In their new roles, Gros and Stevenson will be focused on accelerating Great Dane’s implementation of continual improvement and lean manufacturing initiatives, company officials said in a press release.

Gros has been with Great Dane for five years, serving as director of manufacturing for more than five of the company’s trailer manufacturing facilities, which he will continue to oversee. Stevenson previously worked with Great Dane in a consulting capacity and will now be responsible for overseeing the company’s other four trailer manufacturing facilities.

“We continue to recruit leaders with proven track records of lean transformation to join our highly experienced executive team to accelerate our critical initiatives,’’ said Brian Sage, Great Dane’s executive vice-president of manufacturing. “Creating sustainable improvements in safety, quality, on-time delivery and cost reduction are essential in establishing a competitive advantage in the future.”

Gros has more than two decades of experience in the transportation industry. His responsibilities have included general management, business turnaround and product management.

Stevenson brings to Great Dane more than 30 years of experience in leadership, global lean transformation, production systems, quality management and operational management.

In previous roles, he was responsible for managing re-manufacturing and fabrication facilities, leading production quality programs and guiding lean transformations at more than 40 facilities in six countries.