Project Training

JOSEPH R. FORTON

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

Decatur, AL 35603

H: 256-***-****

C: 256-***-****

*************@*********.***

SUMMARY

Nineteen years of management/engineer experience working in compressor

manufacturing and chemical/textile industry. Served in positions of

increasing responsibility, which included: Quality Assurance Supervisor,

Materials Supervisor, Training Supervisor, HR Generalist, Lean

Manufacturing Coordinator, Continuous Improvement Lead for Corporate,

currently serving in a role as the site's Six-Sigma Consultant,

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Ascend Performance Materials (Former Solutia, Inc.)

June 1, to present

Leading our Decatur Site in adopting the Six-Sigma culture. In my current

role I'm helping other team member's use and understand Six-Sigma tools.

This includes following the DMAIC process and the tools associated with

each step. I'm also leading several efforts my self and utilizing my

skills as a Black Belt.

Continuous Improvement Lead

Responsible for consulting with the exempt and non-exempt workforce in

using Six-sigma tools for project work at the Decatur site. In this role

I've been leading and mentoring projects from all areas of the site. This

included presentation skills, assisting operations in leading their team

meetings, understanding the DMAIC process and the tools associated with

each step. In addition I've been able to maintain my skill base as well by

leading six-sigma projects from across the site. I've also been able to

use my Lean Manufacturing skills in this Continuous Improvement Lead

position.

Accomplishments:

. Coordinated a project in a sub-assembling operation at the site

that resulted in a $1.6

on an annual basis savings. This project was achieved by using Six-

Sigma tools.

. Led another project with a recycle compressor in one of the

chemical operating areas

of the site that is saving $110 K on an annual basis. We also used

Six-Sigma tools with

this project.

. I also filled in as the ESSH Lead at one of our sister sites in

Greenwood S.C. This role

Lasted 23 weeks and provided experience in leading and supervising

personnel in

Environmental roles, fire, and safety leads, for the Greenwood

Site.

. Worked with a supplier for our Decatur site and developed a new

product for our

Assembling operation. This new "spacer" product is saving on

average two minutes

and 10 - 20 seconds per cycle time.

. Mentored many projects across the Decatur Site, as well as led

several projects. Led others

to better understand the DMAIC process and the tools associated

with each step in the process.

SOLUTIA, INC. (Former Chemical Division of Monsanto), St. Louis, MO

1994-June 1, 2009

World-class producer of intermediate chemicals used in the manufacturing of

nylon 6,6 located at the Decatur, Alabama site with 230 employees.

Quality Engineer

Jan. 2009 - June 1, 2009

Responsible for various quality programs at Decatur, these included: ISO

certification, right first

intent program, customer quality, quality reporting to the Decatur site's

leadership team, resolve

customer complaints for internal and external customers.

Accomplishments:

. Set up a project to eliminate "heels" (product left in tankers)

from an internal customer.

This project is saving $5k - $7k per tanker of material we ship.

. Coordinated a project with Purchasing, supplier, and assembling

operation

at the Decatur site. This project resulted in the area setting up

a blanket PO,

based on annual minimum and maximum usages, for the operation.

. Began a project with the Decatur site and the Pensacola site to

standardize

the areas of operation. This standardization involves production,

safety

shut down, start ups, staffing, procedures. This project is still

on going.

Continuous Improvement Lead

April 2005- Jan. 2009

Responsible for facilitating Lean and Six-Sigma events at the Decatur site

as well as other Solutia sites: in Pensacola, Florida; Greenwood, South

Carolina; Springfield, Massachusetts; Martinsville, Virginia. Facilitated

groups of Managers, Engineers, Operators, in using the following tools:

Value Stream Mapping (current & future states), Visual Management, Kanban

Systems, TPM, 5s, quick changeovers, standard work flow, work load

balancing, standard of work, set-up reduction, SMED. Other

responsibilities included Training and analyzing systems to enhance

training systems.

Accomplishments:

. Combined two operations, a Punch and Button operation with a

Package Handling group, in the Nylon Intermediates area of the

plant that made an immediate contribution to the bottom line of

$425K.

