WILLIAM A BUCHANAN
**** ****** **. #40-256-***-****
Arley, AL 35541 *********@***.***
PLANT GENERAL MANAGER
Proven leader with over 20 years diverse management experience in
Manufacturing, specializing in increased productivity through raised
efficiencies. Decisive manager with excellent problem solving and trouble
shooting skills. Experience in building and managing self directed work
teams, Kaizen activities, 5S, Lean Manufacturing. Specific areas of
expertise include:
Cost, Scrap, & Waste reduction First time, Built in Quality
Continuous Improvement Employee Development & Training
Full P&L ownership Facility Start-Up
TS 16949/QS 9000 - ISO 14001 Environmental Health & Safety
Excellent Negotiation Skills Excellent Communication skills
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Eagle Bend Manufacturing - Clinton Tennessee
Operations Manager
Mar 2010 - Present
Responsibilities include overseeing the turnaround (change agent) of all
production operations including receipt of material, stamping, weld
assembly, and on time delivery of quality products to numerous U.S. and
Asian OEM's. To provide leadership and mentoring to 4 Managers, 10
Supervisors and 350 employees in all areas of manufacturing including
safety, quality, productivity, profitability, on time delivery,
maintenance, production efficiencies, 5S, effective use of personnel,
ensuring compliance with all OSHA rules and regulations, and enforcing all
company policies and procedures fairly and equitably. Setting all
departmental goals, developing area metrics and tracking mechanisms (KOI's)
to allow data based decision making. Departmental P&L responsibility and
accountability to include adhering to approved budgets, tracking all
departmental purchase requisitions, evaluating any capital expenditures for
ROI.
Sewon America Corporation - LaGrange Georgia
Plant General Manager
Feb 2009 - Mar 2010
While reporting directly to the President, had total responsibility of
operations leadership from 'Greenfield" start-up to full mass production
including all safety, production, maintenance, quality, production
engineering, materials/logistics/supply chain, P&L, and tool room
activities which includes the hiring, training, and installation of all
employees and equipment. "Hands On" leadership of a continually growing
staff existing of 8 Managers, 5 Supervisors, and approximately 400
employees for a Tier 1 Korean automotive supplier of stampings and welded
assemblies. Developed and administered business unit plans including
aggressively driving cost control, ensured that plant, operation processes,
and all operational equipment are ready for SOP and that all parts meet
customer specifications while being delivered to the customer per the
shipping schedule. Coordination of all departments ensuring a smooth
startup of all new programs including conception, PPAP's, R@R, ECO's,
LVPT's, HVPT's, and shipping trials. P&L accountability which would include
plant and departmental forecasts, setting organizational business plans,
ROI, management of individual departmental budgets, strategic planning and
goal setting, and overseeing and controlling critical startup costs.
Developed "Leadership Training Program" for all management employees.
. Employing "State of the Art" technology, 3C/5S, Kaizen, Lean
Manufacturing techniques, Value Stream Mapping, KOI's etc to build a
productive and efficient company culture through the use of Mentoring
and Training of American employees.
. "Hands On" manager that leads by example and builds teamwork in a new
work force of 350 through Zero Defect built in quality mindset,
continuous improvement, and the belief that employees are a company's
greatest, most valuable asset.
. Decreased customer quality issues by 60% from 5 per day to 2 per day
through daily quality meetings, error proofing, comprehensive employee
quality training program, and proactive management approach to root
cause analysis of all internal quality issues.
. Increased on time deliveries from 40% at startup to 95% by reworking
daily production schedule, redistributing trucking usage, reduction of
quality issues which eliminated delays.
Topre America Corporation - Cullman Alabama
Plant General Manager
Feb 2004 - Oct 2008
While reporting directly to the President, had total responsibility of
leading and growing business operation from plant start-up to include all
safety, production, maintenance, quality, engineering,
materials/logistics/supply chain, P&L, and tool room activities. "Hands On"
leadership of 8 managers, 12 supervisors, and approximately 500 associates
for $80 million Tier 1 Japanese automotive supplier of stampings, welded
assemblies and fabricated parts. Developed and administered organizational
business plans, ensured that all products met customer specifications and
are delivered to the customer on time, every time. Coordinated and managed
all departments to ensure total customer satisfaction on existing programs
and smooth startup of all new programs. P&L accountability including
forecasts, ROI, and departmental budgets. Led team that coordinated
overseas supplier production, quality, scheduling, and logistics. Position
required both domestic and international business travel.
