James H. Graham
**** ****** ****** ****, *********, GA 30549 Phone: 570-***-**** **********@*****.***
CAREER SUMMARY
An educated, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt leader with a proven track record of successfully leading the improvement of both paper and plastic manufacturing operations; contributed to progressive growth through gained knowledge and experience. Solid organizational, communication, and time management skills. Seeking an Operations Management position in Production, bringing 25+ years of experience as follows:
KEY STRENGTHS
Process Improvement
ISO 9001 Certification
Multi-site Leadership
P&L Accountability
Plant Start Up
Cross-Functional Leadership
Lean Manufacturing
Team Building
Leadership Development
Safety Enhancement
Human Resources
Organizational Effectiveness
Logistics/Warehouse Mgmt
Strategic Planning
Union/Non-Union Management
Cost Reduction & Budgeting
Plant Turnaround
Customer Service
Project Management
Training Employees
Quality Assurance
CORE COMPETENCIES
Results-driven with exceptional practical judgment with skills in developing process improvement, risk management, lean manufacturing, and team management directives.
Solid experience establishing and utilizing continuous improvement and lean manufacturing principles to develop improved safety performance, improved operational and quality performance while reducing inventory levels for raw materials and finished goods resulting in reduced cost.
Strong leadership utilizing the knowledge and talent of fellow associates by building teams that are engaged and play key roles in leading employee and operational performance improvement.
Expertise in working closely with the sales department; visiting customers to improve customer satisfaction, better understand customer needs, and to reduce cost associated with producing and shipping product.
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Implemented raw material inventory tracking system that successfully resulted in a decrease in
inventory levels of $1.6MM.
Reorganized manufacturing department utilizing lean manufacturing processes including
cross-training, job merging, and process improvements that led to annual labor savings exceeding
$300,000 the first year.
Introduced manufacturing line of linear low-density poly garbage bag machines into a paper
packaging manufacturing operation leading to production levels that exceeded sister poly
operations by 4%.
Successfully worked with key customers to enhance business performance including, Avon, Burger
King, Kroger, L’Oreal, McDonalds/Perseco, Proctor & Gamble, Scott’s Miracle Grow, and Sonic Drive-In.
Led 2 manufacturing plants to AIB and ASI certification for producing packaging products used in
the food service industry through establishment of HAACP program and the development
and implementation of GMPs.
Participated in development of automated packaging equipment that resulted in labor and
material savings of approximately $600,000 annually.
Led negotiation team in several contract negotiations including working with a federal mediator.
One contract negotiation resulted in a 6-year contract extension with significant language
changes resulting in increased operational flexibility.
Successfully led team to major expansion of facility including relocation of 27 additional
manufacturing machines and the hiring and training of over 100 new employees.
Key member of team which consolidated two operations resulting in over $1,000,000 in annual savings.
Reduced OSHA Recordable Incident Rate from ll.9 in 2000 to 4.3 in 2001 through training, employee involvement, incentives and accountability programs.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Comar, LLC– Hoschton, GA
Plant Manager (April 2015 - Present)
Total P&L, safety, quality, and production responsibility for a blow molding manufacturing facility.
Lead facility in transition from private ownership to corporate ownership focusing on implementing formal documented safety and quality management systems utilizing Lean Principles.
Achieved ISO 9001:2014 Certification
Achieved one year with no Recordable Accidents through team based Safety Management System.
Processes include Injection Stretch Blow Molding, Extrusion Blow Molding of containers for the specialty food and beverage industries and pharmaceutical industry.
Silgan Plastics – Cape Girardeau, MO
Plant Manager (November 2010 – April 2015)
Total P&L, production, quality, and safety responsibility for a rigid plastic container blow molding manufacturing facility.
Successfully led $7MM expansion project which tripled production output. Manufacturing processes included extrusion blow molding utilizing HDPE resins and EVOH barrier resin.
Processes include Extrusion Blow Molding, Multi layer, thermal transfer, and IML labeling.
Work directly with Proctor & Gamble personnel on quality reviews and new product development.
Port Clinton, OH
Plant Manager (August 2008 – November, 2010 - Transferred)
Total P&L, production, quality, and safety responsibility for a 180 non-union employee, plastic bottle manufacturing facility with annual sales of $24MM. Hired as Manufacturing Manager and promoted to Plant Manager in 11/08.
Manufacturing processes included 23extrusion blow molding lines, 3 injection molding lines, and 9 silk screen printing lines utilizing HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC, PETG and Barex resins.
Novapak Corporation – Manchester, PA
Plant Manager (August 2006 – August 2008)
Total P&L, production, quality, and safety responsibility for a 100 non-union employee, plastic bottle manufacturing facility with annual sales of $20MM.
Manufacturing processes included eleven extrusion blow molding lines utilizing an in-line fluorination process to form a barrier property to the container. Operations utilized both PE and PP resins.
Transferred to lead turnaround efforts of poorly performing operation.
Rebuilt lead team and directly supervised Maintenance Manager, Materials Manager, Human Resources Manager, Quality Manager, Production Manager, and 4 Production Supervisors.
