Mechanical Engineer, Customer Service, Project Management

CHAD LESTER

**** ******** ****** **, ************, TN 37129 Cell: 615-***-**** ****.****@*****.***

SUMMARY

Detail-oriented professional with excellent technical, analytical, and communication skills demonstrated by over 15 years of broad industry experience in manufacturing, project management, and supervision.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Root cause analysis • Unsurpassed work ethic

• Project management • Excellent troubleshooting skills

• Multiple CAD programs • Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Word

• Lutron lighting and shades • Home automation design, installation, and service

• Project management

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Documentation

Wrote and edited documents (SOP’s) to keep staff informed on policies and procedures

Computer Proficiency

Use Microsoft Excel to develop production tracking spreadsheets with above average proficiency.

SAP

Skilled in multiple CAD systems (Autocad, Cadkey, CADAM, ProE)

Lutron lighting and shades programming

Home automation remote programming and design (Universal remotes, Intellicontrol, Crestron, Control 4)

Management

Supervise operations of twenty-five plus production and assembly line staff and maintenance personnel, improving production goals by more than 20% and starting up a new shift

Managed projects from conception to installation ensuring customer satisfaction throughout the process

EXPERIENCE

09/2011 to Current Production Supervisor Vi-Jon – Smyrna, TN

Built crews on 2 different shifts through training of existing associates and promoting or hiring of new associates for seven production lines

Key contributor to the successful start up of a new multi-million dollar production line through training and troubleshooting during initial start up and production

The "go-to" resource on the off shift for troubleshooting difficult machine failures

Manage and build the team with a constant focus on safety, quality, and production and my teams continue to perform at or above expectations of production goals

Assisted in the installation and implementation of new line equipment and trained personnel on the proper use and function of the equipment

Responsible for the operational and personnel decisions related to the scheduling of production lines, as well as the quality of the finished product

Daily machine operations using PLCs

07/1999 to 09/2001 Custom Installer – Audio Video Environments

01/2003 to 10/2006 Field Supervisor – Tweeter

10/2006 to 09/2011 Owner/Project manager – C & M Audio, Inc.

Started working as a helper, and in only 5 months learned the business of custom home audio/video design and installation and became a lead technician, managing one individual on a daily basis to install audio and video equipment in residential and commercial applications (Audio/Video Environments)

Due to my prior success at AVE, I became the Field Supervisor for the entire Nashville area market and managed the custom installation department for Tweeter

Coordinated between the sales and installation teams to provide the customer with the ultimate home theater experience (Tweeter)

Started my own business from the ground up acquiring all the necessary licenses, insurance, and permits required to operate legally and responsibly

Take a customer's ideas and create a system design, determine product needs, purchase product through relationships created with vendors, coordinate installation, and educate customer on system operation

Wired and installed complex Lutron lighting and shade systems in multiple homes in the Nashville area

Simple to complex home automation design and installation including computer programmed remote control systems.

Dedicated to providing excellent customer service

Responsible for all aspects of running a business from the ground up

Responsible for billing, payroll, purchasing, and all other operational aspects of a small business

11/2009 to 08/2011 Sheet metal fabricator and machine assistant

Wolfe-Industrial

Fabricate various custom metallic objects including: conveyors, carts, duct, safety apparatuses, and assembly line systems

Forming of raw sheet metal including punches, press break, shear, and welding

Install custom built equipment in local manufacturing plants

06/1998 to 05/1999 Design Engineer – AMP Inc.

Addressed manufacturing concerns to determine solutions and prevention methods to insure quality and reduce defects

Worked with injection molding, stamping, and assembly processes in the automotive and computer industry

Worked with quality engineers to certify processes for production and to determine failure rate for process improvements

Completed FMEA process design and analysis for multiple product lines

Used statistical analysis to certify processes for production and to determine failure rate for process improvement purposes

05/1994 to 08/1997 Mechanical Engineering Co-op - Kimberly-Clark

Worked with engineering, research, and business support groups to coordinate the initialization of new products

Identified manufacturing process problems and created solutions in order to reduce downtime

Worked with maintenance and shift workers to solve safety issues and maintain full production capacity

Designed and coordinated the testing and implementation of product improvement and safety projects

Designed and developed process improvements for production line assembly machines

EDUCATION

1998 Bachelor of Science: Mechanical Engineering

Virginia Tech: Blacksburg, VA

GPA: 3.1

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