TIMOTHY NORTHERN

* *** **** ****

Jamesville, NY 13078

Ph: 315-***-****

acujch@r.postjobfree.com

Process engineer in multi-layer ceramic capacitor electronic component manufacturing. Project management, statistical process control, root cause, failure mode analysis, lean six sigma, continuous improvement, quality management, new process and product validation are part of a diverse skill set. Participation in previous employer's 401k plans sparked a keen interest to pursue personal management of a securities and equities portfolio. Insurance sales produced a gratifying opportunity to assess customer needs and budget, and match

appropriate products to protect the futures of many families. However, my true passion resides in high-tech manufacturing and hands on engineering. Bachelor of Science Degree, Ceramic Engineering.

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

HOLBROOK HEATING and AIR CONDITIONING, Pompey, NY 1/15 – PRESENT

SCHEDULER

Scheduling of technical estimators calling upon prospective residential and commercial customers to specify appropriate equipment for sales in various heating, cooling, and indoor air quality improvement applications.

SELF EMPLOYED, Jamesville, NY 7/13 – 12/14

Securities and equities investment. Crude oil exploration, production, and refinement project investment. Personal residence remodeling and refurbishment projects.

NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, East Syracuse, NY 7 /11 – 12/13

NYS LICENSED (Life, Accident, and Health) INSURANCE AGENT

DIELECTRIC LABORATORIES, INC., Cazenovia, NY 10/06 –9/10

MANUFACTURING PROCESS ENGINEER

Ceramic process engineer where duties included monitoring and control of binder removal, sintering, and surface finishing processing areas of high Q factor, low ESR value magnesium titanate based dielectric, palladium electrode bearing MLCC product line. Other responsibilities included special project management in other process areas.

Evaluated and implemented an isostatic press process into clean room production area which increased green pad lamination productivity up to 150% while improving pressed pad density uniformity and quality.

Utilized PVB (solvent) based binder ceramic sheet material to minimize both the stress risers during

green process pad dicing and ceramic/metallic coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch during the subsequent thermal processing resulting in ~50% crack defect reduction in the small case size, high cap value product line when compared to same product manufactured with water based binder system.

Implemented statistical process control (SPC) system for the high temperature sintering, periodic profile of MLCC components by utilizing ceramic rings, which shrink a specific amount based on the “heat work” seen during a kiln cycle, allowing much greater consistency of product properties within and across multiple furnaces.

Procured, evaluated, and implemented high volume, heavy duty periodic sintering furnace capable of fast temperature ramp rates to mitigate internal stress/strain in small case size, higher cap value part types due to palladium electrode oxidation/reduction reactions. Productivity per kiln run was increased up to 80% .

TIM NORTHERN PAGE 2

DIELECTRIC LABORATORIES, INC., (cont.)

Identified source of tight capacitance tolerance “trim pad” cracking failure mode in large chip (~0.35”x0.35”x0.10”) military application part type as inconsistent post sintering surface finishing. This shortcoming allowed sharper chip corners and thinner silver paste termination coverage at the outermost trim pad electrode ends, which during the subsequent process step, more easily allowed nickel based electroplating solution a pathway for penetration and metallic deposition along the outer most electrode resulting in stress/strain and ceramic cover layer cracking leading to end product performance degradation and costly 100% visual inspection. Surface finishing process time increase combined with machine to machine calibration and post process corner radii sample inspection eliminated the undesirable cover layer cracking.

KEMET ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, Fountain Inn, SC 1989 - 2005

BASE METAL ELECTRODE MLCC THERMAL AND SURFACE FINISH PROCESS ENGINEER 1998-2005

Controlled atmosphere thermal and surface finish process engineer for base metal electrode (BME) multi-layer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) production where duties included process control, new equipment tooling qualification, quality and capacity improvement project management, as well as transferring multiple processes to lower cost Mexican facilities.

Evaluated new furnace design to allow 33% increased capacity with standard kiln furniture. Project

included study of larger product setter plates to better utilize chamber volume to potentially increase productivity another 45%.

Realized 25% cycle time reduction by simultaneously qualifying and implementing a shorter

reoxidation profile and larger setter plate kiln furniture in X5R MLCC periodic firing process.

Qualified continuous sintering and reoxidation processes in available furnaces for X5R product

line to alleviate demand on ~50% of the previously used periodic furnaces better suited for new product development.

Implemented different kiln furniture design allowing 10% lower cost, 50% longer life, reduced

propensity for kiln “wrecks”, and improved product quality due to tougher, less reactive zirconia

coating.

Conducted “6 Sigma” components of variation (C.O.V.) study to determine sources of variation

in binder removal and periodic sintering processes and implemented different furnace heater

element design to reduce thermal gradient thereby increasing finished yields ~ 6%.

Responsible for post assembly debug, setup, and production qualification of numerous binder

removal ovens and high temperature periodic and continuous sintering furnaces to meet production

expansion schedules.

PRECIOUS METAL ELECTRODE MLCC THERMAL AND SURFACE FINISH PROCESS ENGINEER 1989–1998

Air atmosphere binder removal, sintering, and surface finish process engineer for high volume precious metal electrode (PME) electronic capacitor manufacturing where duties included process control, new equipment qualification, and quality improvement implementation

Qualified “crucible” binder removal and sintering processes for X7R and NPO product lines replacing the more laborious “basket” bake out, bisque, and manual loading of sintering furnace reducing department through put ~25% and eliminating sources of physical damage defects.

Qualified and implemented lower peak temperature, longer time continuous sintering process to prevent melted electrode quality issues with less expensive, higher silver/lower palladium content electrode systems.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering

Clemson University, Clemson, SC

TO: Manufacturing Process Engineering Recruiters

FROM: Tim Northern PH: 315-***-**** email: acujch@r.postjobfree.com

2 Fir Tree Lane

Jamesville, NY

13078

SUBJECT: Resume Cover Letter: TIM NORTHERN

Please review the attached resume detailing manufacturing process engineering experience in electronic component manufacturing. My experience is concentrated in the high volume production of ceramic material based electronic capacitor components. This product’s manufacturing is comprised of multiple complex steps. I accrued experience in numerous steps, but concentrated in the tightly controlled thermal processing where organic binder is removed prior to high temperature sintering in which electrical properties are developed. Other process areas where I gained valuable experience included “green” pad/chip construction/dicing in a “clean room” environment, as well as post sintering surface finishing and internal electrode termination paste application and curing.

The main duties in these process areas included ongoing process control and improvement as well as new equipment qualification and implementation to augment productivity and allow new product/production capabilities.

The utilization of various tools such as FMEA, SPC, DOE, Six Sigma (DMAIC), 5S, TQM, KAIZEN, and LEAN were instrumental in the identification of problem areas, root cause analysis, source/magnitude of variation followed by minimization, elimination, continuous monitoring, improvement, and control. A convenient attribute of the tools, methodologies, and disciplines of process and manufacturing engineering is how they can transfer across different processes, as well as industries, and still be applicable. The extensive six sigma green belt training I received instilled this variation minimization and control philosophy that can be applied “across the board” in various manufacturing arenas, not exclusively electronics.

I would appreciate an opportunity to meet and discuss how my addition to your team will be mutually beneficial and productive.

Sincerely,

Tim Northern

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