Jody L. Hepler

Painesville, OH ***** ac4xqe@r.postjobfree.com LinkedIn.com/in/jodyhepler 440-***-****

National and International Experience in Global Product Environments

Strong lean principled operational leadership and program management skills with proven ability to increase performance, capacity, and revenues globally. Foster high performance and cohesion across cross-cultural, cross-functional teams. Deliver consistent cost-efficiency and profitability. Conduct contract negotiations. Work with executive leadership team to identify, develop, and implement short- and long-term business strategies across the organization. Six Sigma Certifications.

Increase Revenues: By increasing global capacity 56%. and production through-put 25% Achieved results, even under tough circumstances at Donaldson

Manufacturing Operations: Manager with extensive background directing multiple large-scale manufacturing programs in U.S. and international environments ranging from $4.8 million to $28.1 million.

Regulatory Knowledge and Compliance: Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and ISO and IPC procedures, processes, and standards such as FDA GMP; Mil-Spec 883 Class S (Space) and Class B (Mission Critical); AS9100; ISO 9000, TS 16949, and IS0 13485.

International Experience: Experience managing greenfield and ongoing operations in the U.S. and overseas (China, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Ireland, Brazil, Thailand, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands). Lived 2 years in China.

Professional Experience

MILLENNIUM CONTROL SYSTEMS, Eastlake, OH, May 2016–February-2018

Key multi-location systems integrator firm with UL 508A industrial panel manufacturing that serves the glass, housing materials, metals, and tire rubber industries.

Director of Operations, May 2016–Present

Recruited to bring structure, stabilization, and experience to the organization. Supervised company operations on a daily basis including IT, hardware engineering, project management, purchasing, manufacturing, quality, safety, and resourcing. Deal efficiently with escalations, difficult situations, and people under pressure.

Initiated contract management production business process for repetitive commercial-based industrial products dramatically decreasing production lead times from 10 weeks to 5 weeks and going from troubled supplier to top tier supplier in customer-supplier quality rating.

Grew manufacturing capability 3-fold while implementing lean principles resulting in efficient production and increased safety.

Building a PMO based project management function within the business including structures, processes, and templates. Allocate appropriate resources to ensure that projects are managed effectively and within committed time, scope, and budget.

Helped develop and implement a company-wide program management methodology.

Grew revenues 33% by integrating functional strategies utilizing business expertise to reach financial and operational objectives.

DONALDSON COMPANY INCORPORATED (DCI), Bloomington, MN, April 2007–April 2016

Leading global filtration company for engine and industrial filtration.

Senior Manager Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), November 2009–April 2016

Oversaw end-to-end capital plan, forecast, ROI delivery at program/project levels. Led nine-person combined project management and engineering team handling all aspects of the project lifecycle, including product design for manufacturability, value engineering, manufacturing process development, production optimization, equipment automation design, procurement, vendor, and project execution through design to revenue generation of the company’s flagship PowerCore® Air product lines. Held budgetary P&L.

Achieved 5-year product plan by directing the capacity expansion of 4 new production lines and increasing existing production capabilities by 25%+.

Increased overall revenue and profits 12% by managing competing demands and balancing multiple priorities.

Co-authored Global Capital Program Management Procedures for capital projects greater than $500K that provided a standardized approach for large-scale projects ranging from new facilities, manufacturing equipment, and other asset related expenditures.

Vice President of International (Donaldson/CAT-AFSI JV), Champaign, IL, April 2007–November 2009

Initiated procedures and methods to ensure customer and shareholder satisfaction. Directed quoting, contract negotiations, government registrations, European Union (EU) environmental compliance, city negotiations, staffing, purchase order approvals, transfer/qualification, and production performance for all EU consumed products from AFSI. Ensured completion of required reporting, including financial, ISO, and project and operational performance reporting.

Instituted economic downturn inspired plant startup delay, including staff deferrals, while still maintaining a highly motivated workforce with less than a 1% turnover.

Established a local EU based supply chain of major commodities: Steel deep draw housings, Al cast and machining, Filtration Media, and Packaging resulting in a raw material with unit cost savings and increased profitability over existing U.S. produced product.

Greenfield Factory Expansion: Designed, executed, and managed a $28.1 million self-funded AFSI EU production facility into the Czech Republic to produce Caterpillar branded lube, fuel, hydraulic filters. Mentored and provided leadership to AFSI EU Plant Manager increasing his business and financial acumen. Supervised 9 direct and 120 indirect reports

Brought expansion in on schedule and at a cost savings of $2.1 million.

Managed proposal, award, and the CZ preparation and master implementation plan for new major product introduction of Tier 3 Perkins Next Gen Product with projected ROI of 30% in five years.

Earlier Positions Held:

OSEMI INCORPORATED, VP of Operations, Redwing, MN, September 2006–April 2007

DONALDSON, Manager of International Transfer Operations, October 2004–September 2006. Senior Project Manager (Transfer Group), January 2004–September 2004.

PEMSTAR INCORPORATED, Rochester, MN, January 1997–November 2003. Senior International Program/Business Unit Manager, October 2000–November 2003 Began as Senior Engineering Specialist in January and quickly promoted 3-X to Senior International Program/Business Unit Manager in October 2003.

RESPONSE INCORPORATED, IT Implementation Manager, Rochester, MN, January 1996–January 1997

SAWTEK INCORPORATED (TriQuint), Senior RF Military Subsystem Technician, Orlando, FL, February 1993–October 1995

UNITED STATES NAVY, Advanced Electronics Technician, Various Locations, September 1989–January 1993.

Received Honorable Discharge.

Education

THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX, Phoenix, AZ. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Professional Certifications

Lean Manufacturing Silver Certification Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification for Managers & Green Belt Certification Donaldson Executive External Leadership Development Program (CLC) Donaldson Executive Mentorship Program, Mentee, and Mentor.

Professional Affiliations

Project Management Institute, member (Since 2000) Secret and Top-Secret clearances – Inactive American Society For Quality.

Experience in both DFSS,FEMA, DFEMA,Stage Gate and Agile methodologies.

Experience in Six Sigma, 5S, and Kaizen environments; knowledge of quality and supply chain management, demand flow technology, and lean manufacturing.

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