Louis M. Szabo

***** **** ***** *****, ********* 1623, Boca Raton, FL 33433

561-***-**** f9cgfj@r.postjobfree.com

PLANT OPERATIONS MANAGER

A highly experienced plant operations manager with more than 15 years of combined experience impacting the profitability and performance of diverse organizations. Proven ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in highly competitive industries and fast-paced environments. Pragmatic leader with proven ability to successfully analyze an organization’s critical business requirements, identify deficiencies and potential opportunities, and develop innovative and cost-effective solutions for enhancing competitiveness, increasing revenues, meeting delivery goals, and improving customer service offerings. Effective analyst, problem solver, and communicator.

Manufacturing operations • Production and inventory control • Quality control • Deadline fulfillment • Problem solving • Negotiating skills • Customer service • Cost reduction strategies • Productivity improvements • Turnaround strategies • Organizational development • Planning skills • Verbal and written communication • Bilingual (English and Hungarian) • Coordination skills • Recruiting strategies • Distribution operations • Textiles

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

NORDSTROM CAFE BISTRO, NORDSTROM RESTAURANT DIVISION, Miami, FL

May 2009-February 2011

General Manager

Managed and directed sales, profitability, and overall performance of a high-image, full service restaurant, generating $1.4 million in annual sales. Directed the recruitment, interviewing, hiring, training, motivation and evaluation of crews. Oversaw the quality of recipes, service standards, and sanitation practices. Controlled fiscal aspects of business operations and exceeded financial goals. Coordinated work schedules, ordered food and supplies, and developed a restaurant team of 33. Supervised the preventative maintenance and upkeep of equipment and facility. Ensured a safe workplace and pleasant customer service experience.

METRITEK LLLP, Boca Raton, FL

June 1992-November 1999, March 2001-April 2008

Plant Operations Manager

Directed the strategic management and operational oversight for a $30 million lace production company. Primary leadership force of this highly successful, recognized, and profitable organization, directing a staff of 65 toward providing streamlined operations, reduced operating costs, and greater profitability. Established operational policies/procedures, strategic plans, workforce structures for compliance with objectives, operational measures, and forecasted results. Held full responsibility for the planning and management of all business operations (e.g. manufacturing, quality, purchasing, inventory, distribution, and human resources).

Major Contributions:

• Orchestrated the relocation of 31 Jacquardtronic lace knitting machines to a new 75,000-foot facility in 6 weeks, 6 weeks ahead of schedule, generating $1 million in additional revenue for the company.

• Reduced inventory surplus 50% by implementing demand-based planning process.

• Strengthened controls through design of multiple system/process improvements, achieving a 45% decrease in damaged goods.

• Played an instrumental role in positioning company as the sole Jacquardtronic lace manufacturer in US by implementing improved staff training methods. Increased productivity through the use of these programs, attaining the highest quality, lowest labor cost, and most consistent on-time delivery in the industry.

• Increased company profits and efficiency by releasing 39% of workforce and eliminating overtime, reducing annual labor payroll expense by $1.6 million over 18 months.

• Opened the door to significant new business opportunities in Japan by playing a central role in securing a major account with Hoei Sen-I Limited, exceeding the quality standards of the customer, one of the highest in the lace industry.

• Improved production efficiency and eliminated the need for machinery replacement by developing a rigorous maintenance schedule for machine overhauls.

Manufacturing Plant Leadership skills and experience:

• Fifteen years of proven expertise in the operational aspects of running a textile manufacturing facility. Subject matter expertise and new product engineering experience, ranging from setting and achievement of design to production specifications, quality testing of goods, technical specifications through thorough knowledge of machine capabilities, limitations, and operation, and assessing yarn capabilities based upon customer inquiries/requirements.

• Excellent communication skills, working with business partners on all levels of the organization. Autonomy to contact customers and vendors as necessary, making decisions for the company based upon the rapport developed with customers and vendors throughout my career.

• Solid negotiation skills, from the customer to the vendor, office staff to the plant floor. Negotiated delivery schedules with customers based upon production scheduling and current work loads; vendor negotiation for yarn, parts, or any other inventory needed for the manufacture of lace. Acted as a liaison between the president and staff, effectively solving issues on a continual basis (technical issues, labor disputes, scheduling, workload management).

• Team player and hands-on manager, as comfortable getting his hands dirty as running the operation. (Leadership through example).

• Balanced, rule-driven processes and creative problem solving skills, staying focused on the goals of the organization and implementing solutions with these goals in mind. Firm but fair approach to management, implementing solutions with team to keep the defined standards of the organization paramount.

• Effective leadership and decisiveness, especially in high pressure situations.

• Diligent hiring process, exemplified by >10% turnover at Metritek. Assessment of talent and solid work ethic during the interview process and probationary period upon hiring. Thorough HR documentation and recordkeeping experience for legal and organizational purposes.

• Cross-training of employees for maximum production output. Maintenance mechanics, change crews, and supervisors all started out as machine operators, ensuring crews understood all aspects of operation, maintenance, and pattern changes on machinery.

• Strategic thinking, development, and implementation of company objectives and long term success, demonstrated through the capital expenditure on new machinery, after 20 years of using existing machinery at Metritek. Capitalized on opportunity to break into overseas markets' need for a new, exciting, higher quality, more intricate lace, purchasing two new machines to offer the latest, top-quality lace with samples to customers around the world without sacrificing production capability and unmatched efficiency. Knowledge of market conditions to set Metritek above its competitors by delivering the newest designs and technology of lace into the hands of customers in the shortest time possible, with increased production capability.

Global Experience:

• Earned reputation for the highest quality and fastest delivery of lace in the world, shipping worldwide to customers in 17 countries on 4 continents.

• Monitored lace market trends through network of contacts both domestically and globally, from customers to vendors. Maintained constant contact and conversation with customers and vendors to ascertain market conditions and measure impact on business (e.g., communication with international customers to discuss current market and fashion trends, assessing the impact on new orders, contact with lace machine manufacturers to keep appraised of the latest technologies and updates for existing production machinery).

• Regularly communicated with international customers to negotiate quality specifications, design and technical changes, and delivery schedules.

• Developed new partnership with a parts supplier in China, resulting in $200,000 in cost savings annually, a 75% reduction in cost from the previous supplier. After several months of developing an acceptable prototype, a successful partnership was achieved.

CINTAS CORPORATION, Piscataway, NJ

December 1999-February 2001

Plant Manager

Directed overall production process and a workforce of 120 for a multi-shift industrial laundry company. Handpicked externally from several candidates to provide plant operations leadership for company’s largest plant amongst 300 locations, without any prior uniform industry experience. Controlled a $4.8 million annual budget and directed all aspects of production, safety, and environmental issues, as well as logistics and continuous improvement. Collaborated with sales and service departments to ensure on-time delivery of garments and ancillary supply services to customers.

Major Contributions:

• Spearheaded turnaround of plant struggling with poor morale following years of ineffective plant management and poor performance tracking measures.

• Positioned location from last place benchmarking ranking amongst 10 locations to 3rd place within 6 months of hiring.

• Turned around out-of-control distribution and quality problems, improving uniform delivery time by 72%; significantly upgraded service to customers and elevated organizational performance while reducing customer complaints.

• Achieved and maintained lowest plant labor payroll in region with implementation of shift reports. Increased productivity and upgraded staff performance with these reports, averaging 15% lower plant labor payroll regionally.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Communication, 1990

Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida

Self financed

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