions.
The funeral mass will begin at 11am CST on Saturday March 9th at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in McKinney, TX. There will be a live stream of the service (with attendees from all around the planet). The link to that live stream will appear on St. Michael's YouTube channel on the "Live" streams page here:
https://www.youtube.com/@SaintMichaelMcKinney/streams
In lieu of flowers, Mike would prefer that you donate to the HealthWell Foundation; you can make such donations via this link: https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/donate/
He was an awesome husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; an awesome brother, in-law, uncle, best friend, mentor, and business colleague; none of us could ask for better. We will all miss all that he brought to our lives.
We would love to hear your stories and memories about Mike... please add them here for all to hear... or you can just email them to us privately. (Be sure to sign your name to your comments, so we know who you are!)
Remembering Mike on his birthday. I miss my mentor and friend. Hugs to the family. The first year has always been the hardest for me.
Michael Kennedy – A Full life
More than a writer
More than a speaker
A wonderful husband, father, mentor, friend, and more
A survivor and more so a thriver
You talked – I listened
You asked – You listened
You taught - I learned
You challenged my thinking, in some of the most giving and loving ways possible
You made me think and also smile and laugh
You filled the world with ideas and joy
You relished life and you shared your gifts generously
A small physical package with a large presence
Who didn’t suffer fools, who enjoyed life, and who filled the world with wisdom and wonder
As tears stream down my face, I am sad
Though happy inside for having known you
Blessed inside for your influence
I will miss your presence and keep you and our conversations in my heart
The world is much better for having had you in it Tricia Sutton
I know Michael from the Lean Product and Process Development Exchange. I was struggling to improve development at my company in the early 2000's when I read his "blue book", as we like to call it. I began attending the LPPDE conferences where I got to meet all my favorite authors, such as Michael. Every chance I had, I picked his brain hoping some of it would rub off. Ironically, or perhaps appropriately, I had his blue book with me the morning after he passed, and l showed it to a visiting company delegation when I summarized LPPD. It was that influential. So it was particularly enjoyable to be with Michael several times. Always gracious, always the teacher, always the mentor, and a wonderful human being. It is a great legacy that he has given us.
Larry Navarre
I knew Mr. Kennedy as an esteemed member of our community in the 80’s. He was kind and impressive, even though I had no knowledge of his capacity as a business man. His nature and intellectual influence on his children, Brian and Lori, were evident at that time. He has left not only a legacy in the business world, but also generations that will spread his kindness.
After 24 years, I still miss my mother. I can tell you that his loss will repeatedly weigh on your heart. Remember to hang on to all the wonderful years of time and memories you had with him and your hearts will be filled with joy each time he enters your thoughts.
The Kennedy family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers, as you go through this difficult process.
Sincere Condolences,
Lisa Weber Willey
My favorite memory of Mike centered around a rather blunt personal question I posed. "Hey Mike, you're not a spring chicken any more. Why haven't you fully retired?" Mike patiently replied: "I feel like what I'm doing is going to help a whole bunch of people enjoy their lives more fully. These ideas will help a lot of companies as well but more importantly, that success will flow down into the lives of the people working for them." At THAT moment I understood the quality of Michael Kennedy's character...... and it was golden. Dan S.
Oh no - not good. I am truly really sorry to hear. Michael helped me a lot in the 'early days' to introduce and educate my company then to start using these principles. We adopted and got a huge improvement and success. The products we developed then are world successes now. We had contact over the years, checking in regularly - what's new, what' happened etc. Michael was always supportive and very curious. A pleasure to have contact. So, thinking of all this and what it meant to me and my organisation - i get even more sad. I have continued in Michaels footstep and as freelance I have now helped up to 10 leading global companies using this with good success. THANK YOU Michael !!
To his family and near people !
/janne
I see your Quebec weather exposure, Ed, and raise you regular 6am trips to Mirabel @-24F before windchill. This isn't a complaint because I rode Mike's charm and insight into employment that changed my family's life to the good pretty dramatically, for which I will always feel grateful. We became dual citizens a month ago.
Jeff Morrow
In 2011 or 2012 Mike and I visited Bombardier in January for a few days. The high temperature was minus 20. The whole time, Mike was hilarious. He will be missed, Ed Minnock