. Initiated an effort to reduce plant air usage and avoided a cost of

$285K for a compressor move.

. Performed a work balance study within the Chemical Operations and

combined duties of Chemical Operators and Chemical Lab Technicians

that saved $625K in the first year.

. Initiated numerous 5s events at the site that led to behavior

changes within the organization.

. Currently performing a Six-Sigma project at the Pensacola, Florida

Solutia site that is estimated to save $1.5 M.

. Developed a Management Operating System for the areas to review

necessary information to effectively control work in their areas of

operation. This was specifically done with dashboard information

that reflected production rates, quality status, safety, and yield

results.

HR-Generalist Decatur, AL

2003-Apr. 2005

Accountable for HR-Generalist functions at the Decatur site operations. My

responsibilities included internal/external hiring for the Decatur Solutia

site Engineers, Lead positions, HR-positions, Maintenance and Operations

positions. Also the Paymaster for the site and understand and use SAP.

Accomplishments:

. Played a key role in rewriting our Attendance Policy at the Decatur site.

This saved ($425,000) in the first six months of implementation.

. Led a training class for front line Supervisors. This training included:

conflict resolution, team building activities, performance management

and policy interpretation. This training was selected to drive a High

Performance Culture.

. As Paymaster for the site, initiated a project of changing our Pay

System. This project involved changing our local data base system and

converting all the information into SAP payroll. This project resulted

in a ($500,000) a year savings.

. Coordinated and led our Site Council Team. This team was made up of

Supervisors across

our site that came together on a weekly basis to discuss site policies

and rewriting if needed. We also discussed personnel issues across the

site in an effort to maintain consistency throughout the site.

. Networked with other local industry and the local community college to

set up a curriculum for a Process Technology degree program (P-TECH) for

the local industries. This associate degree program at Calhoun Community

College is set up to educate current, or potential, Chemical Operators in

the Tennessee Valley area. Local industry then has an option to select

from this program.

Personnel Facilitator/Training Lead

1997-2003

Responsible for personnel issues as well as Training at the plant.

Directed activities for (5) Trainers who were responsible for (75) Chemical

Operators at the plant.

. Successful in writing and obtaining a training grant with the State of

Alabama that amounted to ($93,800). We were able to do extra training at

our site with this money. That extra training included safety training

as well as Lean training for the entire site.

. Successful in securing Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) through the

State of Alabama. This allowed displaced employees to receive benefits

such as extended education/training to assist them in getting back into

the workforce.

. Certified as an Achieve Global (formerly Zinger Miller) Facilitator.

Facilitated the following courses: Proactive Listening, Conquering Team

Conflict, Managing for Results, Team building.

. Played a key role in establishing a skill block program for the non-

exempt workforce at the Decatur site. These skill blocks were not only

time based but they consisted of completing an examination that followed

the training. The Skill Blocks included assessments of field operations,

ProVox operation, truck loading operation, Railcar loading operation.

. Developed a Performance Management Process for the Decatur site. This

consisted of a 360 assessment program for the non-exempt employees. It

included an assessment, development plan and goals.

. Site Supervisor for a period of (2) years, during this time I supervised

approximately (40) employees on the off shift. Coordinated and developed

the following: shift meetings, one-on-one feedback sessions, conflict

resolution training, and mentoring programs.

EDUCATION

B.S. Athens State University, Athens, AL 1993

Major: Business Administration

A.A.S. Calhoun Community College, Decatur, AL 1990

Management and Supervision

COMPANY SPONSORED TRAINING

. Completed training for a Lean/Six-Sigma Black Belt certification in

December of 2006. I attended Central Missouri State University through

Missouri Enterprise

. Lean 101 and Lean Facilitator training

. Received training in TRIZ

. Front line Leadership-Train The Trainer

. HR Generalist certification program

. Dale Carnegie course "Managing A High Performance Culture"

. Managerial Analytics

. Situational Leadership

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, Tennessee Valley Society for Human Resource

Management (SHRM)

since 2001

Member, National Society for Human Resource Management

(SHRM)

Since 2001

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