James Harold Ward
***** ******** ***** ~ Northville, MI, 48168-3425
269-***-**** *************@***.***
Career Summary
Adept Supply Chain Professional with a proven history of leveraging
technical product knowledge, line balancing, process optimization,
extensive enterprise-level leadership experience, and respected leadership
skill to bring about substantial cost savings in multiple industries.
Strong ability to acquire technical understanding of product lines in order
to estimate build costs and identify logistic-related efficiencies. Refined
communicator, capable of interfacing with project stakeholders,
international team members, engineers, and vendors to align goals and
ensure low costs are maintained. Master of Business Administration from
Michigan State University.
Leadership Management Logistics/Supply
EStrategic Planning EProject Management Chain
ETraining/Staff Development EEnterprise-Level EEstimation Tool
Implementation Design
EExecutive Communication ENegotiation/Selling EProcess/ERP
Optimization
EMetrics Development
Career Accomplishments
. Lead cost estimator for Dana Heavy Vehicle driveline systems
supporting future military, commercial, and industrial vehicle
systems. Dedicated to quantifying and optimizing large driveline
customer quotes for multiple customers around the world.
. Championed the development and implementation of a common cost
estimation database, enabling more-accurate estimation by
consolidating historical cost data for GM and competitor products from
multiple legacy databases at GM sites throughout the world.
. Influenced stakeholders and provided an alternative solution thereby
avoiding $10M of equipment purchases and $40M of annual production
costs.
. Saved $6,000+ a week by implementing a simplified incoming supply
chain and eliminating redundant inspection steps at GM's Livonia
Engine.
. Realized $12.6M in annual savings in flexible packaging across 26
Unilever plant locations using a variety of sourcing strategies.
. Recruited by Bowersox Consulting to optimize Mercury Marine's national
supply chain in 1996, leading a successful initiative that lowered
distribution costs (2.2M/yr), increased order fill rates (92% to 99%),
decreased delivery times (6.5 to 2.5 days), and decreased inventory
(43%).
. Increased monthly sales 20% at 84 Lumber by optimizing a customer's
business model, enabling them to significantly expand their
construction business.
. Increased sales volume 15-25% at Busch's Value Land by implementing
metric-based pricing.
Professional Experience
DANA HOLDING COPORATION, Grace Lake Corp Center, Van Buren,
MI Dec 2009-Present
Worldwide supplier of light and heavy vehicle driveline systems.
Lead Financial Quote Analyst - DANA Heavy Vehicle Operations (Dec 2009-
present)
. Creating new department responsible for inventing new systems and
methods to speed the accuracy and timeliness of customer quotes. I
model and estimate costs for multiple manufacturing and logistical
strategy options for customer quotes using DANA's worldwide
manufacturing footprint to identify the best supply chain strategy
for military, commercial and heavy vehicle drive system solutions for
customers across the world.
GENERAL MOTORS, Pontiac, MI 1999-Dec 2009
Global leader in motor vehicle engine and transmission design and
manufacture.
Cost Engineer - GM Powertrain (2002-Dec 2009)
. Program coordinator of 2 new 6sp automatic transmissions from concept
BOM to SOP.
. Lead financial estimation activities for multiple new and existing
transmission product programs, includes benchmarking design costs for
new and upgraded programs as well as implementing cost reduction
opportunities for 6 Product Management Teams, including Torque
Converters, Structures, Gears & Shafts, Power Transfer, Electrical
Controls and Shifting Systems.
. Interface with engineers (conceptual, design, process, mechanical, and
production) to estimate part and tooling costs from either diagrams or
physical parts.
. Apply extensive teardown and costing experience with GM transmissions,
as well as similar transmissions from competitors including Toyota,
Ford, Chrysler, ZF, Aisin Warner and Jatco.
. Review and estimate build costs for highly-confidential and future
products.
. Develop and implement time-saving, enterprise-level cost estimation
databases using formulas, comparisons, and historic cost data.
. Generate in depth intelligence and detailed cost models for purchasing
negotiations.
James Ward Page Two
Professional Experience
(Continued)
GENERAL MOTORS (Continued)
Budget/Forecast Analyst -Romulus Engine (2001-2002)
. Oversaw activities related to the labor desk, HPU analysis,
consignments, journal vouchers, account reconciliation, monthly cross-
charges, various monthly HQ reports, and overtime forecasts.
. Implemented user-friendly pivot tables on the production floor,
enabling easy access to detailed scrap trends and reporting on hours
worked.
. Reduced department workload by 80 hours/month through strategic
initiatives.
Additional supply optimization experience as Budget/Forecast Analyst in
Livonia Engine (1999-2001).
GORTON'S SEAFOOD (DIVISION OF UNILEVER), Gloucester, MA 1997-
1999
Nationally renowned retail and commercial frozen seafood supplier.
Buyer/Planner
. Led strategic supply-chain initiatives, ultimately negotiating 12.6 M
dollars in annual savings across 26 plant locations using a variety of
sourcing strategies and enterprise-level harmonization.
. Interfaced extensively with Marketing, Production Planning,
Distribution, and Sales to introduce efficiencies and source materials
for various coupon, promotion, and point-of-sale (POS) projects.
. Led the successful implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning
(MFG-PRO) solution to replace an outdated legacy system in purchasing
and manufacturing departments.
. Drove cost-optimization initiatives as a core member of a Strategic
Sourcing Initiative (SSI) team for flexible packaging that spanned a
number of Unilever's manufacturing locations.
. Validated and rated prospective supplier's abilities through plant
visits, audits, and quality checks.
. Converted 2 plant locations to new corrugated and flexible packaging
suppliers.
. Implemented ISBN bar code technology by leading the successful
redesign of shipping containers.
. Investigated feasibility of Internet-based bidding as new sourcing
strategy (FreeMarkets).
BOWERSOX AND ASSOCIATES CONSULTING, Lansing, MI 1996
Nationally-recognized Lean Supply Chain experts specializing in finished
goods delivery efficiency.
Distribution Consultant
. Optimized Mercury Marine's national supply chain as the lead analyst,
successfully lowering distribution costs, increasing order fill rates,
decreasing delivery times, and decreasing inventory.
. Collected and analyzed data to test the efficiency of different
product distribution networks, ultimately recommending the most
efficient solution.
. Interfaced with project stakeholders throughout the organization to
develop a final distribution plan and obtain critical "buy in,"
despite significant change to job responsibilities and work
environment.
Additional management, sales, customer consultation, and cost reduction
experience with 84 Lumber (1993-1994) and Busch's Value Land (1992).
Software Experience
Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook), Team Center CAD, MFG
pro and other GM proprietary computer systems, ERP software, Engineering
Change Database, Web-based Meeting Software
Education
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, East Lansing, MI
Master of Business Administration (Finance and Materials & Logistics
Management), 1996
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE, Kalamazoo, MI
Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration, 1991
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1991