James Vannest

***** ****** **.

Davison, MI *****

Cell 810-***-****

acot57@r.postjobfree.com

Professional Summary

• 19 years manufacturing management experience with increasing levels of responsibility

• Hands-on leadership and mentoring skills to strengthen team building and succession planning

• Lean Manufacturing (SMED, Kaizen, TPS, Six Sigma, 5S) with a focus on machine up time and

productivity

• In-depth technical manufacturing knowledge of injection molding, thermoforming, printing, IMD

molding, painting, laser etching, Class A inspections, and CNC machining

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2009 – 08/2014

Advanced Decorative Systems (ADS), M illington, MI.

Director of Operations (2009-2014)

• Designed and launched a new 45,000 sf. maquiladora manufacturing facility in Chihuahua, Mexico

• Responsible for implementing best manufacturing practices at 4 global locations (Asia, Europe,

USA and Mexico) for molding, tooling, and all decorative plastics operations

• Tracked group equipment capacities and authored CAPX proposals to the COO/CEO for capital

additions/expenditures with an ROI strategy

• Expert in using statistical tools for tracking and determining applicable Manufacturing Key

Performance Indicators (KPI’s)

• Strong in utilizing TPPA (Trend, Paynter, Pareto and Action Items) method for measuring well

defined areas of improvement

• Member of Global Executive Committee ( 5 member), designed to develop best global leadership

approach/ manufacturing methodology

Plant Manager (2005-2009)

• Responsible for manufacturing operations and accountable for overall EBITDA in Michigan and

three JIT operations in Mexico

• Coordinated plant activities through planning with departmental managers to ensure total

manufacturing objectives were accomplished in a timely and cost effective manner

• Managed all P&L responsibilities with a strong focus on lean manufacturing practices, while

establishing company bench marking

• Directed a cross-functional team of 9 Area Managers, including

Tooling/Mechanical/Project/Process Engineering, Maintenance, and Manufacturing Operations

• Customer interaction (Tier 1 and OEM) that provided a high level of commitment to program

development metrics and time lines

• Active in APQP, PPAP, and all aspects of pre-production program launches

2002 – 2005

M anagement Alternatives Ltd., Ocala, FL.

Manufacturing Consultant

• Established PM (Preventative Maintenance) management systems that increased equipment

reliability and throughput capacity

• Designed Shop Floor Control Reporting Systems that reduce scrap by assigning accountability to

the Supervisor / Operator/ Work Cells

• Worked on the production floor with Manufacturing and Maintenance Managers to design and

improve management reporting and manufacturing metrics

• Performed time, yield, capacity, and line balance studies to identify and reengineer manufacturing

bottlenecks

• Specialized in CNC machining, metal stamping, plastic extrusion, and complex subassembly

cells

1996 – 2002

Shouse Tool Company, Fenton, MI.

Operations Manager (1999-2002)

• Responsible for all CNC machining and grinding operations in coordination with scheduling,

backlog routing and material release schedules to achieve 100% on-time delivery

• Direct supervision of 60+ skilled machinists and administrative support staff

• Implemented an improved quality systems and design standards resulting in more than 50%

reduction in customer returns due to factory defects

• Led process focus and manufacturing steering teams to support material flow

Shouse Tool Company, Fenton, MI.

Purchasing Manager (1996-1999)

• Oversee $10+ million in annual procurement for automotive Tier 1 CBN/PCD cutting tool

manufacture

• Analyzed budgeted versus actual costs in the areas of direct project labor and overall Cost of

Goods Sold.

• Authored purchasing manuals to comply with ISO 9001 procedures

• Coordinated MRP levels of raw materials ensuring minimum inventory levels, while meeting on-

time production and shipping requirements.

E DUCATION

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI

Bachelor Degree, Business Administration, 1995

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