Joe Lett stands out as the next generation of leadership in the heat treat industry whose career reflects steady growth, deep technical skill, and a clear commitment to operational excellence in the heat treat supply chain. With 10 years at Pelican Wire, he has advanced from machine operator to production control supervisor, a role in which he manages tactical scheduling, ABC production planning, and material flow for critical thermocouple wire products.

Joe’s leadership ensures the reliable delivery of Type K, J, T, N, and E thermocouple wires — essential for precise furnace control in annealing, brazing, sintering, and other thermal processes. He has been instrumental in scaling production capacity for dual-sheathed, oxide-free, and specialty-calibrated wire, meeting the rigorous Nadcap and AMS standards demanded by aerospace, defense, and medical heat treaters.

A Lean Six Sigma practitioner, Joe applies A3 thinking, DMAIC, PDCA, and Kaizen principles to drive measurable improvements. His initiatives have removed production bottlenecks, reduced lead times, and improved cross-departmental coordination. Mentoring a six-person team, Joe has embedded a lean culture that emphasizes efficiency, quality, and continuous improvement.

By combining shop-floor insight with strategic forecasting for machine and labor capacity, Joe positions Pelican Wire to meet future demand while maintaining cost and quality targets. His blend of operational discipline, technical expertise, and people-first leadership has not only strengthened Pelican Wire’s competitive edge, but has also made a lasting contribution to the heat treating industry as a whole.

Nominated by: Pelican Wire