For 37 years I have been developing technical and business management support skills specific to the manufacturing industry. My focus is the wood products industry and introducing innovative methods and processes to improve your manufacturing and increase your profits.

Relevant Skills, Experience, and Accomplishments:

Innovation – Research, develop, and apply new technologies, processes and automation to optimize manufacturing. Innovations include designing and overseeing the building of new machines for both wood and metal working, integrated control systems, and automated material handling systems. I have extensive international experience developing and acquiring new machines as well as component suppliers.

• Developed an integrated manufacturing cell that resulted in labor cost reductions of 90% for machining and hardware insertion in office furniture work surfaces. Total savings to date exceed $14 million on an investment of $1.3 million.

• Developed fully automated and integrated production line for post formed high-pressure laminate work surfaces yielding a 50% reduction in labor and a three-fold increase in capacity within the same footprint as the previous line.

• Led the development of the first CNC machines for application of tee molding in conjunction with a German machine builder, resulting in labor savings in excess of 60% and avoidance of associated ergonomic issues.

• Led the development of the environmentally friendly technology of powder coating of medium density fiberboard at a cost 50% below conventional finishes.

• Initiated many product redesigns to reduce cost and improve quality resulting in millions of dollars in total savings.

• My design of production and assembly lines are used across North America for products as diverse as butcher blocks, wood blinds, concrete forms, flat panels, office furniture and cabinets.

• Key member of the design team for the largest and most automated kitchen cabinet plant in the US.  Responsibilities included, component production processes and machinery, assembly and all automated material handling systems.

Planning – Experienced with developing both short and long range manufacturing plans to support business objectives.
I have experience planning (tactical and strategic business planning, project planning, and staffing planning) including identifying goals, objectives, methods, schedules and resources necessary for implementation and completion.

• I initiated, developed and put in place the first five-year manufacturing plan for one of the leading manufacturers of office furniture with an annual volume of  more than $1 billion.

Experienced in:

• Design of new manufacturing production lines and processes including all facets of office furniture, face frame and frameless cabinets, ready to assemble furniture and custom millwork

• Cost reduction projects

• Lean manufacturing implementations

• Continuous flow work cells

• Team building between product design, purchasing and manufacturing groups to reduce time to market and improve manufacturability and reduce costs of new product introductions

• Automated material handling equipment including AS/RS systems and AGV applications

• Managing design and procurement of major production machinery and support equipment.

• Troubleshooting and redesigning existing production lines to improve throughput, quality and reduce cost

• Analyzing and correcting quality problems for solid lumber, veneer and laminated products

• All aspects of wood finishing including UV and powder coating

• Custom machine design

• Managing manufacturing facilities and services

Technical Expertise – I am a recognized expert with in-depth knowledge of woodworking machinery and wood finishing, and experienced in all areas of wood and steel furniture manufacturing, extrusion and injection molding of plastics, metal extrusions and die casting, metal working and finishing and tool making.

Education

• B.S - Mechanical Engineering from Tri State University, Angola, IN

• Additional coursework at: Pennsylvania State University, Drexel University and Cedar Crest College

Articles

I am Contributing Editor of Wood Digest and my articles focusing on manufacturing in the wood industry have been published there since 2003.

Honors

• Innovator of the Year - Woodworking Machinery Industry Association, 1995

• Challengers Award Judge - International Wood Fair, 1994 to 2002

• Presenter - Second International Wood Congress, Hannover, Germany, 1999

• Presenter - Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences, Rosenheim, Germany, 2000

• Presenter at numerous trade associations including IWF, NSFA, and NKBA