OBJECTIVE
Senior Executive, Manufacturing / Management Consulting
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
Senior-level operations and manufacturing executive with full P & L responsibility for successful manufacturing companies; extensive technical background in production, machining, assembly and finishing of components for automotive, appliance and agricultural equipment markets; expertise in turn-arounds, streamlining and restructuring for profit and directing successful manufacturing operations. Background includes:
Operations and Manufacturing Management
Organizational/Communications Development
Sales and Marketing Management
Strategic Business Design
Re-structuring Customer Bases
TQM and Quality Engineering
Supply Chain Management
ISO-9000/QS9000 Implementation
MIS Implementation
Union Contract Negotiations
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2000 - Present PEYSER & ASSOCIATES, INC. - Chelsea, Michigan
Consultant and sales and marketing of capital manufacturing equipment to the casting industry
President
Provide marketing direction and sales representation to several American- and international-based manufacturers of engineered industrial components and of capital production equipment for the die casting industry. Results include, for a European machine builder, successful and profitable first-time penetration of the American market.
Assisted a west-coast firm in identifying previously unrecognized intellectual capital within the company. Using these 'new' assets, a successful strategic business design was then developed and implemented, making possible a 30% increase in sales through enhanced brand positioning.
Advised a Chicago-based company in its program to target a specific market within its industry. Subsequently assisted the company in spinning off a special-focus division to address this market and acted as interim CEO during the start up.
1998 - 2000 JACKSON PRECISION DIE CASTING, INC., - Jackson, Michigan
A $30,000,000 Tier 1 manufacturer and finisher of aluminum die castings
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
Prior to the purchase of this facility by a Chicago-based investor group, led the due diligence team in analyzing the potential for this company's turnaround and growth. Following the purchase, became the senior executive on-site.
Re-negotiated two union labor agreements, combining the two separate unions, lengthening the contract term to five years and improving work rules to allow flexible scheduling and personnel assignment. Employee contribution to health care premiums was negotiated for the first time, saving more than $150,000 annually. A poorly structured piece-work incentive was eliminated, saving another $135,000 per year. The pension plan was restructured from a defined-benefit type to a more advantageous defined-contribution.
Enlarged the secondary machining and finishing operations to improve customer retention; expanded capacity by 40% and increased value added sales by 28%.
Restructured the company to flatten the organizational chart and push authority and accountability to those closest to the manufacturing floor.
1993 - 1998 LINDBERG CORPORATION - Rosemont, Illinois
1996 - 1998 President, Chief Operating Officer
Impact Industries, Inc. (Division of Lindberg Corporation) - Sandwich, Illinois
$25,000,000 manufacturer and finisher of aluminum die castings
Guided the re-engineering of the company's organizational structure and operations to position the company for sale. Through a $1.3 million cost reduction program, the company's losses over the previous two years were reversed, resulting in a projected $1.25 million profit for 1998. Lindberg elected to sell this non-core business in April, 1998.
Refocused the company's customer base to reduce the dependency on automotive sector sales, which accounted for 90% of the company's revenue (at low margins). As a result, this segment was reduced to 65% of the total business and, through price increases, raised sales by over $400,000.
Strengthened incentives for improved safety performance to lower Workers' Compensation costs, resulting in a 50% reduction in claims (a $550,000 cost savings). The company was awarded the North American Die Casting Association's Safety Award in November, 1997.
1996 Interim Division Manager
Harris Metals, Inc. (Division of Lindberg Corporation) - Cookeville, Tennessee
$7,000,000 permanent mold/segment mold aluminum foundry
Concurrent with and because of my success at the Arrow-Acme assignment below, I was assigned here for six months during the search for a permanent division manager.
During this period, improved company-wide communications were implemented to address issues of low morale and high employee turnover. Through frequent "town hall" discussions and daily supervisor meetings, order under-runs were reduced by 90% and temporary labor costs were reduced by 75%. The focus on quality and productivity was sharpened and implementation of ISO-9002 certification was begun.
1993-1996 Division Manager
Arrow Acme Company (Division of Lindberg Corporation) - Webster City, Iowa
Producer and finisher of aluminum castings, molten metal handling and small agricultural equipment
The posture of a combative and distrusting union work force was turned around by including union representatives in planning activities and expanding the training of hourly employees. Second-step grievances dropped by 95%, $105,000 in piecework incentive was eliminated, and the number of job bids was reduced by 70%.
Restructured the material cost calculation system to improve an inequitable pricing formula that was affecting cost pass-throughs to the division's largest customer. As a result, the company increased sales and margins to this customer by 12% (a $400,000+ gain) without risk of customer dissatisfaction.
1982 - 1993 EMPIRE DIE CASTING COMPANY - Cleveland, Ohio
A multi-divisional manufacturer of aluminum, magnesium and zinc alloy pressure castings
1991 - 1993 Corporate Director of Operations
1985 - 1991 Manager of Manufacturing Services & Director of Purchasing
1982 - 1985 Sales Manager
1979 - 1982 YORK MERIT PRODUCTS - Ellicottville, New York
A Tier 1 supplier of suspension components to the automotive industry
1980 - 1982 Shop Superintendent
1979 - 1980 Manufacturing Management Trainee
EDUCATION and HONORS
Bachelor of Science, Ceramic Engineering - Alfred University, Alfred, NY
Coursework, Master of Business Administration - St. Bonaventure University, Allegany, NY
Seminars: Lean Manufacturing, TQM, Sales, QC, General Management, Accounting, and Personal Skills
Chairman/Moderator: North American Die Casting Association, Plant Management Conference |
