JAMES L. VANMETER

Fairlawn, OH *****

330-***-**** • ac4l7m@r.postjobfree.com • linkedin.com/in/jameslvanmeter

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Product Development Engineer with extensive accomplishments serving global metal fabricators in consumer, military and OEM applications. Most adept at taking projects from concept design to production while adhering to corporate goals. Known for extremely effective engagement of internal and external customers. Valued for mentoring and coaching Engineers and Technicians. Competencies:

Process improvement

Product Manager

2D Drafting/3D Modeling

Stage Gate/APQP/PPAP

Design for manufacturability

Time Management

Tooling Design

Aluminum Die-Cast

Solidworks, Unigraphics, Pro/E

Plastic injection molding

Create/implement design standards

MS Office/Minitab

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Hedstrom Plastics., Ashland, OH 2017-2018

Rotational Molding manufacturer.

Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Leads and directs the work of assigned manufacturing engineers and project engineers.

Analyze and design lean manufacturing cells using effective systems and simulation tools to optimize, use of space, equipment, material and personnel.

Work closely with research and development, quality assurance and maintenance personnel to prevent problems with products and tooling/fixtures.

Stay informed concerning new manufacturing technologies and equipment in order to manufacture and reduce cost through efficiencies.

Support all current and new product introductions.

Determine and eliminate root causes and diminish occurrences in the manufacturing process.

Ensure that all manufacturing product specifications are developed and testing procedures are in place before starting up vendors/subcontractors.

Able to assist in reducing cost through re-engineering product/material.

ASSOCIATED MATERIALS, INC., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 2017

Exterior building products for the remodeling and new construction markets.

Product Development Engineer

Successfully identified process improvements that increased production, improved product quality and reduce intensive inspection processes.

Development of products and components; working from initial concept and design to production phase, machining, prototyping, testing and release.

CAD work with Solidworks to design components and tooling. Worked closely with fabrication department.

Use of Solidworks Simulation software to analyze components and improve tooling design and part quality.

Conducted Design of Experiments.

PROSPECT MOLD, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 2016

Provides molds, tooling and production parts to manufacturers and tier one and two suppliers.

Engineering Manager

Held responsibility for all 2D and 3D CAD tool development.

Provided strategic direction for department in all areas including planning, scheduling, organizing, directing and data control.

Managed achievement of critical project metrics including: cost, timing, Q/A and specifications exceeding project budget expectations.

Managed and coordinated department resources to accommodate customer requirements.

Developed and maintained customer tool requirements, specifications and documentation.

Coordinated and documented customer review meetings through online meetings and visits.

INTIGRAL INC., Twinsburg, OH 2015 to 2016

Manufacturer of insulating glass units and monolithic glass products to window and door manufacturers.

Product Engineering Manager

Established in-house engineering and R&D departments.

Developed and implemented standards for evaluation of Blinds Between Glass (BBG).

Established stage gate process for new product development.

Implemented production part approval process for validation of domestic and international vendors and components.

Managed projects through all phases of development including R&D, prototyping, risk analysis,

Verification, validation, documentation, implementation, quality control.

Provided oversight and mentoring to engineers, technicians and production personnel.

Optimized assembly operations and improved variablility from 70% to less than 5%.

ENERGY FOCUS INC., Solon, OH 2013 to 2015

LED lighting systems.

Senior Project Engineer

Designed and developed new lighting products to meet military and UL specifications.

Conducted extensive static/thermal analysis of components and assemblies using Cosmos.

Led all platform affordable LED team to meet aggressive schedules, design goals and customer

demands for the National Shipbuilders Research Program.

Provided oversight and mentoring to engineers, technicians and interns.

GLOBAL LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Brecksville, OH 2012 to 2013

Lightguide manufacturing and backlight solutions.

Engineering Manager

Managed engineering department.

Trained engineers in production part approval process.

Educated international engineers in applications, processes and status of current and future

projects.

ENERGY FOCUS INC., Solon, OH 2006 to 2012

LED lighting systems.

Senior Mechanical Engineer

Served as Lead Engineer for the Very High Efficient Solar Cell program, designing, tooling and assembly of parts and fixtures for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Designed and developed LED boards to include thermal heat transfer for efficient life.

Qualified products for MIL standards, UL standards and lighting industry standards.

Researched cutting edge LEDs for development into military and commercial lighting products.

Designed fixtures utilizing SolidWorks for experimental R&D components.

The Kirby Company, Cleveland, OH – Vacuum Cleaners 2001 to 2006

The Little Tikes Company, Hudson, OH – Childrens Toys 1994 to 2001

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

BSMET, Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH

AAS, Design Engineering, Stark State College of Technology, N. Canton, OH

Airframe & Powerplant, Embry-Rydell Aeronautical University, Frankfurt, WGermany

MILITARY

Honorable Discharge, U.S. Air Force, Frankfurt, W Germany

PATENTS

Vacuum Cleaner Handgrip (#7,540,065)

Electro-Mechanical design of handle sensing forward and reverse motion for actuation of vacuum cleaner

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