Christian Helfricht

Director of Engineering and Quality Control - Ameristar Manufacturing Inc

Champlin, MN

acpdws@r.postjobfree.com - 763-***-****

I am an accomplished manufacturing professional with the ability to organize and engage people, to foster their

ideas through mentoring and positive leadership initiatives that support business objectives. I enjoy working

with others in search of a common ground toward success.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Director of Engineering and Quality Control

Ameristar Manufacturing Inc - Mankato, MN - March 2014 to Present

Engineering Management: Responsible for planning, organizing, directing tool and die and design engineering

and programming personnel. Duties include proper staffing, interviewing, hiring and training. This position

also includes assisting and qualifying the sales estimator's quotations for production of new components in

addition to determining manufacturing feasibility, production time and rates, and material usage. Responsible

for insuring that all components produced can be made in accordance with customer specifications and

tolerances allowed. Also provide recommendation and assistance to upper management in the selection and

acquisition of capital equipment.

Consultation of Upper management: Responsible for planning and chairing QMS - Management review

meetings. Reviewed monthly Activity reports, Vendor account Summary reports, accounting summary goals

and attended all staff meetings to provide insight and suggestions.

Quality Management: I have extensive knowledge of dimensional inspection techniques, tools, and equipment;

I am able to read and interpret technical prints. Have the ability to measure parts and accurately document

the inspection data. Provide demonstrated leadership. Recruit, train, and manage a team of Quality Control

Employees determining all operational and performance qualification necessary.

• Capable of exhibiting proven experience critiquing, inspecting and auditing outside vendor services and

suppliers. I am capable of maintaining and cataloging the certifications of compliance and material certifications

from internal and external services.

• Manage / Produce quality control systems designed to ensure accurate production of product consistent with

established standards, customer specifications and production goals. Develop and/or revise QC procedures

to reflect planned work (i.e. in process Inspection Sheets for upcoming Jobs.

• Establish and maintain the quality document control system. Track Non-conformances - NCMR's. Initiate

process improvement through quality. They must have the ability to lead internal and external investigations of

non-conformances, preparing dispositions of the non-conformances. Initiation, thru completion of Corrective

Action Reports and Corrective Preventative Action reports

• Act as a liaison for third party audits; ISO - TUV audits, leading customer audits and external audits of vendor

facilities. Initiate Quarterly ISO internal audits and Yearly Certification Surveillance audits.

• Writing and updating quality assurance ISO procedures. Coordinate all ISO related activities. Perform ISO

related training. Maintaining Calibration schedule in accordance with ISO

• Review & approve customer prints for production

• Implement and coordinate product control plans FEMAS

Sales Engineer

Rifast Systems LLC - Lincolnwood, IL - March 2013 to February 2014

Rifast provides revolutionary fastening systems and peripherals for connecting bolts and nuts to sheet metal

during the metal stamping operation. I was responsible for all sales activities and technical expertise in

the Southeastern United States. Customers were primarily automotive tier 1 and tier 2 customers such as

Mercedes Benz, VW, BMW, E &E manufacturing. I provided customers with an engineered product and

recommended and engineered the installation of custom production units.

Purchasing Manager

Reich, LLC - Arden, NC - January 2013 to March 2013

General Manager

Reich, LLC - Arden, NC - June 2010 to January 2013

I was responsible for all purchasing activities within Reich LLC a German Automotive Production Machining

division in Asheville, NC USA, which include, but are not limited to: Supplier selection process, RFQ

management, Create purchase orders in the ERP system, Office supply management, Periodic price

productivity checks, renegotiations, Order tracking, order confirmation tracking, create contracts for production

material and consumables in ERP, schedule, and call maintenance, Update and maintain pricing in article files/

BOM, Update and maintain company's purchasing terms and conditions, Supplier rating, Reconcile orders

with shipments and receive in system where needed, Create vendors in system, Discount management, Code

purchases for Finance, Supplier visits/audits. Was certified TS16949

Reich, LLC - Arden, NC 28704 General Manager 06/10-01/01/2013

I managed the startup of a German Automotive Production Machining division in Asheville, NC USA. This was

the first expansion of this company anywhere in the world. I was in charge of the laying the foundation of this

company here in the US. The site selection process which involved extensive research that would ultimately

impact their organizational performance and profitability. After a site was selected I oversaw the purchase

of a 40,000.00 ft building and then managed the extensive modifications needed through the creation of

construction contracts and oversight. I hired the first 50 employees through direct hiring, job fairs and staffing

agencies.

