Harry G. Knight
Organizational Leadership and Supply Chain Specialist
Dublin, Ohio ab9jkd@r.postjobfree.com - 614-***-****
Executive Summary
Former Organizational Leadership and Supply Chain Specialist with the
largest grocery company in North America.
Former Brewery Operations Manager with the largest domestic brewing company
in North America.
Extensive operational and financial experience in management of Automated
Manufacturing, Material Handling, and Supply Chain Operations.
Strong leader in Human Resource, Quality Assurance, and Operations policy
execution in a unionized environment.
Committed enabler of lean change, specializing in identifying
organizational improvement opportunities and thriving in environments where
solid leadership and guidance is required.
Dedicated and professional leader with proven record of success managing
fast-paced and demanding manufacturing and supply chain operations.
Strategic and visionary leader combining operational experience and
expertise with strong organizational development successes.
Professional Experience
The Kroger Company, Columbus, Ohio (Dec. 2009-Apr. 2013)
Senior Assistant Supply Chain Manager- Kroger Great Lakes Region
Distribution Center
Operational accountability for regional distribution center servicing 265
stores in the Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia regions. Operation consists
of 800 union hourly associates, 35 non-union hourly support staff, and 65
salaried management staff.
Responsibilities include but not limited to all safety, quality,
productivity, and organizational leadership and succession planning
development for the operation.
Site consists of 900,000 square foot warehouse, transportation center, and
fuel and garage operations for fleet of 400+ multi-temp and dry box
carriers.
Distribution Center supplies commodities consisting of frozen, perishable,
and dry goods. Weekly volumes average between 2.8MM-3.0MM cases.
Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Columbus, Ohio (Jan. 1994-Dec.2008)
Senior Manager-Beer Packaging Operations
Responsible for leadership and direction of beer packaging operation for
10MM barrel per year brewery. Operation consisted of 3 high speed can
lines, 4 high speed bottle lines, and draught beer operation. Accountable
for ensuring strict adherence to all internal GMP and FDA regulations.
Packaging operations consisted of both Aseptic and non-Aseptic production
lines. System performance supported through HACCP processes and IMS
systems. Responsibilities included managing all safety, quality, and
performance standards which included budget costs, labor activities,
process support (maintenance), material usage, process loss, and capital
project implementation.
Departmental salaried direct reports consisted of Packaging Area Manager, 3
Area (Shift) Managers, 4 Reliability (Maintenance) Managers, Packaging
Technical Service Coordinator, and 16 Group Managers. Bargaining unit
direct reports consisted of approximately 150 hourly personnel comprised of
both operators and maintenance technicians.
Senior Manager- Warehouse/Distribution Operations
Responsible for leadership and direction of Columbus Brewery
warehouse/shipping/receiving operation supported by fully automated
material handling hardware/software system. System consists of 48 automated
guided vehicles and high-volume storage warehouse with 1MM case capacity.
HK Systems Material Handling Control System (MHCS) along with the Anheuser-
Busch Warehouse Management System (WMS) are the primary operating systems.
Columbus Brewery in-pattern shipping operation serves 85 AB wholesalers in
a 5 state region. In 2000 the Columbus warehouse operation expanded its
operating capacity by 30% and incorporated a transportation initiative
involving contract shipping operation with single primary carrier. Managed
the warehouse expansion project and transportation in addition to normal
warehouse responsibilities. Present warehouse shipping operation consists
of 500 trailer fleet which supports product shipping and backhaul generated
revenue for the brewery operation.
Salaried direct reports consisted of Warehouse Area Manager, 3 Area (Shift)
Managers, Reliability (Maintenance) Manager, and 8 Group Managers.
Bargaining unit direct reports consisted of approximately 60 hourly
personnel including both operators and maintenance technicians.
Salary/fringe responsibilities in excess of 5MM dollars per year.
Full accountability for yearly 7MM dollar warehouse operations budget,
including all contract and internal maintenance costs.
Career Accomplishments
Commitment to Excellence / Lean Leadership Initiatives (1994-2008)
Developed and delivered Process Improvement Team training for all
bargaining unit personnel in support of corporate-wide initiatives
established to cultivate efficient, cross-functional teams and align with
the Commitment to Excellence/Lean Manufacturing philosophies.
Developed and delivered The Changing Role of Leadership training seminar
designed in support of the current Operations Group Manager role as
owner/manager/coach of individual Beer Packaging and Shipping Business Unit
operations.
Selected to deliver Understanding Diversity training program to all
bargaining unit and salaried staff personnel.
Selected by Corporate Leadership and Development group to deliver Coaching
Supervisory Skills training seminar to all salaried brewery personnel. As a
direct result of these leadership and educational initiatives the Columbus
Brewery performance is the benchmark for the corporation. Total conversion
costs are the lowest of all 12 domestic breweries in the AB system.
Business Unit leadership skill levels and overall employee performance
enhanced through implementation and execution of these leadership
initiatives.
