Manager Quality Assurance

Kevin A. Jones **** Majestic View Pl, Lenoir, NC *8645 **********@***.*** 757-***-****

Quality Assurance and Manufacturing Management

*Operations *Production * Efficiencies *Leadership

Accomplished Manager heavily experienced in production, quality assurance, safety and continuous fast pace

operations. Possess the ability to think creatively, understand the big picture and translate it into safe & superior products,

operational efficiency, enhanced customer service and goal achievement. Consistently demonstrated success in P&L

management, multi-channel distribution and strategic planning in startup and growing organizations. Charismatic, focused

& tenacious leader who thrives in dynamic and fluid environments.

Core Competencies

* Production Management * Batch /Line Processing * Operations Management *Quality Assurance * Profit & Loss

* Facilities Management * Safety Management * Process Improvement * Tracking Controls * Customer/Vendor Relations

* Mentoring/Coaching * Asset Integration *Technology Development *Servant Leadership

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Extensive Experience in:

-Monitoring and providing leadership in advancing smooth quality assurance systems, production processes, recognizing

production efficiency flaws, timely operational support, developing effective solutions and implanting new and changing

concepts.

-Developing and implementing production schedules to meet operational commitments within budgetary constraints and

prescribed resources.

-Balancing raw material procurement/requisitioning and production /shop floor demand to minimize storage needs and

maximize production floor efficiencies and customer satisfaction.

-Developing, implementing and monitoring detailed Quality Assurance systems in manufacturing facilities. These systems

inspected/evaluated supplier quality, receiving material inspection, material controls and production processes..

-Developing and installing new manufacturing equipment to support new or expanded product lines.

-Planning, costing, monitoring & completing capital projects.

- Assessing training curricula for different echelons of large organizations, developing training plans and presentations.

Contents included all aspects of manufacturing including material procurement, demand planning, production and logistics

scheduling, production processes, supply chain and strategic plans management.

-Establishing and promoting Team Building environments that function effectively to increase efficiencies and customer

satisfaction, improve quality, reduce waste, increase profits and operate safely.

Professional Experience

Production Manager ( Feb14 to Jan15), Tyson Wilkesboro Fresh

Achievements:

- Increased production 14%

-Initiated structured management policies for 25 supervisors ( Chillers/Trussing line,Wholebird, Thigh Debone & packing,

OSSIDS, Drum & Thigh cutup/packing and Split Breast)

-Participated in key HR turnover brainstorming exercise.

-Wrote and promulgated departmental policies (Packing Standards, Thigh Deboning Policy)

-Mapped, designed & in process of installing Visual Controls for Wilkesboro Fresh.

-Conduct well received leadership lectures with cutting area leads.

Quality Assurance Manager / Director of Operations (Feb12- Oct13) Nature’s Way Purewater, Pittston, PA

Hired as QA Manager, within 2 months, given all Operations responsibility.

Primary decision maker for all production, quality assurance, food safety, logistics for a major private label bottling

company on the east coast.

Key Achievements:

*Installation and startup of new carbonated flavored water line (Talking Rain’s Sparkling Ice, Top growth company in the

country) Grew from 0 to 1 million cases per month in 6 months. Best copacker.

*Awarded SunOpta Corporation “ Best Vendor” distinction.

* Cornerstone behind attaining SQF level 3 certification.

* Increased production by 46%.

Plant Manager( November10- January12) Two Chefs on a Roll, Jessup, PA

Responsible for all aspects of a manufacturer including quality assurance, production, distribution, raw material,

governmental compliance, training, safety, cost analysis, inventory, capital equipment purchasing and installation,

management and recruitment of key personnel and profits. Products included: Hummus, Topped Hummus, puddings,

salsas, ready to eat meat entrees, soups, curry and gravies.

Key Achievements:

*Startup of new product line for Maya Kaimal Organic Indian Sauces (hot fill)

*Startup of new Hummus line for Loblaws Markets (Canada)

* Expanded product line for Trader Joe’s (from 14 to 18 products)

*Managed Capital fund projects including new “Packline” Hummus Topper line

*Increased production 43%

*Attained SQF level 2 certification.

