Speaker’s Bio
Mike Fank is an Operational Excellence Leader and consultant who helps organizations align quality with business strategy to achieve lasting results. With more than a decade of experience in quality and process improvement, Mike has guided teams across manufacturing and service industries to simplify systems, eliminate inefficiencies, and strengthen performance.
As the founder of Upside Down Excellence, Mike focuses on teaching quality practitioners to align their work to business goals, ensuring they are seen as valued-added business partners and quality becomes a natural part of how organizations operate and grow. His approach blends Lean, Six Sigma, and human-centered problem-solving, with a strong emphasis on building systems people want to use.
Mike is a Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and a long-standing ASQ Senior Member and Mentor. He has developed corporate audit standards, designed training programs, and advised leadership teams on how to build efficient, sustainable systems that free people to focus on what they do best—solving problems and driving innovation.
Driven by the belief that “a bad system can be held together by good people, and vice versa,” Mike’s work centers on creating simplicity, accountability, and alignment between people, processes, and strategy. His vision is a world where quality and business practices are one and the same
Future Events
Past Events
October 2025 - Ease & ASQ Panel
Quality Blind Spots: Aligning Strategy with Data-Backed Realities.
We’re discussing the disconnect between leaders and front-line teams and how to address it.
May 2025 - ASQ WCQI
When Technology Isn’t Enough - This session covered a case study that explored strategies for addressing low-volume, high-mix settings where automation isn’t an option. By designing processes that work with people, we can create robust and stable systems that consistently produce results.
Oct 2024 - ASQ Audit Conference - Reno
Auditing in a Quality 4.0 World - The session covered innovative tools that streamline administrative auditing tasks, enabling auditors to concentrate on crucial human-centric activities such as interviews and risk evaluations. The presentation highlighted how tools can enhance planning, interview accuracy, report writing, result tracking, and efficient closure of action items, improving the overall efficiency of the auditing process.
Oct 2024 - Wrike Collaborate
Participated in a panel discussion on the applications of project management software in the manufacturing world. Discussion covered change management, project management, and new product launch.