Vina Kelly

Evergreen Park, Illinois ***** 773-***-****

ac0ukp@r.postjobfree.com LinkedIn

Sr. Operations Manager

20+ years’ success driving engineering innovation for high-growth organizations

Respected Operations Manager with proven and repeated success guiding small and large, cross-functional engineering and product development teams. Utilize lean manufacturing principles in the design and launch of leading-edge manufacturing solutions. Proactive approach to reduce waste while maximizing quality and identifying opportunities for continued improvement. Drive projects and plant objectives from planning and execution to close, successfully delivering on scope, schedule, quality, and budget. Strong talent for developing relationships of trust and building cohesive teams focused on quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Highlights of Expertise

Strategic Business Planning

Cost Reduction and Avoidance

Performance Management

GMP, OSHA, FDA Compliant

Forecasting and Inventory

Safety and Quality Protocol

Employee Engagement

Business Operations

Employee Training

Team Building and Leadership

Career Experience

Progress Rail – a Caterpillar Company (previously known as Electro Motive Diesels), LaGrange, Illinois

Direct a team of 6 supervisors and over 200 hourly resources for one of the largest builders of diesel-electric locomotives for commercial railroad applications. Guide the department to $65MM in annual revenue.

Operations Manager – Alternator Assembly & High Volume Engine Components (2008 to Present)

Oversee manufacturing plant objectives and goals while training staff on opportunities to improve on safety, quality, efficiency and velocity. Hold each resource responsible for continuous improvement of plant operations and assume all P&L responsibility.

Defined leadership-training program that led to the promotion of multiple team resources.

Champion of a new robotic product line allowing for reduction in staff and increase in efficiency.

Implement new protocol and internal functional divisions to reduce quality defects by more than 200% and reduced overtime by nearly 30% while increasing plant productivity after only 3 months.

Introduce strategic and tactical inventory lead times, decreasing obsolete stock, improving forecasting numbers; audit current operational practices, and align those with ISO 9001 metrics.

Elkay Manufacturing, Broadview, Illinois

Managed floor operations for a residential kitchen sink, cabinetry, and water cooler fabrication operation.

Sr. Supervisor, Manufacturing Operations (2002 to 2008)

Identified opportunities for improved safety and manufacturing operations through analytical observance of current practices. Developed weekly build schedules resulting in an increase of on-time client delivery.

Collaborated with executive leadership to reduce manufacturing costs; presented suggestions and plans to transition work to sister-sites while maintaining high-level of operational efficiencies.

General Mills, West Chicago, Illinois

Provided end-to-end manufacturing direction of large branded consumer food retailer.

Operations Team Leader II (2001 to 2002)

Directed over 60 stakeholders and union employees in the day-to-day operations of cereal extrusion.

Ensured adherence to all FDA regulated guidelines, including, Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); continuously trained staff and presented new best practices to align plant with updated guidelines.

Oversaw employees functioning across multiple processing systems working across 12 packaging lines; responsible for ensuring safety for all stakeholders of operation.

Unilever – Best Foods, Summit, Illinois

Supervised production plans for optimal manufacturing execution. Monitored workflow of 65 employees.

Production Supervisor (2000 to 2001)

Supervised plant operations while training and developing new employees on production protocol.

Maintained inventory accuracy and ensured compliance to all FDA standards.

Determined maximum plant efficiencies and throughput, reporting on results to leadership.

Identified gaps in process and removed bottlenecks in supply chain and production operations, designing mitigation plans to alleviate risks and issues.

Additional Experience

Production Supervisor (1992 to 2000) The Dial Corporation, Montgomery, Illinois

Law Enforcement Desk Sergeant / Patrolman US Air Force, Andersen AFB, Guam

Education & Credentials

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Pre Law

Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois

Professional Development

Microsoft Office, SAP, ORACLE, PeopleSoft, Kronos, Empower

Miller & Associates High Performance Work Teams Training

Caterpillar Managers Leadership Training

Lean Manufacturing

Franklin Covey Leadership Training

Acknowledgements

Elkay ACE Award -Chairman’s Award

Caterpillar Chairman’s Award Nominee

Caterpillar Values in Action Safety Award

Caterpillar Values in Action Excellence Award

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