Hazleton, PA
Plant Manager (December 2003 – August 2006)
Total P&L, production, quality, and safety responsibility for a 100+ non-union employee, plastic bottle manufacturing facility with annual sales of $30MM.
Manufacturing processes included 10-extrusion blow molding utilizing PVC and PE resins, and 4 stretch blow molding lines utilizing PET. Products produced on equipment manufactured by Battenfeld Fischer and Sidel.
Hired as Production Manager and promoted to Plant Manager after eleven months.
Directly supervised Maintenance Manager, Materials Manager, Human Resources Manager, Quality Manager, Production Manager, and 4 Production Supervisors.
Led improvement of safety program including implementation of DuPont STOP program resulting in no lost time injuries for over 2 years.
AEP Industries – Mountaintop, PA
Production Supervisor (May 2003 – December 2003)
Total production, quality, and safety responsibility for a 20+ union employee-manufacturing shift in a blown film extrusion manufacturing facility.
Manufacturing processes included low density, and medium density blown film extrusion and industrial plastic bag making and industrial sheeting products. Products produced on equipment manufactured by Amplas, Alpine, Davis Standard, Egan, Sano, & Reifenhauser.
Total responsibility for all flexographic printing operations including equipment modifications, employee training, and improving print quality. Printed utilizing Uteco and W&H, printing equipment with both doctor blade and 2 roll systems.
Trinity Packaging Corporation – Lewistown, PA
Production Manager (August 2002 – April 2003)
Total production, quality, and safety responsibility for a 450+ non-union employee plastic packaging product manufacturing facility.
Manufacturing processes included low density, medium density, and high density plastic bag making including T-Shirt sacks, notion and millinery bags, handle-tie bags, cat litter pan liners, draw-string bags, lawn and garden bags, food wrap, and mail envelopes. Products produced on equipment manufactured by Amplas, CMD, Hudson-Sharpe, Rotomac, and Elba.
Directed packaging lines for the above products using Tanney and Kodiak cartons.
Total responsibility for all flexographic printing operations including ink and printing plate purchasing, all printing supply purchasing, equipment modifications, employee training, and improving print quality. Printed up to eight-color work utilizing Uteco, W&H, Wolverine, and CMF printing equipment with both doctor blade and 2 roll systems.
Operated 12 LDPE, MDPE, and HDPE blown film extrusion lines on Gloucester, Kiefel, and Alpine extruders.
Negotiated ink purchasing program, which upgraded ink-blending systems to computerized blending and color matching while saving $124,000 in ink costs annually.
Environmental manager for facility with responsibilities, which included proper waste disposal, SARA reporting, and VOC tracking and reporting.
Duro Bag Manufacturing Company– Richmond, VA
Project Manager – Contract Work (June 2002 – August 2002)
Oversee and direct maintenance and converting personnel in installation of new Kraft paper converting equipment. Installed B&R Die-Cut handle bag machine for printing McDonald’s carry out bags.
Train and direct company employees in proper start-up and operation of equipment.
S&G Packaging Company (Formerly Stone Container Corporation) – Hodge, LA
General Manufacturing Manager (March 1998 – September 2001)
Total P&L responsibility for a 300+ union employee kraft paper packaging product manufacturing facility with annual sales volume of $50MM.
Manufacturing processes included bag making for quick serve restaurants, department stores, and grocery stores, Kraft paper slitting and rewinding, packaging, flexographic printing, engineering, maintenance, and shipping.
Supervised 8 salaried department managers.
Developed and operated with fiscal, capital, and production budgets.
Worked closely with sales department visiting customers to improve customer satisfaction.
Richmond, Va
Plant Manager (April 1981 – March 1998)
Total P&L responsibility for a 200+ union employee Kraft paper and plastic packaging product manufacturing facility with annual sales of $36MM.
Manufacturing process included paper bag and handle bag manufacturing, LDPE industrial garbage bag production, flexographic printing, maintenance, and shipping.
Supervised salaried department managers including Controller, Production Manager, Human Resources Manager, Services Manager, Shipping and Receiving Manger, Quality Manager, Safety Manager, and Plant Engineer.
B&H Bag Company – Houston, TX
Production Superintendent (September 1977 – April 1981)
Responsible for production, maintenance, and shipping operations of a 50+ non-union Kraft paper packaging products manufacturing operation.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Bluefield College, Bluefield, Virginia – BS Degree Organizational Management and Development 1997
Villanova University – Six Sigma Green Belt Certificate, Lean Six Sigma Certificate, Six Sigma Black Belt Certificate
Advanced Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Intro to Access -- Louisiana Tech -- 2000
DuPont STOP for Supervisors Safety Training Course -- S&G Packaging -- 2000
SPC Training, Problem Solving and Team Training, and Team Concept -- Stone Container Corporation -- 1995
Finance for Non-Financial Managers -- University of North Carolina Graduate School of Business – 1990
Computer Systems Training including BPICS, SAP, Baan, and Oracle
ISO Internal Auditor Training