Product Development Six Sigma

Magdalena Bala

*** **** **** ***** • Lake Zurich, IL 60047 • 847-***-**** • *********.******@*****.***

Summary

Seeking a position as Senior Scientist

R&D chemist with track record of contributions to product innovation and optimization for a global Fortune 500 company. Technical knowledge in raw materials research, stage gate development process, manufacturing scale-up, quality control, packaging, and regulatory compliance. Experience in formulating with pigments, dyes, binders, stabilizers, emulsifiers and other additives. Articulate communicator and contributing team member. Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

•Instrumental in developing and launching high-quality, cost-efficient, robust products that anticipate market trends, satisfy customers, and build market share and revenue.

•Personally developed Sharpie Extreme, Expo New colors, and Expo Indicator, generating $20M+ in revenue.

Experience

Newell Brands Downers Grove, IL. 2006 to Present.

Principal Chemist (2015 to Present) Conduct innovative research and testing for new products and existing product enhancements. Manage multiple, concurrent projects’ scope, quality, cost, timeline, and implementation. Research new raw materials, design experiments (DOE) to evaluate formulation factors impacting performance. Design strategy for new product development to capitalize on market opportunities and improve product functionality. Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Sourcing, R&D, Regulatory, Manufacturing, Legal, Finance and Sales to brainstorm ideas and solutions reflecting market needs, create vision for future platforms development. Supply vendors and external partners with technical feedback to reduce development time, decrease iterations, and ensure quality and compliance. Coach and guide chemists and associate chemists, ensuring on-time, on-budget, high-quality project completion. Manage the hazardous waste program.

•Serve as the technical expert on formulation chemistry and product development companywide.

•Developed and delivered $8M in new product innovation (Expo Indicator) and $500K savings by optimizing the current Expo line.

•Lead development and manufacturing scale-up processes leveraging Six Sigma tools, including Measurement System Evaluation (MSE), sampling plans, Components of Variation (CoV), and Design of Experiments (DOE).

•Championed utilization of dual suppliers for critical raw materials in Expo formulation.

•R&D Safety Officer, responsible for training and hazardous waste management, 2006 to present.

•Manage projects by developing multiple paths for delivery of critical to quality attributes; currently for large and metallic pigments.

•Received recognition from the Chief Development Officer for development contributions.

Senior Product Development Chemist (2013 to 2015) Optimized ink formulations and products using Six Sigma techniques. Worked closely with Marketing to align project plans with market needs, trends, and forecasts. Provided technical feedback on performance, functionality, and cost to US and overseas suppliers. Trained marketing team on product performance attributes and testing protocols to establish consumer relevance.

•Managed projects establishing CTQ targets, development framework, claims and relevant testing methods, scale up activities and timelines.

Senior Product Development Chemist (continued)

•Researched and substantiated purchase of key laboratory equipment, provided training to lab staff and grew development capacity to assist multiple divisions within Newell.

•Improved Dry Erase SOPs, performance, and reliability, contributing to retaining key customers and reducing annual costs $400K.

•Improved Expo line formulations for better erasability performance, delivering $500K in annual savings and contributing to increasing Expo market share from 75% to 86% in 2015.

•Simplified the design of Sharpie Ultrafine, saving $650K in production costs.

•Participated in building the company’s technical expertise by co-developing databases of globally registered chemicals, which contributed to an overall time-to-market decrease of 10%.

•Recipient of team award for Expo development, launch, and cost savings.

Product Development Chemist (2006 to 2012) Researched technical solutions, developed project plan for data collection and analysis, scale-up validation and claims substantiation. Supported launch activities and documentations. Developed test methods linking measurable attributes to consumer usage and behavior. Utilized creative filtration testing method to indirectly evaluate pigments particle size impact on writing performance.

•Delivered $500K in correction product savings while completing Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.

•Developed ultra-low viscosity ball pen inks, contributing to a 5% increase in revenue.

•Led development and execution of the laboratory and chemical safety plan, protocol, and training program.

•Co-developed scale up process and QC matrix for experimental formulations of Expo.

•Worked with customers on developing the Prisma color product; created high-quality, cost-effective solutions that met customer needs and tripled production.

VideoJet Technologies, Inc. Wood Dale, IL. 2000 to 2006.

Senior Chemist Developed inks for continuous ink jet printers for various industrial applications.

•Contributing to improving performance, production time, and cost.

•Developed experimental formulations for continuous ink jet printers.

•Promoted from Chemist to Senior Chemist within one year.

Education

M.S. in Chemistry Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. 1996.

Six Sigma Black Belt Certification Trained by the CEO of Sigma Science, Inc. Certified by the VP of Operations, Newell Rubbermaid.

Professional Development Dangerous Goods Shipping Certification • 49CFR Certification • Situational Leadership

Specialties

Project Management, Chemistry, Formulation, Six Sigma, NPD, VAVE, Research, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Project (basic), PP, SAP, JMP, Winchil

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