Ernest S. Lodics, Jr.

Arlington, Texas ***** • 817-***-**** • ac700t@r.postjobfree.com

Plant Operations Executive

Expert in Lean concepts including Gemba Events, Cause/Effect Diagrams, 5S, 6 Sigma, Kaizen Events, OEE and Tim Wood Analogy.

Accomplished executive offering substantial experience spanning production and manufacturing operations, including multiple FDA and USDA processing facilities. Adept at building cross-functional teams, managing complex projects, and administering financial budgets to improve functions across multiple lines of operation. Leverage expertise to identify and address subpar operations and generate robust cost savings; exemplary leader excelling in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Core Competencies:

Staff Leadership and Training

Full Cycle Project Management

Budget Administration / P&L Accountability

Continuous Improvements

Materials / Cost Containment

Recruiting and Staffing Initiatives

Vendor Relationship Management

Strategic Planning and Analysis

Problem Resolution / Troubleshooting

Quality Control / Management

Root Cause Analysis / Feasibility Studies

Manufacturing Operations

Sales / Financial Administration

Effective Communications

Education

Master of Business Administration in Industrial Management University of Dallas

Minor in Quality Systems (Statistical Process Control, ISO Concepts, and Customer Value)

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Purdue University

HACCP Certification North Carolina State (2018)

Professional Experience

Gourmet Cuisine

General Manager, Plant Operations, 2017 – 2018

Served as an integral member of the senior management team, constructing growth plans and establishing goals and corporate priorities while maintaining financial accountability for a subsidiary of LeDuff America. Tracked and analyzed key metrics to identify areas of critical opportunity and potential cost savings, partnering with the operations team to eliminate or reduce losses through root cause analysis. Reviewed the analysis of activities, costs, and forecast data to track progression towards goals.

Exceeded EBITDA goals by 30%; mentored and inspired a team of direct reports inclusive of sales, finance, and R & D teams, in addition to orchestrating complete plant operations.

Introduced 14 new retail items and 10 food service items, generating substantial increases in sales.

Managed risk to drive corporate objectives in the areas of environment, health and safety, asset capability, quality, and production; received a score of 94 on annual SQF audit and lost zero time to accidents.

Eddy Packing

Vice President of Operations, 2016 – 2017

Constructed world-class business development growth strategies, implementing strategic processes across all revenue streams to deliver a sustainable competitive advantage. Maintained responsibility for all sales and financial activities including holding full P&L accountability. Directed all aspects of daily operations including supply chain areas, production planning, finished goods, maintenance / warehouse, shipping / logistics, and grounds. Introduced Lean methodology to improve yield, give-a-way, and through put, leveraging company strengths to increase profits across multiple lines of operation.

Championed structural changes, establishing a Lean Manufacturing Manager/Operations Manager position; utilized Lean concepts to drive continuous improvements; implemented across five plants within the investment group portfolio.

Implemented the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) tool at floor level with an original base of 55% across 25 different processes; generated an overall improvement of 75% within 10 months.

Transitioned to an automated system (Red Zone); reduced documentation efforts and reached 80% efficiency.

Surpassed EBITDA targets by more than 50% and introduced more than 30 new items.

Formulated standard operating procedures based on true equipment capability in both batch and continuous improvement production lines; utilized results as part of quarterly board meetings; improved labor metrics by 40%.

Don Lee Farms Foodsource, LP Bob Evans Food Products

Plant Manager, 2011 – 2016

Served multiple organizations consecutively, promoting the integration of people, processes, and systems to manage and reduce costs and maximize returns. Simultaneously performed in multiple capacities under intense pressure to create value, fostering cross-team collaboration to drive profitable revenue and company expansion. Coordinated communications between multiple departments to develop and execute strategies.

Achieved Plant of the year in six plant systems for highest ratings across safety, quality, yield and labor OEE results (2012), with a 25% increase in volume; Bob Evans Food Products

Presented results to the Executive Team including OEE reports; led both a raw plant and RTE plant that both received Plant of The Year within a three-year period; Bob Evans Food Products.

Leveraged key lean measurements, leading to favorable trends over a four-year period across two separate plants.

Introduced four new processing lines with Don Lee Farms, generating substantial increases in profits.

Streamlined processes, focusing on quality, safety, and production, improving SQF audits and customer fill rates while generating an increase of 15% in labor improvements with Foodsource, LP.

Initiated training programs focusing on Lean concepts including Gemba, Kaizen, 5S, 6 sigma, Cause/Effect diagrams, changeovers, and Tim Wood; facilitated weekly plant meetings across HR, Safety, Quality, and Productivity Departments.

Concept Solutions – RMH Foods

Director of Operations, 2009 – 2011

Provided strategic leadership to implement systems and institute best practices to maximize results across multiple lines of business, while transitioning the organization to be sold while maintaining a keen focus on cost, yield, and capacity initiatives. Sales was completed January 2010 and role was transitioned into handling additional responsibilities including capital projects, new product optimization food safety, manufacturing costing standard and preventative maintenance systems..

Slashed direct / indirect costs by 25% within a nine-months, while generating a 5% improvement in actual yield results.

Administered capital budgets; overseeing monthly forecasting, capital request submissions, and long-term business planning, monitoring capital spending across all departments.

Mentored and led a team of project engineers, process engineers, maintenance planners, predictive technicians, and engineering interns concerning project management, process improvements, training, and career development.

Completed multiple successful capital and expense projects; contributing to the acceleration of production through capital and reliability improvements.

Additional Experience

Vice President of Operations, Simeus Foods, Inc. Quick-to-Fix Foods

Director / Plant Manager, H&M Foods

General Manager of Operations, Crestar Foods ( Heinz Affiliate)

Project / Maintenance Manager, Miller Brewing Company

Maintenance Engineer, Oscar Mayer

Contact this candidate