John M. Clemens
Bluffton, SC *****
Cell: 843-***-****
Email: *******.******@*****.***
SUMMARY
Manufacturing Maintenance Engineer with a proven history of process improvements resulting in increased productivity and costs savings while remaining focused on team integrity.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Packaging Maintenance Manager - Managed all packaging maintenance
Established a joint relationship between maintenance, production and storeroom personnel ensuring material budget limits were met or exceeded on a monthly basis.
Instituted in house training for junior mechanics thus ensuring conformity and safety in maintenance procedures.
Refinery Maintenance Manager – Managed all refinery and packaging maintenance
Greatly improved morale by significantly reducing grievances among union workers by implementing one on one and group meetings to discuss normal and abnormal maintenance issues.
Implemented and lead hurricane preparedness team in order to facilitate a rapid start of production after a natural disaster.
In the fiscal year 1999-2000, stayed within maintenance budget constraints for the first time in four years through the use of planning, prioritization, alternative maintenance procedures.
Packaging Engineering – Designed, budgeted, and implemented new or renovated projects in the packaging department
Renovated bulk liquid sugar truck loading to facilitate automatic valving and pumping through UV lights or pasteurizer (customer preference) and onto automated truck scale. Project reduced give away at the scale and reduced labor. (Estimated savings - $100,000 yearly)
Designed and supervised installation of soft sugar loop. Project reduced packaging machine downtime and improved product quality. (Estimated downtime savings of 200 hours per year)
Combined 100 lb. and 50 lb. palletization into one operation. (Cost savings of $90,000 per year)
EXPERIENCE
Diamond Crystal Brands, Savannah, GA A premier food service company specializing in right-size packaging, wet and dry blended products, and custom package printing.
Maintenance Technician
Responsible for performing highly diversified duties to install, troubleshoot, repair and maintain production and facility equipment according to safety, predictive and productive maintenance systems and processes to support the achievement of the site’s business goals and objectives.
Angelica Corporation, Holly Hill, FL Provider of outsourced linen management services to the US healthcare industry with around $400 million of annual revenue. Delivering a complete array of laundry services, reusable and single use linen and apparel, and onsite linen management services, to meet the needs of healthcare providers and their patients. (April 2017 to January 2018)
Chief Engineer
Responsible for leading the safety program within the service center, ensuring compliance in environmental and safety matters and for equipment and facility maintenance/repair. Manage utility consumption, operation of boilers, purchasing of parts and services, service center layout and equipment installation and maintenance to support efficient operations and optimum customer service. Responsible for the cleanliness and overall appearance of the service center.
BASF, Savannah, GA Manufacturer of Fluid cracking catalyst for the petroleum industry. (August 2016 to February 2017)
Maintenance Contractor Services Coordinator
Coordinate maintenance contractors to insure all personnel are current in site specific safety practices. This is accomplished by checking training background as well as performing Pre-Task Planning check lists with all involved. Other aspects of the position revolve around the up keep of the facility including building and grounds. Instrumental in the rapid repair of buildings and grounds damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.
Caesarstone, Richmond Hill, GA Engineered quartz surface manufacturer from a mixture of ground quartz aggregates, pigments and polymers. Producing products with unprecedented physical properties superior to those of marble, granite and other manufactured surfaces. (September 2015 to January 2016)
Maintenance Manager
Supervision of all mechanical, electrical, and storeroom personnel. Delegation of preventative maintenance procedures using Oracle CMMS. Responsible for the design and rebuilding of 4 oil-heated curing kilns. Implemented the use of American made parts in place of higher priced foreign OEM inventory. Worked with maintenance and production personnel to train them in proper techniques with regard to manufacturing and polishing equipment. Set production records by reducing down time due to mechanical failures.
Fiberstar Inc., Clewiston, FL Food additive processing facility at which citrus pulp is converted into a food processing ingredient which helps with moisture and oil retention. (June 2014 to July 2015)
Maintenance Manager
Supervision of all maintenance personnel as well as mechanic operators. Set up a CMMS (eMaint) from inception to help improve up time at the factory from 75% to 95% run time due to mechanical failures. Implemented a purchasing system in which spare parts are purchased from non-OEM vendors instead of equipment manufacturers resulting in savings of up to 50% on spare parts inventory.
