Chemical Manager Plant
Resume:
Gerhard H Scherer
Rome GA, *****
*******.*.*******@*****.***
An accomplished professional with 20+ years of experience in the global chemical industry. Expertise in business leadership, project management, marketing, business intelligence, start-ups, ISO, and operational excellence. Hands on knowledge of supply chain, procurement, business reporting, EPA, FDA, OSHA compliance and change management. Proven track record of innovative product development, and cost reduction using Lean and Six Sigma tools.
Experience
FP Pigments Inc., privately held manufacturer of white pigments headquartered in Finland Rome, GA
Project Manager, Plant / Operations Manager June 2010-present
Entered Latin and South America markets and increased sales by 23%
Cut transportation costs by 13% by contracting third-party service providers
Obtain approvals for FDA regulated products entering high margin market
Direct QC and EHS programs
Accomplishment: Pushed YoY double-digit sales increases by entering new markets
Hire all site personnel
Commissioned new plant; wrote SOP’s and EHS procedures, obtained permits and set up logistics
Certified operation under ISO 9001:2008 / 2015
Established employee benefits, IT, payroll, and banking
Contracted for raw materials and sourced all MRO items
Accomplishment: Ramped up a new site in record time
Constructed a white pigment plant in Rome, GA using a new process and technology
Coordinate engineering expertise from Finland and Germany into the Rome project took the lead on project safety
Accomplishment: Built $20MM plant on time in budget without lost time injury
EKO Peroxide LLC., Akzo Nobel joint venture company Marietta, GA
Director of Operations Aug 2006-June 2010
EKO Peroxide LLC, a $30MM joint venture company between Akzo Nobel N.V. and OCI Chemicals Corporation for the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of Hydrogen Peroxide in North and Latin America.
Negotiated joint venture agreements
Contracted raw material supply, services, and permits
Obtained EPA and FDA permits for regulated Hydrogen Peroxide products
Cut costs by restructuring logistics and exports
Presented budgets and forecasts and reported quarterly financials to JV partners
Accomplishment: 20+% reduction in costs; increase sales by 12%
Akzo Nobel: Eka Chemicals, part of Akzo Nobel’s chemicals Unit focused on Pulp and Paper Marietta, GA
Manager of Business Intelligence, Operations Manager Bleaching Chemicals Jun 2001 – Aug 2006
Managed Sodium Chlorate, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Chlorine Dioxide operations
Rolled out the Chlorine Dioxide supply concept and signed the first customer
Reduced supply chain costs across seven plants in North and Latin America
Obtained FIFRA approvals for Sodium Chlorate and EPA and FDA approvals for Chlorine Dioxide
Accomplishment: Increased income by 10+% due to cost reduction and increased sales
US team member in global Pulp and Paper BI team
Analyzed North and South American Sodium Chlorate market
Accomplishment: Significantly enhanced Sodium Chlorate market understanding
Akzo Nobel Marietta, GA
General Manager MPP Systems Inc. Jan 1998 – Jun 2001
MPP Systems was a small Akzo Nobel sideline business. I managed the business after the previous GM suddenly left due to illness. I established contacts to all existing users and pipeline potentials. I executed a major contract that increased revenue by nearly 60%. Ultimately, I did not see a fit for the business in Akzo’s portfolio.
Accomplishment: Restructured the business and recommend it to be sold which was done in 2005
Independent Consultant Montvale, NJ
Technology and Business Consultant Jan 1996 – Dec 1998
Client focused services including detailed market, technology, and competitive strength analysis — new business development including project costs, strategic planning, revenue forecasting and drafting of business plans.
Client BF Goodrich Chemical Company: engaged to evaluate, install and start-up environmental process and controls
Accomplishment: Eliminated $430M annual expenses
Client Texaco Chemical: engaged to design, test, and develop a new process for waste treatment
Accomplishment: Reduced treatment cost by 37% and eliminated a major environmental risk factor
Client Novotech Engineering: engaged for process development, competitive technology review, feasibility study and roll out of new stainless-steel pickling technology
Accomplishment: Within one year, the client added 17 new customers and $13.7MM of annual revenue
Degussa Corporation Ridgefield Park, NJ
Project Engineer, Technology Manager, Industry Manager May 1986 – Dec 1995
Pushed the environmental and mining business in North and South America to over $4MM annual revenue
Introduced Degussa as supplier for Hydrogen Peroxide and Sodium Cyanide to customers through trade shows, mass mailings, and one-on-one visits
Opened new markets by gaining regulatory approvals for the product range and a new transportation method dealing with EPA, FDA and the Coast Guard
Established the Active Oxygen Technology Center in Allendale NJ; initiated technical market entry of Degussa with peroxygens and cyanide in North and South America
Degussa AG Hanau, Germany
Technical Development Manager June 1985– Apr 1986
Trained in the details of hydrogen peroxide process technology and engineering
Developed technology to safely produce high strength hydrogen peroxide as a propellant
Education
Chemical Engineering degree, Chemieschule Fresenius, Wiesbaden, Germany
Comparable to the US BSc. in Chemical Engineering
Chemistry degree, Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Germany
Comparable to the US BSc. in Chemistry
Skills
Fluent in English and German
Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Dynamics NAV
User of Oracle, SAP
Experienced in Problem Solving using Kepner Tregoe methodology
Akzo Nobel internal program: Lean Manufacturing, Gold Certified - 2003
Akzo Nobel internal program: Six Sigma Training, Green Belt Certified - 2004
Akzo Nobel internal program: MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University - 2006
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