JAMES A. LANKFORD

***** ******* ****** **** (**2) 715-

4640

Omaha, NE 68136 j-

abiiod@r.postjobfree.com Cell 402-***-****

SUMMARY

An accomplished manager with a progressive track record within Chemical,

Biotechnical, and Food manufacturing industries. Demonstrated experience

and knowledge in Strategy Development, Project Management, Continuous

Improvement, Process Optimization, and Employee Development. Sought out

for advanced leadership skills, business acumen, and execution abilities,

as well as superior capabilities in significantly reducing costs through

process and system improvements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

CSM PURAC America, Inc.

1999 - 2010

PURAC America, INC. was founded in 1935 and is a part of CSM, a global

player in bakery supplies and food ingredients. With six production units

worldwide, a global network of sales offices, local application centers and

over 1000 highly trained employees, PURAC America specializes in the

production of Lactic Acid and its derivatives for use in various food and

technical applications.

Manager, Operations & Maintenance, Blair, NE Facility (Jan 2008 - June

2010)

Reported to the VP Operations, North America (NA). Responsible for all

production, maintenance, TPM activities, and environmental health and

safety (EH&S) functions at the two Blair, NE facilities (Replacement Asset

Value (RAV) $100 million), and 79 employees while maintaining world class

equipment efficiencies and maintenance spend rates.

. Achieved two years without a loss time accident.

. Assigned as Project Manager for Systems Improvement Project: Aligned

current processes, policies, and practices with ERP system. Delivered

better transparency on costs and budget control, production throughput,

yields, planning efficiencies, safety reporting, and all related plant

performance metrics.

. Developed and managed US Maintenance Strategy including predictive,

preventative, failure maintenance, mechanical integrity, and

instrumentation and automation.

. Selected as Project Lead for Criticality and RCFA Study to update

current maintenance strategy.

. Reduced maintenance spends from 2.3% RAV to 2.1% RAV through workflow

and man-hour improvements while maintaining plant efficiencies.

. Effectively reduced fixed costs by $320,000 through manpower efficiency

and process optimization efforts in 2009.

TPM & Safety Manager, Blair, NE Facility (2007 - 2008)

Reported to VP Operations, NA. Responsible for leading TPM, safety, and

environmental functions at the Blair Facility.

. Led multifunctional team to develop and implement improved root cause

analysis process. Resulted in improved response to safety and

manufacturing incidents and drove continuous improvement.

. Increased transparency on site metrics as Project Lead for site

reporting optimization.

. Accomplished no loss time accidents for two years (2007-2008) through

pro-active leadership.

Plant Operations Manager, Janesville, WI Facility (2006 - 2007)

Oversaw all aspects of Plant Operations at the Janesville Facility

(strategic planning to public relations). Direct reports included

Production Manager, QA/QC Supervisor, Plant Engineer, Logistics/Admin.

Specialist and 17 indirect reports.

Selected as Project Manager for Crystallization Process Improvement

Project. Led team to develop new production process and parameters to

improve particle size distribution and caking properties.

Mentored and developed replacement Production Manager and three Plant

Technicians into Supervisors.

Completed due diligence process and helped facilitate sale, shut-down, and

closure of the facility.

James A. Lankford

Page 2

Production Manager, Janesville, WI Facility (2003 - 2006)

Oversaw all aspects of production at the Janesville Facility. Reported to

Operations Manager. Direct reports included two Shift Supervisors, and a

Material Handling Technician; 11 indirect reports.

Assigned as Project Manager for ERP system implementation. Oversaw

implementation and training for all employees on the BPCS system

(Production, Accounts Payable, Shipping & Receiving, and Purchasing).

Charged with the development of operation reporting processes, metrics,

and continuous improvement activities around material efficiencies,

yields, maintenance workflows, cost transparency, control measures,

inventory management, MPS attainment, and customer quality.

Selected as Team Lead for PURAC America inventory and close process

project bringing all US sites to common structure.

Selected as Project Lead on Plant Operational Excellence Improvement

Project:

> increased capacity by 79% with minimal capital expenditure while

increasing yield on primary raw material by 21%.

> increased product quality by 75%.

> increased manufacturing contribution from -$1M to + $500K through

process reliability and efficiency activities.

> built safety culture resulting in zero lost time incidents and zero

OSHA recordables for two years.

> led site maintenance initiative and reduced emergency downtime from

33% to <3% without increasing annual maintenance spend and maintained

a maintenance spend RAV of <2.3%.

> brought operator attrition rates from >50% to no unplanned losses in

over two years.

> implemented Site Safety Permit System.

. Assigned as key technology contact in PURAC best-practice platform for

Gluconic Acid Fermentation. Implemented best proven practices from US

plant to the plants in Netherlands.

. Mentored and developed two Plant Technicians into Shift Supervisors.

Production Supervisor (2001 - 2003)

Responsible for team of 11 Operators, Technicians, and Lead Technicians.

Supervised all aspects of production operations (Planning, Scheduling,

Training & Development, Safety, and Projects).

. Developed employee training and skill advancement program from creation

of operating procedures to testing, and finally auditing.

. Developed production metrics (Yields, Efficiencies, Plant Balances,

Attainment, and Quality) to identify process improvement projects and

led improvement efforts.

. Mentored and developed an Operator into a Shift Supervisor to oversee

night crews.

Shift Lead Technician, Chemical Process Technician (1999 - 2001)

Operated all aspects of Fermentation, Evaporation, Crystallization,

packaging, warehouse, and utilities.

Taylor Freezer, Rockton, IL, Sheet Metal/ Fabrication Shop Operator

1995 - 1999

EDUCATION

University of Phoenix, Bachelors Degree in Global Business

currently enrolled as a full-time student with 3.7 GPA

AAB completion estimated 2010. BA estimated 2012.

TRAINING AND OTHER SKILLS

Root Cause Analysis Facilitation, OSHAS 18001 Auditor, HACCP, BRC

Internal Auditing

CSM TPM Managers Course, Krauthammer Leadership Development,

Proficient in MS Office Suite, AS400 ERP Experience in BPCS/EAM, ERPLX,

and ASAP

Contact this candidate