Manager Quality Assurance

LAURA NEWTON

**** ******* ***** • Fenton, Michigan 48430

Cell 810-***-**** • Home Office 810-***-****

abnqix@r.postjobfree.com

Purchasing, International Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Development, and Cost

Improvement

Highly energetic professional with extensive North America, Mexico, and Asia supplier experience.

Achieved multi-year multi-million savings across multiple commodity lines. Proven track record as an

excellent negotiator. Significant positive impact on company’s operations, costs, adherence to policies

and regulations, production figures and cycle times. Strong strategic and analytical skills and ability to

streamline company capabilities. Excellent knowledge in multiple commodities and manufacturing

processes.

PRODUCT AND PROCESS KNOWLEDGE

Injection Molding • Compression Molding • Resins • Cloth • Sound Absorbers • Carpet • Vinyl • Molded

Foams • Fiberglass • Stampings • Fasteners • Films • Chemicals • Adhesives • Steel • W ire Harnesses •

Rubber • Over Molding • Sequencing and Assembly • Die Cutting • Gas Assist • Extrusions • Acoustics •

Automotive Interior Systems • Lighting • Vac Forming • Blow Molding • Chrome Plating • Budgeting •

ROI Optimization • International Team & Program Management • Product Development & Launch •

Negotiations • Supplier Quality

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND DEMONSTRATED STRENGTHS

Implemented over $58M of cost savings over the past seven years.

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Led the Mexico VAVE team and successfully overachieved departmental goals by 30%.

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Improved the overall product value by 35% during the past three years.

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Successfully sourced over 80 suitable global suppliers for corporate contracts within assigned

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commodity scope within 2 months.

Successfully moved over 75 supplier tools and assembly operations in house within 2 weeks,

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improving companies overall profitability by $4M.

Minimized or eliminated significant raw material increases through participative VAVE initiatives, re-

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sourcing, leveraging, bundling, and negotiation.

Negotiated and led the emergency exit from multiple suppliers that filed chapter 11 or chapter 7.

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Successfully sourced and managed over $120M purchased components at a time during multiple

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program launches.

Led the supplier quality team of 18 to ensure component qualification and 100% customer satisfaction

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was met successfully.

Led the implementation of a Kanban system and central store room resulting in a 50% decrease in

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inventory level and increase in inventory turns from 28 to 42.

Managed over 170 suppliers consisting of over 2500 part numbers over multi-programs.

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Sourced new processes and capabilities to internal divisions improving profitability by $6M.

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Directed cross-functional internal and supplier teams on engineering changes and projects.

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EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

M AGNA INTERNATIONAL, Novi, Michigan • 1998 – present

$25B leading multinational supplier of automotive components and technology with 60K staff.

Commodity Purchasing Manager • 2002 – 2009

Coordinated and managed assigned commodity scopes. Directed and developed the supplier worldwide

procurement, contract and logistical strategies. Conducted market research and generated forecast total

purchase reports for management as required. Managed multi-global suppliers for the five divisions

(Howell, Holt, Brighton, Ramos, MX and Toluca, MX). Managed continuous cost savings with supply

LAURA NEWTON • Page 2 • abnqix@r.postjobfree.com

base including project management, negotiations, on-site assessments, supplier development, supplier

management, and low-cost country sourcing (Asia and Mexico).

• Implemented over $30M of cost savings in less than four years from 2006 to 2009.

• Sourced and managed over 80 suppliers for the Journey program.

• Sourced, launched and managed prototype and production suppliers for Chrysler Journey, KK,

Dodge Ram, GM Sigma Cadillac Program, GMT900, Hummer2, Lambda, BMW E70, Mazda J61J,

and Ford D3 Series.

• Successfully launched the first full assembly and sequencing GM Program.

• Implemented over $28M cost saves from 2002 to 2005.

• Managed multiple tool moves due to various commercial circumstances without interruption to

production.

• In-sourced over $10M worth of purchased products into company’s internal facilities.

Purchasing and Materials Manager • 1998 – 2001

Formulated programs, policies and procedures in the department to maintain the company’s competitive

position and profitability. Managed 63 employees overseeing purchasing, material scheduling, inventory

control, material handling, warehousing, receiving/shipping, transportation, packaging, and MRO

purchases. Managed and provided the overall leadership and direction on the Global Supply Chain which

included over 120 suppliers and over 1500 part numbers. Optimized purchases through negotiation,

leveraging, bundling and re-sourcing.

• Implemented a “Just in Time- Kanban System” which improved freight, material, and production down

time costs by $1M.

• Reduced overall inventory levels by $3M in less than 6 months.

• Implemented over $6M in cost reductions.

• Addressed supplier issues including emergency situation management and re-sourcing of suppliers in

financial trouble.

• Successfully managed the departments through the growth of the business from $40M to $90M

annual sales.

COLLINS & AIKMAN, Williamston, Michigan • 1994 – 1997

$18B major global supplier of automotive technologies and components with 40K employees.

Purchasing and Materials Manager • 1994 – 1997

• Successfully managed the Purchasing and Materials Department through the growth of the business

from $4M to $26M in annual sales.

• Managed inbound materials for 65 suppliers in J.I.T environment. Managed and resolved critical

supplier material issues.

• Coordinated all functions to ensure customer requirements were met at the most cost-effective and

efficient manner by analyzing supplier selection, competitive pricing, quality of product, and inventory

turns.

• Established and implemented material planning, purchasing goals, provisioned performance goals,

and monitored the group's performance against goals.

• Oversaw purchasing and material processes were in compliance with supplier policies set up by

Strategic Sourcing and applicable to accounting standards.

• Implemented and authorized purchasing and material policies.

• Successful in obtaining company’s first QS9000 certification.

CAREFREE ALUMINUM, INC.– Quality Control Supervisor 1989-1993

Supervised and maintained production process conditions to ensure 100% daily production rates were

met.

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bachelor of Arts: Business Material Logistics Management

Michigan State University, East Lansing Michigan

Business Courses: Quality Assurance and Process Control

Lansing Community College, Lansing, Michigan

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