Manager Continuous Improvement

EDWARD J. KAMMER, JR.

**** ******* *****, **. *****, MO 63128

Phone: (C) 314-***-**** Email: ac3pb9@r.postjobfree.com

Process and Continuous Improvement Professional exhibiting continued successes at implementing operational excellence systems. Expert in executing and developing lean processes and managing improvement projects. Experienced in building quality systems with operational excellence tools. Led, coached and facilitated the business excellence initiatives transforming traditional manufacturing to lean enterprises. Exhibiting a proven ability to lead combining the use of influencing and people skills to develop autonomous work teams and a culture of continuous improvement. Demonstrated ability to mentor and coach in the practical application of lean tools to drive significant business impact with sustainable business process performance improvements in alignment to the goals and objectives of an enterprise.

CORE COMPETENCIES:

Lean Transformation and Employee Engagement Project and Program Management and Execution

Lean Six Sigma Certification /Continuous Improvement Sustainable Bottom Line Project Impact

Quality Systems (ISO 9001, TS16949) Implementation World Class Operations Implementation

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dyno Nobel Inc. Louisiana, MO June 2014 - Present

Business Excellence Facilitator

Accomplishments:

•Providing guidance for the site using a continuous improvement roadmap. This includes assessment, gap analysis and countermeasures for system maturity for all plant operations. The major responsibility is governing the implementation plan and ensuring improvement projects through to completion. The responsibility included developing a savings project pipeline ($7.9M over 3 years) by conducting focus factory loss and waste analyses and evaluating projects to improve manufacturing methods. FY2017 savings to date $1.4MM

•Implemented Practical Problem solving techniques at all levels to enable a cadre of problem solvers

•Deployed tier level visual scoreboards for the daily management system, goal deployment for alignment of objectives.

•Implemented Leader Standard Work and gemba walks to enable more efficient communication at the floor level to improve employee engagement and for standards validation.

Express Scripts Holding Company, St. Louis, MO Aug. 2013- May 2014

Sr. Manager Pharmacy Operations and Continuous Improvement

Accomplishments:

•Planned and managed a resource realignment project reorganizing work to the STL Fileroom from the Fairfield (OH) Pharmacy reaping an annual savings of >$4M through a reduction in the need for pharmacists.

•Rearranged workflow and floor layout increasing workload output by 14% in one area and 11% in another while reducing manpower by 28%.

•Taught lean strategies to team netting an annualized savings of $68K in the first two improvements.

•Initiated an internal quality check of systems that reduced errors by 9% YOY.

Cooper Bussmann, St. Louis, MO Mar. 2011-Aug. 2013

New Product Development Sourcing Manager

Accomplishments:

• Implemented a Sourcing NPD checklist into the DMAIC tollgate process.to complete projects.

• Performing as supply chain project manager handling a number of new product programs

• Led a cross-functional team at a supplier site to systematically provide data to offset a 30% cost increase across the products supplied to Cooper. Lean systems thinking identified opportunities which were implemented and subsequently fed into a labor costing database which allowed the supplier to more accurately control and manage internal costs so as not to pass an increase on to Cooper. Provided time-study training to the supplier in order to continue the improvements on their own.

Argo Products Company St. Louis, MO Mar. 2010-Feb. 2011

Quality Manager

Accomplishments:

• Initiated APQP practices on all new products starting at the quoting phase of the introduction

• Led the recertification efforts for ISO 9001:2008 standards resulting in zero findings for the shop.

Hubbell-Wiegmann Electrical Products Freeburg, IL Oct. 2009- Mar. 2010

Quality Manager

Utilized major kaizens and lean toolbox to implement quality improvements to reduce cost of quality initiatives and reduce work in process which increased production and cut costs.

Accomplishments:

• Reduced paint surface defects (#1 quality defect issue) in the first month by 80% by instituting standard operating practices, visual management and a TPM (automated ticket) program for the spray booths.

• Rewrote the entire Quality Manual providing a roadmap and foundation for lean quality systems.

• Implemented of a Lean Quality System following ISO9001 template utilizing standardized work.

Chrysler Group, LLC Fenton, MO July 1983-Sept. 2009

Launch/ Lean Manufacturing Manager

Accomplishments:

• Established and utilized a launch master plan utilizing standard program management practices in order to assign specific responsibilities to each department to control cost, mitigate all safety issues, overcome delivery impediments and meet all timing schedules while reducing the launch budget by 6% year over year.

• Lead and conducted culture change management and training to introduce lean principles to a typically traditional unionized manufacturing environment and assisted with the training of over 2100 employees for lean introduction. Coached and mentored employees on all aspects of WCM and implemented culture change throughout the assembly plant in a traditional manufacturing environment.

• Led a team of managers constructing a plan to reduce a major launch budget of $293M by $18M by eliminating the need for on line builds and reducing the number of pilot vehicle builds by 28%.

• Utilized tools of continuous improvement including best practices shared within the corporation, SPC, Shainin Red-X and Kepner-Tregoe problem solving methods and simple operator interaction using strong people skills to solve issues and implement irreversible corrective actions. Over 7000 documented problems were solved in the first six months of lean manufacturing introduction through the simple use of a practical problem solving board system.

• Authored and controlled all documents for ISO certification relative to new product launches.

• Led a team of department managers, industrial engineers and supervisors to facilitate a total manpower reduction of 176 by implementing lean manufacturing principles and techniques over a six month period. Optimized workstations utilizing lean manufacturing principles and utilizing flexible material flow and operator assist assemblies.

• Conducted and sponsored over 400 kaizen activities over three years to solve problems found on the plant floor to improve the product by driving engineering changes or implement changes to the build process.

• Utilized an active presence on the floor to increase participation in the employee suggestion program and oversaw the administration of that program for product improvement. Forecasted and monitored plant savings from those suggestions. ($700K cost avoidance over two years)

• Administered the lean classroom training activities and schedules for all employees and supervised training coordinators for skilled and non-skilled workforce.

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Bachelor of Science Management National – Louis University Chicago, Il

Certification – Lean Six Sigma; Villanova University

Lean Enterprise Institute Trained

World Class Manufacturing Association Manager (Toyota Production System/ Fiat operating system)

Chrysler Operating System -- 52 Tools for Lean Manufacturing

Interaction Management Certification for Employee Development

SPC, Kepner-Tregoe, TRIZ Problem Solving Shainin Red-X Problem Solving

Design and Process Development (PFMEA, DFMEA, DFSS)

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