Installed a new semi-automatic packaging system to produce 20 Kg. bags of product that was originally packaged at another facility thus reducing transportation and repetitiveness.
Worked with maintenance personnel to train them in precision maintenance techniques with regard to pumps, centrifuges, dryers, boilers, blowers and conveying equipment.
U.S. Sugar Corp., Clewiston, FL World’s largest fully integrated sugar factory processing sugarcane into refined white sugar. (October 2010 to June 2014)
Maintenance Supervisor
Supervision of 14 Mechanical personnel as well as 7 Electrical and Instrumentation Technicians in the Boiling House section of the mill capable of processing 3.6 million gallons of raw cane juice into 1.5 million pounds of raw sugar per shift. The fully automated equipment used to process the product included Honiron evaporators and vacuum pans, Broadbent centrifugals and decanters, also rotary vacuum filters for mud removal. The liquid product was moved with a variety of pumps and the solid raw sugar was transported by screw conveyors and conveyor belts. The Boiling House equipment was disassembled for inspection and necessary repairs made in order to warrant a high percentage of up time during the six-month production season.
Responsible for maintaining and budgeting for all Vendor Maintained Inventory (VMI).
Bruce Foods Corp., Wilson, NC Potato cannery which processed both white and sweet potatoes (January 2009 to November 2009)
Maintenance Manager/Plant Engineer
Supervision of 20 direct report maintenance personnel in a 375,000 pound per shift cannery using both static over pressure and continuous agitating saturated steam retorts. FDA certified as the on-site thermal processor. Equipment responsibilities included package boilers from 500 – 1000 HP, automatic steam peelers, optical sorters, various can closing machines and warehouse labeling, code dating and palletizing equipment.
Directed a 2 million dollar process expansion aimed at labor reduction and quality improvement. Labor was reduced by 60% in the inspection process and by 50% in the cutting process.
Responsible for bringing company’s maintenance department up to current industry standards, including preventative maintenance procedures, implementation of CMMS (MP2) and critical training of maintenance personnel.
Clemens Electrical Inc., Bluffton, SC (July 2004 to January 2009)
SC & GA State Licensed Master Electrician
Provided electrical services in all fields of electrical contracting including residential, commercial, and marine applications.
Imperial Sugar Company, Savannah, GA Refined sugar processing and packaging plant
Packaging Maintenance Manager (October 2001 to July 2004)
Supervised 25 direct report employees in a 400 employee nonunion cane sugar refinery packaging 7.2 million pounds of sugar per day. Reported directly to the Refined Sugar Superintendent. Responsible for all aspects of packaging maintenance on existing equipment as well as installation of new equipment. Instituted and planned extensive preventive maintenance programs using ELKE CMMS as well as budgeting and manpower applications. Controlled inventory and budget of the 4 million dollar yearly store room for the maintenance operation.
Refinery Maintenance Manager Sugarland, TX (March 1999 to October 2001)
Supervised 65 direct report employees in a 300 employee union facility melting an average of 4.2 million pounds of sugar per day. Reported directly to the Plant Manager. Responsible for all aspects of refinery and packaging maintenance including planning, budgeting and manning routine maintenance.
Packaging Engineer (1995 to 1999)
Designed and supervised installations of new processes for the packaging department.
Senior Packaging Technician (1976 to 1990)
Repair and maintenance of all packaging machinery as well as troubleshooting and electrical repair. Installation of new machinery
EDUCATION
University of Georgia Athens, GA (March 2009)
FDA Thermal Processing Certification in Retorting and Aseptic Processing
Clemson University Clemson, SC (1990 to 1993)
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering with an emphasis in Food Engineering. Member - University Industry Advisement Committee.
Savannah Vo-Tech Savannah, GA (May 2003) Industrial Management Certification with an emphasis labor usage.