Business Solutions Team

Eric Yelsma is a Michigan-born, Michigan-educated manufacturing strategist who has spent his career helping companies solve tough problems and build stronger operations. Now serving as Sales Manager at MMTC, he oversees both the Business Solutions & Client Coordination teams, ensuring manufacturers receive the right combination of training, Lean support, operational improvement, and workforce development.

A graduate of Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, Eric combines formal business training with decades of real-world experience inside manufacturing plants, job shops, large companies, and high-mix operations. After a short stint living out of state early in his career, he returned to Michigan, where the people, industries, and communities felt like home.

Eric is known for his ability to take what feels overwhelming (from tangled processes to unstructured operations) and break it into clear, doable, actionable steps. Using Lean tools, value stream mapping, process mapping, workflow design, and standard work development, he helps companies prioritize on what matters, reduce waste, improve leadership clarity, and get teams aligned around practical solutions.

While he works extensively with small and mid-sized companies, he also thrives in the complexity of large corporate environments. No matter the size, his approach remains consistent: listen carefully, simplify thoughtfully, and build solutions that are sustainable and rooted in the company’s reality. With a mix of strategic thinking, operational insight, and a eclectic style, Eric is committed to helping Michigan manufacturers grow stronger and more competitive each year.