Operations Director

STEVEN M. GUTKOWSKI

*** ********* ***** **********@*****.***

Oswego, Illinois 60543 Cell: 630-***-****

SUMMARY

A confident senior management leader with a proven record of experience in design/systems engineering and operations management increasing market share thru new product development and continuous manufacturing improvement which ultimately maximizes businesses segment growth. A skilled business systems champion directing operations in manufacturing, marketing, finance and engineering.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Masonite, West Chicago, IL (6/2013 – currently)

A worldwide leading provider of commercial and architectural interior/exterior doors.

Operations Manager – Specialty Tooling Group - Manage the International tooling group converting product designs into very large pressing tools used in the construction of a $500MM market of residential and commercial interior/exterior doors.

Work with various international Product Marketers to engineer design solutions which can be created into pressing tools capable of being utilized in the mass production of commercial consumer and/or architectural specialty construction products.

Turned business around by expediting prototype tools, DFSS techniques to guide concept designs, planning tools for market role-outs, utilizing internal scheduling and demand planning software, vendor participation and logistical coordination with carriers.

BLYTH Industries (PartyLite, Mile Kimball, Sterno, Colonial) (2/1997 – 12/2012)

A worldwide leading manufacturer of consumer products (Candles, Air Care, Personal Care).

Senior Director of Engineering, R&D and Business Development Batavia, IL (2008 - 2012)

Directed a technical staff of 16, supporting a $500 million global direct sales business designing new product concepts, developing manufacturing processes, and optimizing manufacturing operations on a continuous 300 product base with three annual catalog resets.

Increased plant sales by 40% in 6 months by creating a new product line, developing a unique chemical formula, designing and building all equipment, implementing work standards and operating instructions which are returning a successful product margin.

Achieved a 10% revenue growth by developing a 3rd party manufacturing strategy manufacturing for P&G, SC Johnson, and Target. Identified excess capacity on high margin equipment and completed marketing research on potential businesses.

Developed an interactive product marketing system – by created a feed forward product design system for product marketing using product lifecycle management, project management principles and ideation methods which resulted in reducing development cycles from 18 to 9 months and a 2x increase in new products.

Global Director of Engineering, Marketing, R&D, Quality Elkin, NC (2001 - 2008)

Directed a staff of 28 technical employees, supporting a $650 million large box store consumer goods manufacturing operation in two facilities (Elkin NC. and Monterrey Mx.), creating new consumer products, 3rd party manufacturing marketing, designing new manufacturing machines, and business support in finance, purchasing, global souring, and MRP systems.

Led a multidivisional team developing a business strategy for a $40 million product sales increase by demand planning analysis of balancing offshore/domestic manufacturing. Utilized product lifecycle analysis, Lean six-sigma principles, shipping logistical studies, manufacturing capability reviews, and re-engineered process and equipment operations.

Directed a $1.5 million annual CI cost improvement budget determined using DMAIC methods focusing on COPQ, Productivity, cost variances, 6-Sigma, VOC, and process mapping to insure the plant is working toward customer satisfaction, organizational development and companies business position.

Director of Engineering and Maintenance Chicago, IL. (1997 – 2001)

Directed a staff of 9 technical employees, supporting a $350 million consumer goods manufacturing facility, by creating an OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) system, instituting a Kanban design material storage and in-line QA for direct line to customer shipments. Running continuous and batch processes of liquid filling, decorative painting, extrusion, and pressing.

PVS TECHNOLOGIES – Detroit, MI 1994 - 1996

A global chemical manufacturing of water and wastewater treatment chemicals.

Operations/Engineering Manager

Directed a technical staff of 18, controlling the P&L of a highly automated 24/7/365 chemical manufacturing plant achieving $55 million in sales, engineering process improvements for the only manufacturer of anhydrous ferric chloride. Conducted PHA/FMEA analysis on highly hazardous processes in compliance with Federal, State and Local government requirements.

Land O’Frost – Lansing, IL. 1989 - 1993

A National brand provider of shelf stable dietary consumer food entrees and luncheon products.

Production and CI Process Manager

Directed a workforce of 275 manufacturing employees, managing a 3 shift production process, directed business owner and senior staff on continuous process improvement methods, statistical analysis, total quality management, and project management (Toyota methods).

UNIMIN Corporation – Utica, IL. 1987 - 1989

A leading North American mining processor of high purity quartz, feldspar and micro-silica.

Corporate Quality Assurance Manager

Managed the TQM-QPI total quality management-quality process improvement systems for 20 North American mining and refining facilities, teaching statistical analysis, certifying sites as tier one suppliers to the automotive industry.

OWENS CORNING FIBERGLAS – Huntingdon, PA. 1980 – 1986

A leading manufacturing of aerospace, military and industrial fiberglass reinforcement fibers.

Process/Development Supervisor

Supervised a staff of 6 engineers, responsible for training 800 employees in CI continuous improvement and statistical methods, and technical support to all aerospace and military customers on product applications and design uses for reinforced materials.

Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison

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