Manager Sales

Location:

Grand Rapids, MI

Posted:

April 05, 2018

Contact this candidate

Resume:

James Kutches

www.linkedin.com/in/jameskutches 231-***-**** ********@*****.***

To whom it may concern,

My name is Jim Kutches and I believe I’m a perfect fit for the Materials Manager role, even though I may not have always been in the automotive market and here is why:

After graduating from Western Michigan University with a BA in Supply Chain Management in 2007, I moved to Chicago and began working as an inventory planner at Robert Bosch, LLC. I started forecasting and planning as well as working with two other plants on implementing better inventory control methods to help reduce lead time. During the next four years, I continuously moved up by improving customer service ratings with some of our biggest OE accounts, developing relationships with higher ups, and helping implement new practices along with SAP (from JDEdwards) with a global, cross-functional team.

In 2012 my dad asked me to come home to Muskegon to help with the aerospace machining company he started in 2004, with potential to take over when he retired. In my time at AFI, I was able to shadow each position to learn everything I could, which opened my eyes to improvements and opportunities across the board. Along with my role as sales/purchasing manager, I took on the plant manager role and began focusing on safety and compliance, as well as implementing different lean manufacturing practices. By 2015 I had also completed all employee reviews (their first since 2007) as I wanted to make sure every employee had the same opportunity as I did if they wanted to move up. I did this by shadowing every single operation and position throughout the company for a minimum of two weeks. Come 2016 I had gained real data showing AFI needed to be restructured if we were going to meet future demand and was given the opportunity to lead the charge. Throughout the restructuring I promoted more than 15 employees to different positions as well as created a team of six managers who reported to me on growing sales, increasing productivity, and reducing inventory and NCR’s, as well as creating other positions needed to maintain a stable operating supply chain.

Just over nine months ago my wife brought our son Remy into our life and everything changed. I couldn’t be at the plant near as many hours a week anymore and my family needed me. My wife, Maria, had some complications during Remy’s birth and we ended up spending just under two weeks in the hospital, which was the remainder of the vacation I had left in the year. For some time I had been realizing my values and vision for the company were not in alignment with its direction, so the timing seemed right for me to resign and be a temporary stay-at-home dad. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but also the happiest as it’s really opened me up to be a better father, husband, and employee.

I’ve spent much of my time off considering my future. I want to make sure I’m working for a company that cares about the values I do and after researching your company and the industry you’re in, I believe I’d be a great addition to your team. Above everything, I place large focus on family, honesty, loyalty and most of all a positive attitude! I believe these qualities make me a remarkable employee and I would love the opportunity to join your team!

James Kutches

www.linkedin.com/in/jameskutches 231-***-**** ********@*****.***

Objective

Seeking a leadership position where there is opportunity to grow, but also share in a unique bonding experience with fellow team members to continuously evolve a safe positive culture while creating new opportunities with the global market!

Education

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION DECEMBER 2007 WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

Major: Integrated Supply Matrix Management

Experience

DIRECTOR OF SALES AERO FOIL INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2016-2018

Directly report to president; lead six (6) department supervisors through high-end forecast planning, inventory reduction, and all other key performance indicators that focus on promoting continuously long-term growth while ensuring production hits targets

Lead negotiations of long-term aerospace and industrial gas turbine machining agreements that replace on-time work and deliver sustainable, profitable earnings

Develop and deepen relationships across the global industry including customers, subcontractors and teammates, with the appropriate teams to maximize customer satisfaction

Oversight for website including deploying strategies that increase traffic and deliver sales leads

Maintain leadership oversight for all plant safety and Quality controls

PLANT MANAGER AERO FOIL INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2014-2016

Lead by example that safety is a way of life and a passion for an injury-free workplace while promoting continuous improvement

Responsible for empowering all 50+ employees into meeting monthly forecasts and all appropriate business metrics

Provide overall leadership and direction to direct reports responsible for manufacturing performance as well as focusing on all aspects of the supply chain base (i.e. Purchasing, Sales, Quality, Production Control, Safety, Lean Inventory Management/Manufacturing, Kaizen and automation)

SALES/PURCHASING MANAGER AERO FOIL INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2012-2014

Managed a team of 10 focused on all aspects of purchasing

Responsible for origination and quality control over all purchase orders, sales orders & RFQ’s

Oversaw all supply chain continuous improvement projects related to AS9100/NADCAP key performance indicators (i.e. On-time delivery, RFQ/PO response time, scrap rate, forecast accuracy and inventory level)

Monitored contract performance to ensure compliance with contractual obligations, implemented change as necessary

INVENTORY PLANNER ROBERT BOSCH, LLC 2008-2012

Responsible for customer service, sales and inventory management for all aftermarket automotive parts for Ford Motor Company, Chrysler and Asian-auto accounts (Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, Mazda)

Issue work orders, purchase orders and directed logistics across diverse global supplier base

Part of cross-divisional team focused on optimizing Bosch supply chain; delivered initiatives targeted at inventory reduction and shortened delivery timeline

Team lead for inventory management transition from Oracle ERP to SAP ERP system

Skills & Abilities

LEADERSHIP

NEGOTIATION

PROJECT/PEOPLE MANAGEMENT

LEAN MANUFACTURING/CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

AS9100C/ISO 9001:2015 LEAD AUDITOR

SUPPLIER RELATIONS

MICROSOFT OFFICE & PROJECT

MINITAB

MRP/ERP APPLICATIONS – JD EDWARDS ENTERPRISE ONE (ORACLE) & SAP

MEMBER OF INSTITUTE FOR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT