JOSEPH D. NICHOLS
*** ***** ****** *********: 616-***-****
Cedar Springs, Michigan 49319 Email: *************@*******.***
CAREER SUMMARY
I am a highly motivated management professional with 20+ years of increasing responsibility with a major footwear/apparel company and 4 years of manufacturing. Track record of reducing costs and increasing efficiencies through careful analysis of processes and of challenging teams with continuous improvement. I have demonstrated positive leadership ability and have a desire to lead in an ever changing economic environment.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ALTL, Hudsonville, Michigan
Logistics and Warehouse Coordinator 2015 – Present
Created and revised SOP’s for pharmaceutical raw material storage.
Coordinated inbound, outbound and storage of materials.
Tracked and documented customer transactions
PERRIGO, Holland Michigan
Operations Supervisor 2011 – 2015
Oversee the daily operations of a pharmaceutical manufacturing with over 90 hourly operators and 9 lead people.
Yellow Belt with Perrigo’s Lean Sigma Program.
Have improved inventory accuracy of raw materials from a beginning percentage of 85% to 98%.
Work with the QA department to facilitate continuous improvements to increase quality and avoid waste and rework.
Managed the Training department in the development/revision of SOP’s and developed an Orientation program for new employees.
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC., Rockford, Michigan 1997-2010
Director of Support Services 2008 – 2010
Managed a facility change that resulted in a reduction of 3% in labor costs by cross training staff member and consolidating warehouse space.
Reduced per item shipping cost by 28% by working directly with a third party logistics company to work through customs clearance. Worked with our IS team to build “bridges” between our SAP and PkMS (Manhattan) Operating Systems to ensure proper flow and customs compliance.
Managed a thirteen day supply chain reduction by developing a streamlined, direct to customer shipping process working with the sales team, operations and distribution to ensure that orders were produced on time, picked and packed according to the customers’ requirements and then shipped to a third party facility in Miami for direct shipment.
Director of Distribution 2003 – 2008
Implemented new Warehouse Management System Software (PkMS) while reconfiguring the Distribution Center and continued to ship orders by working with both IT and outside contractors to implement and reconfigure the building.
Partnered with human resources and the legal department to negotiate two union contracts with the UFCW.
Managed and controlled a $500,000 - $1,000,000 Capital Budget each year. This budget was used for the maintenance and improvements of the Distribution Center.
Responsible for the low cost per package of the pack and ship wages while facing a decreasing volume of orders/pairs.
Warehouse Manager 2000 – 2003
Responsible for the daily operations of a 324,000 square foot Distribution Center that employed 70 union employees, 4 clerical personnel and 4 Supervisors.
Reduced the amount of grievances from 34 to 18 in the first year. Accomplished this by holding monthly meetings with the union leaders to discuss and address issues before formalization.
Reduced charge backs from customers $30,000 to $7,000 by facilitating meetings with Vendor Compliance Team and distribution supervision on a quarterly basis. Current packaging and shipping issues were discussed and resolution implemented.
Increased Units per Hour from 38 to 49 by cross-training hourly staff in multiple areas throughout the Distribution Center allowing management to best utilize personnel and reduce labor costs.
Warehouse Supervisor 1997 – 2000
Successfully managed an overflow warehouse during construction of new facility. Supervised 24 people and had the responsibility of receiving the inventory, storing, pick/pack of orders and shipping.
Supervised Reserve Area at a main Distribution Center served as a “roving” supervisor during vacation times.
Safety Coordinator for all 3 Distribution Centers.
EDUCATION
B.A., Business Administration, Davenport University, Grand Rapids, Michigan