Plant Manager (Nov 06-Oct10) Preferred Meal Systems, Moosic, PA

Responsible for the development, safety, processing, production and distribution of prepared food and meat entrees for

the largest prepared school lunch and Airline meal manufacturer in the country. Primary decision maker in Product safety

and wholesomeness, raw material procurement, food production, warehousing, inventory, distribution and customer

service. General oversight and direct responsibility for 400 employees and $200 Million in sales. Products included: RTE

Chicken, Beef, Pork,RTE entrees, RTE burgers, pastas, vegetables, sauces, baked snacks, confectionary products,

gravies.

Bottom line: Manufactured and delivered on a daily schedule 1.5 million safe and wholesome RTE meals per week to the

following city school districts: Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC, New York City, Buffalo, Syracuse, San Jose,

Atlanta.

Key Achievements:

* Decreased customer shortages by 18% the first 4 months on the job.

* Increased Aluminum pan production by 9% (pressed pans for entrée lines)

* Decreased cost of goods (direct labor costs) 9% 2nd quarter 07 & 14% in 3rd.

* Integrated daily SOV analysis into daily Operations meeting, realizing 7% production increases with 3% reduction in raw

material consumption.

*Devised & installed assembly line conveyor system capable of changing out carriers, decreasing changeover time by

50%.

* Attained EPA issued license for stack gas emissions, set up program to monitor and reduce stack emissions.

* Negotiated vendor and facility contracts realizing $100K annual savings

* Saved $92K in LLVA sewage fees by monitoring discharge flow.

* Initiated warehouse cycle count teams, reducing production line down time 10% decreasing customer shortages and

increasing inventory confidence and reliability.

* Reduced preventive maintenance costs by an average of $6,000/month.

Plant Manager (May 02-Nov 06) S. Wallace Edwards & Sons, Surry, VA

Responsible for development, processing, packaging, labeling, governmental compliance, storage, distribution, security

and safety of 515 meat & further processed foods line items. Primary products were Pork and Chicken: Ham, bacon (retail

sliced), slab and foodservice cased, pumped hams, marinated chicken boned & rolled, pork & Chicken BBQ, deli loaves,

sausage, dry cured country hams, Serrano and long cut aged country Hams.

Key Achievements:

* Increased profits 34% initial year, 41% overall.

* Increased production yields 32% by devising and installing new cooking system. Project completed utilizing an organic

maintenance team and outside contractor balance.

* Increased production yields 12% by establishing raw material analysis program determining active ingredient (PFF)

concentrations and consequently adjusting batch formulas.

* Researched US market dominated by unique European import (dry cured meats), developed domestic product line to

compete, marketed product & gained appreciable market share.

* Product Manager for product line expansion, investigated product market niche, received government (USDA) approval

for process, developed product production process, designed packaging & labels; solicited, investigated & contracted raw

material vendors and introduced product to market.

* Increased manufacturing productivity through critical evaluation of key personnel and Six Sigma process.

* Personally streamlined/consolidated supply chain realizing 22% increase annual tonnage produced yet decreased cost

of goods by 6%

Plant Manager (Sept 95- May 02 ) Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, VA

Responsible for all aspects of a food processing company including Quality Assurance, production, distribution, raw

material, governmental compliance, training, safety, packaging, cost analysis, inventory, capital equipment purchasing and

installation, management and recruitment of key personnel and profits.

Under the Smithfield Foods umbrella, I advanced from

Plant Manager (V.W. Joyner Co.) to:

General Manager (Pruden Packing Co.) to:

Plant Manager (Smithfield) & General Manager of another facility.

Products included Pork, Beef, Chicken. All HACCP categories.

Key Achievements

* Researched, developed & established innovative processing techniques, allowing expansion of product lines.

* Investigated alternative suppliers achieving 2-year production savings of $157K. * Absorbed 14% operations budget

reduction over 2 years yet increased sales & tonnage produced.

* Corporation grew from $6 Billion to $10 Billion in sales through acquisitions; I spearheaded initial analysis of production

plants prior to purchase and developed startup operations.

United States Navy (Oct 79- Oct 95) Surface Warfare Officer, Retired Lt. Commander

Advised, taught and led a myriad of occupational skilled personnel, ranging from experienced electrical engineers to

welders, from administrative support personnel to combatants. The number of personnel under my cognizance typically

ranged in excess of 500. The Navy was my leadership proving grounds.

Key Achievements

* Competed for, selected from a field of 213 candidates and served as the United States military liaison to the British

Ministry of Defense in London.

