Engineer Manager
Resume:
JOHN M. THURSTON
Brighton, MI
*8114
EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:
BAE Industries Inc., February 2006 - Present
Advanced Engineering
Led development team on removable fold & tumble mechanism for full
size SUV. Reduced part content, cost, weight, and increased strength and
reliability of system. Also completed development work on rotary recliner,
initial quote frame/mechanism packages on next generation full size trucks,
and various other mechanism quotes.
Johnson Controls Inc. / Ikeda Engineering Corporation, January 1998 - April
2004
Chief Engineer, Seat Complete - JCI
Led small teams on Minivan and Mid-size truck programs (after JCI
acquired Ikeda). Responsible for all seat complete release items
including safety sign-off, DVP&R, packaging and kinematics review, FMEA,
FEA direction and review, and other industry standard procedures as
required.
Chief Engineer, Seat & Headliner Engineering - Ikeda Engineering
Led 15 designers and engineers localizing and developing seat designs to
support domestically produced Nissan vehicles. Responsible for providing
design direction, championing inter-group communication, and overall
group budgeting/staffing/resource allocation. Implemented new procedures
to improve operations and developed a salary administration plan for US
staff.
Magna Interior Systems, Magna Lomason Division, November 1991 - January
1998
Manager, Seat Frames - Magna Lomason (after Magna acquired Douglas &
Lomason)
Responsible for up-front manufacturing support for seat frames.
Engineering Manager, Engineering Services - Douglas & Lomason Company
Manager of up to 60 person group supporting a Tier 1 automotive seat
engineering group from concept development through to production testing.
I was responsible for the following groups: Concept Development,
Structural Analysis, Design & Release, Prototype, Layout, Testing, QS-
9000, and Building Maintenance. Increased group morale, throughput, and
quality by listening to and assisting with problem solution and
emphasizing upfront design and analysis.
Manager, Structures, Restraints and Testing
Managed operation of test lab and structural analysis group. Implemented
improved analysis procedures to increase throughput and correlation
accuracy. Supervised implementation of lab procedures to obtain and
maintain A2LA lab accreditation.
Product Design Engineer
Designed alternative bumper reinforcement design that cost and weighed
less for same performance. Led design and analysis of aluminum and steel
engine cradles that met aggressive cost, weight, and performance targets.
Successfully assumed and completed production launch and support of an
integral child seat program. Lead engineer on design competition that
resulted in landing Tier 1 Seating program.
Continued on Page 2
JOHN M. THURSTON
Page 2
Sabbatical, August 1989 - October 1991
Ford Motor Company, July 1984 - July 1989
Alpha Project, Vehicle Engineering, Product Design Engineer
Scientific Research, Concept Vehicle Engineering, Product Design Engineer
Vehicle Engineering (engine & suspension packaging studies), Variation
Analysis, plastic fender thermal growth studies. . Streamlined product
development by using CAE system to create conceptual renderings, designs,
and analysis through to NC milled parts.
EDUCATION:
Ongoing membership and education in Engineering, Quality, and Management
The Dale Carnegie Course, U of M Business School - Management I
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
B.S. Mechanical Engineering with Honors, May 1984
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