Tool Design Engineer / Technical Program Engineer / Manufacturing Consultant

Tempco Manufacturing - Mendota Heights, MN - September 2008 to November 2009

Mendota Heights, MN 09/16/2008 - 11/05/09

Tool Design Engineer / Technical Program Engineer / Manufacturing Consultant - Designed progressive, stage

metal stamping dies as well as fixturing for welding applications.

CEO, Self-Employed

Global TechSource, LLC - Minneapolis, MN - November 2006 to September 2008

I organized and manage this firm. Activities include, but not limited to: Contract Tool Design / Tool Engineering/

Consultation. Customers included Ameristar Manufacturing, Mankato MN; South Eastern Metal Products,

Charlotte NC; Reich GmbH, Mellrichstadt Germany.

Senior Sales Engineer

Triangle Industries Inc - Minneapolis, MN - April 2006 to November 2006

Technical Sales Engineer / Technical Tool Design Engineer Program Engineer

Bermo Incorporated - Minneapolis, MN - 1990 to 2004

Family Owned business - Press Operator

Triangle Tool and Engineering - Spring Lake Park, MN - 1978 to 1990

Setup, metal fabricator, Progressive Tool Design Engineer-Executive Vice President of Operations

EDUCATION

Associate in Design and Engineering Studies

Dunwoody College of Technology - Minneapolis, MN

1980 to 1982

Certificate in Design

Dunwoody College of Technology - Minneapolis, MN

1982

Industrial Studies, German Studies

University of Minnesota - Duluth, MN

1978 to 1980

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

General Management

Company Start up - Complete oversight of the site selection process, equipment allocation and staffing of 50

Employees. Operations: Operated the plant with a set budget, approved all operating expenses, the planning

and purchasing of all needed items. Human Resources - recruit, interview, hire, train and supervise crew of 24

employees. The overview and fostering of plant wide safety programs and initiatives, providing a safe working

environment through positive mentoring.

Managed and reviewed job costing initiatives - provided process analysis & process engineering expertise to

pre and post production.

I am experienced in identifying and applying 5S and LEAN manufacturing concepts throughout the plant, fully

engaging the entire workforce to achieve set goals. Traditional and Expected Benefits of Lean implementation:

• Improved operational efficiency allowing for net growth with minimal employment expansion

• Optimization of inventory turns

• High level of employee engagement

• Improved quality results

• Reduction in set-up times

• Improved work standardization

• Market response time

• Reduced product throughput time

Purchasing Management

• Maintain & develop the Purchasing System, Supplier selection process, RFQ management for, price

negotiation, Purchase Order creation, price productivity checks, negotiations, Order tracking, Order

Confirmation, creation of contracts for production material and consumables in ERP, Update and maintain

pricing in article files/BOM, Update and maintain company's purchasing terms and conditions, Supplier rating,

order reconciliation, vendor creation, Discount management, Supplier visits/audits,

Technical Program Management/Sourcing

• Have extensive knowledge of Process Engineering and Quotation for metal stamping and fabrication and

associated manufacturing tooling.

• Tool Design - Cads Metal stamping dies- progressive and stage tooling and fixturing.

• Performed all purchasing/Sourcing functions - vendor selection, cost negotiations and purchasing of product

through first article inspection and ppap endeavors.

• Extensive knowledge and utilization of metal fabricating and tool room machinery and equipment. I have

personal experience is running this type of equipment.

Quality Assurance Management

• Supervise Quality / Mechanical Inspectors. Supervise the inspection team and manage inspection resources

to meet the manufacturing needs in term of scheduling / lead-time.

• Coordinate source inspection schedule. Supervise all source inspections activities, and ensure appropriate

scheduling with customer service.

• Implement and support in-process inspection schedules.

• Manage calibration system

• Manage First Article schedule, PPAP, FEMA, AQPQ

Process Engineering - Estimating

• Process Engineering and Quotation for Production and Tooling

• Complete cost estimation for startup programs and continuous manufacturing.

• Extensive knowledge of Process Engineering and Quotation for metal fabrication and associated

manufacturing tooling.

• Extensive knowledge and utilization of metal fabricating and tool room machinery and equipment. I have

personal experience is running this type of equipment.

Administrative Tools

• Utilize advanced of software such as ERP Infor PPS, Epicor Vantage, Microsoft Office, IBM Lotus Notes,

Timeline Administration

• Cad's software such as Cad key, Auto Cad, Computervision.

Customer Service

• Established and maintained productive relationships with customers, vendors and co workers in a courteous,

friendly manner, with professionalism and tact.

• Extensive travel to vendor and customer sites for engineering and business associated topics.

• Experience with logistics, selecting methods of transporting of goods - receipt and delivery, both domestically

and internationally and the utilization of transportation importation agents.

Contact this candidate