(Outstanding ability in fostering relationships and gaining confidence)

*Managed $23 Million project of new equipment installation, testing and final certification. Project was completed 7 weeks

ahead of schedule and $ 258K under budget.

*Ship Overhaul Manager, responsible for 3 very successful overhauls.

* Reorganized a technical training program, consolidating on-hand resources, redefining course training standards and

instituting a self-help training center. Maintenance reliability improved by 13%, equipment downtime decreased 14%.

*Awarded numerous campaign, unit & personal medals including Navy Commendation and Achievement medals. Eight

deployments.

* Command at Sea qualified, Amphibious Force Navigator during Desert Storm.

Research &Development Chemist (June77-Oct 79) Topps Manufacturing, Duryea, PA

Working in concert with Director, Senior Chemists, Proto Plant Manager & Production Managers, developed unique

confectionary products and expanded existing lines.

EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS/ EXPERIENCES:

B.A. Biology (Chemistry minor), Mansfield, University of Pennsylvania

HACCP Certified (Hazards and Critical Control Points), Virginia Tech

Six Sigma Black Belt, Expert Rating online course

Operations Leadership Training, Tyson Foods, Springdale, Arkansas

A.S. Veterinary Technology, Penn Foster College (ongoing)

Leadership, Management Education Training, U.S. Navy, San Diego, CA

Facilities Management Course, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI

Total Quality Management Executive Training, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

United Kingdom Armed Forces Executive Management Course, London, UK

U.S. Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI

Basic Electricity and Electronics School. NETC, San Diego, CA

Qualified Marine Propulsion Engineer (1200# steam and Tandem Diesels)

Surface Warfare Officer Basic, Coronado, CA

Surface Warfare Department Head School. Newport, RI

Command at Sea Qualified

Member Veterans of Foreign Wars

American Legion Post 624

Member Military Officers Association of America

Eagle Scout

Vigil Member Order of the Arrow

Sigma Tau Gamma National Fraternity

Kevin A. Jones Snapshot on Work Ethics/Philosophies/Creeds

I’ve been called a workaholic, dedicated to my employer, employees and customers.

Typically arrive to work early, I’m a planner. If I am unfamiliar with a process or procedure, I research it prior to the specific

procedure is scheduled. I read the technical manuals of my equipment.

I don’t leave work unless I know my team is safe, understand their task & have the means to accomplish it.

Managers must be on the manufacturing floor during critical (EG: new processing methods, first run production, daily

startup, when using expensive materials and during potentially hazardous operations)

5S is common sense and must be second nature and be understood by Operations, Maintenance and Quality Assurance

personnel. It must be firmly established.

Establishing and understanding baseline production metrics of OEE and TEEP is essential. It is critical to establish a

correct and common production language with all personnel.

Regardless of the method, all process improvement methods must safeguard product quality, enhance employee

relations and ensure essential safety elements are not compromised.

I consider management a 24/7 responsibility. I’ve been responsible for hundreds of personnel, the primary decision

maker for business, operations, maintenance and personnel safety for thirty years so I expect that call at 2 am to be

informed of the situation. I am known for walking into the plant at odd times to see what is going on.

Safety is paramount, a year of profit can be wiped out by one accident, be safe & schedule potentially hazardous

operations appropriately, use the first string.

Receptive to ideas from subordinates, peers & seniors. Diplomatic.

Not a yes man, if I feel something is not correct, I’ll tell you, yet I’m seasoned enough to support a corporate decision.

Approachable, open door policy, even with 700+ employees. I don’t shoot the messenger so subordinates usually tell me

bad news instead of hiding it.

Hands on, I enjoy jumping in on projects, etc. I believe doing something first hand adds insight to understanding

personnel’s obstacles, problems, and gripes. Productive ideas tend to surface.

Complacency is a typical root cause for inefficiency and out of specification quality.

I will place myself in other people’s position, walk in their shoes so to speak, this is another way to gain the insight helpful

to problem or procedure resolution.

If you want personnel to use something or accomplish a procedure, ensure the needed tools or protective equipment is

accessible & handy.

Communication. Most people want to do a good job; they want to know what is expected of them & where to find help if

needed. No one likes surprises.

Checklists are useful & critical in safety & operations.

Personnel become excited or anxious the shift before a holiday, a vacation, the weekend, a special event, managers &

supervisors need to be extra vigilant for hazardous situations, complacency, etc.

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