. Through the use of new technology, Lean Manufacturing, TPS, 5S,
Kaizen, KOI's, and Value Stream Mapping improved production efficiency
15% above corporate goal of 70%
. Negotiated with customer to use UT testing thereby reducing scrap and
time creating a win-win situation for both company and customer, as
well as saving approximately $70K 1st yr.
. Instituted "Built In, 1st Time Quality" keeping internal & customer
quality issues under 3%.
. Built a culture that promotes safety, continuous improvement,
increased productivity, built in quality through mentoring, coaching,
training, benchmarking, root cause analysis, data driven decision
making, performance metrics, and feedback for entire value stream
team.
. Saved $10,000 per month in stamping area through several scrap
reduction projects.
. Established and maintained efficiencies over 100% for selected areas
through use of Kaizen, value stream mapping, visual factory concepts,
training, and employee involvement.
Independent Consultant Mar 2003 - Jan 2004
Provided expertise in production processes for suppliers of International
Truck and Engine to include the processing of tooling and equipment,
production with said tooling and equipment, quality of parts produced,
production of fabricated parts, and efficient transportation of produced
parts to customer. This was done at multiple sites within the United States
and Mexico.
International Truck and Engine Corp - Springfield / Urbana Ohio May
1993 - Mar 2003
Area / Line Manager Stamping/ Assembly
Provided effective leadership, training, management, and motivation for 7
managers, 10 supervisors and 450 UAW represented employees in all areas of
production, safety, and quality control. Ensured delivery of quality
parts, in a timely manner, at the quoted labor cost to other departments
and divisions. Oversaw stamping departments, both sub and main line parts
and vehicle assembly, machining area, and fabrication and tool room areas.
Worked with purchasing, engineering, and quality to evaluate and manage
tier 1 suppliers of plastic injection molded parts. Managed multiple sites
for a $1B plus corporation.
. Along with multi-site management team, increased Stamping / Assembly
area up-time from 45% to 70% saving the company approximately $500K
through use of 5S and Six-Sigma.
. Worked with Engineering and Tool Room to design, develop, and
implement new "Dog Bone" (cross member) dies, which accounted for a
30% increase in productivity and therefore capacity allowing time for
die tryout and required preventive maintenance.
. Team member chosen to lead startup, construction, equipment choice,
staffing, training, equipment try out, and production of new Stamping
and Weld Assembly facility.
. Facilitated turnaround of assembly line 2 bus production through
enforcement of work rules, sped line up 15% thereby reducing the need
for OT by incorporating labor saving devices which in turn allowed for
10% reduction of line staffing.
Gayston Corporation - Springboro Ohio June 1988 - May 1993
Stamping, machining, assembly, and fabrication of aluminum & steel extruded
automotive & military parts as well as continuous process and batch
production of plastic injected molded parts for both US DOD and automotive
tier 1 suppliers and OEMs.
Engineer / Lead Production Supervisor
Directed four supervisors and 120 employees in all areas of production,
safety, and quality control. Communicated with senior management regarding
daily production concerns in stamping, injection molding, CNC machining and
fabrication areas. Controlled schedule, cost staffing, quality, and
production in stamping, injection molding, and machining areas. Worked with
support departments on process improvements in all production areas.
. Collaborated with support departments on the design, try-out, and
purchase of new tooling to launch $25M extruded Air Bag Inflator Body
product line.
. Oversaw introduction of new machining centers that increased
productivity by 40%.
. Saved approximately $500K in shipping costs and increased on-time
deliveries by assisting in negotiating lease of company trucks and
training and certifying employees as drivers.
. Contributed to growing the business from $20M per year to $60M per
year through raised efficiencies and a "Zero Defect" mindset.
. Initiated program to catalog and track use and life of stamping
tooling, injection molding tooling, and machining tooling that saved
the company $100K in tooling costs within the first year.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
. B.S. Mechanical Engineering Degree - Wright State University
. "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" Franklin Covey
. Link Systems Course - OHSA requirements for Mechanical Power Presses
. Climate for Performance
. Interpersonal Management, DDI
. Several Lean Manufacturing and 5S training seminars sponsored through
International Truck & Engine Corp.
. Demand Point Lean Manufacturing training, experience in Six-Sigma, TPS
training
. TS 16949/QS 9001 and ISO 14001
. Very experienced in Microsoft Office including, Excel, Access, Power
Point, Word etc
. Attended many seminars and training classes on Human Resources law,
Union awareness and avoidance, FMLA, OSHA rules and enforcement etc.
AFFILIATIONS
Member, Society of Manufacturing Engineers
REFERENCES
Available upon request