Operations Department Safety Coordinator (1994-2008)
Responsible for development and execution of departmental safety
initiatives, departmental team development, and all required Corporate and
OSHA safety training. In 1994 the Columbus Brewery experienced over 100
recordable injuries and 20 lost time accident.Since 1994 the Columbus
Operations department has experienced a reduction of lost time injuries by
93% and total recordable case rates (TRCR) by 85%.
Beer Packaging Manager (1996-2000)
Labor cost reductions due to improved efficiencies generated over 750M in
yearly savings.
Production schedule variances reduced from 30% to 18% which supported
reduced material inventories and increased on-time product deliveries to
wholesalers.
Reduced utilities (water/CO2) through improved process monitoring and
control efforts provided savings justification for over 5MM dollars in
packaging capital improvements.
Coordinated packaging operators assuming responsibility for product quality
monitoring. Since the inception of this initiative the brewery quality hold
quantities have reduced by 50% and the product dump occurrences have been
reduced by 85%
Warehouse and Distribution Operations Manager (2000-2008)
In 1999, warehouse costs per thousand barrels shipped were 18.3 mhrs. In
2001 the Columbus Brewery Warehouse operation became the benchmark for the
corporation with costs per thousand barrels shipped 12.5 mhrs.
Coordinated plant transition to corporate transportation initiative that
placed primary transportation carrier on site to handle 200+ loads per day.
In 2007 Columbus Brewery Warehouse Operations was the only warehouse in
system to receive a Role Model performance rating.
Selected as Operations representative to be part of corporate committee
designed to develop consolidation strategies for warehouse and logistics
groups across entire AB system.
Notable Achievements (1994-2013)
Beer Packaging Quality Control Initiative Coordinator
In 1998 a corporate wide initiative to improve product quality and cost
reduction all secondary packaging quality control measure duties were
assumed by packaging operators. Operations Department coordinator and
corporate team member was assigned to develop and implement both strategic
and tactical action plans to support this initiative.
Anheuser-Busch Corporate Brewing School Certification
Attended corporate brewing school in 1996. As both Packaging and Warehouse
Manager would work regularly with both Quality Assurance and Brewing
personnel on taste improvement strategies involving the beer packaging and
shipping processes. Taught beer packaging process procedures as part of our
local brewing certification classes delivered to hourly personnel.
United Way Chairman, Columbus Brewery
Served as chairman of the yearly United Way fund raising campaign.
Committee was comprised of both salaried and hourly employees. Generated
funds in excess of 100M dollars for each year during the 2-year leadership
period.
Warehouse Automation Project Manager
In 1996 Columbus installed a fully automated warehousing system consisting
of automated vehicles which store and retrieve all package beer. In 2000
the Columbus Brewery increased its overall production capacity from 7MM
barrels to 10MM barrels annually.
Labor Management Committee for Excellence
Committee comprised of members from both salaried and bargaining unit work
force. As Operations department salaried representative was responsible for
leading bipartisan efforts in improving company/union work relationship and
business initiatives. To date the Columbus Brewery has maintained the
lowest grievance rate and lowest number of arbitration hearings.
Columbus Brewery Transportation Advantage Project Manager
In 2000 Anheuser-Busch initiated a corporate wide transportation initiative
which established a primary transportation carrier base at each facility.
As Columbus Brewery project manager was responsible to coordinate the
transition from AB wholesaler owned shipping to a primary carrier which
presently has over 500 trailers assigned to the Columbus Brewery shipping
operation.
Advisory Committee Member/Presenter, HK Systems Material Handling
Conference
In 2003 was selected as committee member and presenter for the yearly
material handling conference. Conference delivers case studies and intimate
insight of state-of-the-art technology advancements, best-practice
methodology for material handling, logistics, and inventory control.
Chairman, HK Systems Material Handling Conference
In 2004 served as Chairman of the HK Systems Material Handling Conference.
Modern Materials Handling Magazine
In 2005 featured in Modern Materials Handling magazine discussing the
methodology and implementation strategies used for material handling
automation within Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Corporate Strategic Planning Committee Member
Committee member of corporate team comprised of representatives from
Operations, Business Administration, and Logistics whose task was to
develop merging strategies between warehouse operations and logistics
operations on a local and corporate level.
Habitat for Humanity
2012 Chairman of the Distribution Center Habitat for Humanity team of
associates who organized and constructed home for local resident in
Delaware County.
2012 Contract Negotiations Committee Member
Committee member of the Kroger Company contract negotiations team.
Successfully negotiated and signed new 6-year contracts for both the United
Industrial Workers (UIW) and International Aerospace and Machinists (IAM)
at the Great Lakes Regional Distribution Center.
Group and Organizational Memberships
University of Richmond Alumni and Athletic Club Association
California Coast University Alumni Association
Board of Directors Altenburg and Associates Financial Services- Merrill-
Lynch Inc.
Education
University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia
California Coast University Santa Ana, California - B.S. Business
Management
Additional Professional Experience
Quarterback-Oakland Raider Football Club- National Football League
Quarterback-Winnipeg Blue Bomber Football Club- Canadian Football League