COO / Vice President Operations / General Manager
New Product Development / Logistics / Lean Manufacturing / Six-Sigma / Toyota Production System / Kaizan / Multi-site Management / International Operations / P&L / Marketing / Sales / Supply Chain Management
An operations executive and change agent adept in blending engineering expertise and business acumen to increase production and profitability, while reducing expenses, creating safe work environments, and improving customer satisfaction. Has shown success in midsized companies as well as organizations listed in the Fortune 500.
Track record of growing companies by developing cutting edge technologies, increasing product launches, and opening new channels. Directed successful operations in six countries. Industry experience encompasses manufacturing, consumer products, automotive.
MBA, University of Nebraska, 1995. BS, Mechanical Engineering, Brigham Young University, 1988.
Key Accomplishments
Turned around manufacturing division, improving efficiencies and quality while reducing costs. Installed a 6-Sigma approach, saving $1.5 million and instituting improvement mentality throughout organization. Decreased manufacturing cycle times from 14 to 7-days and increased inventory turns from 8 to 19.
Directed successful operations in six countries. Set up manufacturing and assembly lines, managed procurement and developed vendor and supplier relationships in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Improved manufacturing processes with direct manufacturing plants as well as supplier plants to improve the overall supply chain.
Successfully started up a new manufacturing plant to support an automotive customer expansion. Expanded manufacturing bases in several areas to meet demand including doubling output in one facility to meet Y2K demand.
Doubled number of new products launched. Developed a cutting edge fuel cell generator from an idea to production. This included writing the specifications, market testing the idea, designing the product, negotiating the supply agreements, addressing environmental issues and developing a channel of distribution for the product and the fuel.
Implemented 6-Sigma cost reduction culture at two different companies. Leveraged the tools to drive culture change by providing the DMAIC training throughout the organization. In one location over 20% of the workforce received the tools and led their own projects in a successful effort to improve the profitability. Reductions of over $1.5 million were seen in the first 12 months.
Developed a pipeline of new product ideas through the use of industrial design firms. Participated in marketing focus groups and summarizing the data to develop new products for a consumer market. Successfully developed several new designs resulting in the issuance of design patents and roll out into the big box retail stores.
Career History
General Manager-Manufacturing with a Fortune 500 company, 2004 to 2005. Led a manufacturing turnaround while directing 600 staff and managing $81 million in direct material purchases and $35 million in expense budgets. Directed materials and production control, purchasing, strategic sourcing, manufacturing engineering, quality, environmental health & safety, and shipping and warehousing. Expanded 6-Sigma program, adding operational excellence as part of the culture.
Vice President of Operations, 2003 to 2004. A $75 million manufacturer of precision-machined components. Managed the production of over 250 CNC and screw machines. Improved overall manufacturing efficiency in this union environment by over 10 percentage points. Improved quality, reducing customer complaints 50%. Improved safety, reducing incident rate 20%. Prepared the company for new ownership.
Vice President of Operations / Plant Manager, 1995 to 2002. Managed up to $16 million budget, 800-1100 staff, 3 manufacturing plants, an engineering R&D center, and a distribution center. Directed Design Engineering, R&D, Customer Service (retail and consumer), Procurement, Materials, Quality Assurance and Environmental, Health, and Safety. Increased customer technical support in a consumer products industry to the highest levels of any competitor by moving to 24/7 coverage. Participated in line reviews with key retail customers including: Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Sam’s Club. Led rapid execution of design and cost changes in response to customer requirements. Managed through two union drives resulting in a union free workplace.
Various Manufacturing positions with a Fortune 500 company, 1988 to 1995
Product Line Manager (Focus Factory Manager). Led team to improve profitability by reducing manufacturing costs and frequency of manufacturing rework. Matched the specifications from the customers to manufacturing, in some instances developing new tooling and processes to achieve customers’ tolerances.
Other Positions held with the same company in various locations: Product Line Manager—New Product Development, Quality Assurance Manager, Manufacturing Engineer
Customer Service Representative, 1984 to 1987. Fortune 500 financial company that issues credit cards and travelers cheques. Took claims for lost travelers cheques and provided refund arrangements.
Door-to-Door Salesman, 1980 to 1984. Sold various products for several companies door-to-door including children's books, encyclopedia and home insulation. |
