Project Product Development

Summary

Proven leader in project engineering, innovation, manufacturing, and product development.

Lead the development and production of power equipment drive systems, medical equipment, consumer and commercial appliances, in both large and small production quantities.

Manage project teams both domestic and internationally (Asia and South America).

Specify plastics materials, complex and multistage injection molding, vacuum and pressure molding, metal stampings, castings, electrical and electronic packaging, graphics, and ergonomic design.

Coordinate projects between all company functions, marketing, manufacturing, and finance.

Manage projects via MS project and tollgate methods, for complete lifecycle.

Design for compliance to UL, CSA, and FDA regulations.

Trained in FMEA, VRK, VA/VE, Kaizen leadership, accelerated product development, FEA analysis, GD&T, and data vault management.

Experience

Mekra Lang North America Ridgeway, SC – 12/2014 - Present.

Design Engineering Manager - Lead domestic group for the development and production of commercial transportation vision systems, including mirror and camera systems, to top tier vehicle manufacturers.

Lead, prioritize and conduct product development to ensure timely completion of product design releases

Ensure the product designs meet the required specifications

Communicate with the customer technical contacts and ensure proper tasks are assigned within the company

Organize and communicate program project requirements according to the project management procedures.

Manage project budgets, including investments and tooling, as well as soft project costs

Conduct cross functional review at key tollgates, to include representatives from executive management, quality, manufacturing, engineering, testing, and purchasing.

Provide the internal link in all departments to assure early involvement, interdisciplinary task definition and proper coordination between departments.

Coordinated the development of new vision systems for mirror elimination project, reducing vehicle frontal area by 1-2% and improving fuel efficiency. Also drastically reduces vehicle blind spots by increased field of vision.

Developed cross functional 5 year plan for the engineering involvement in growing the company sales by 50%. Included analysis of trending future technology, manpower estimates, and facility requirements.

Implemented process controls for engineering functions of GD&T, document change control, and quote standardization.

Denver Global Products/RATO North America Lincolnton, NC– 8/2013 – 12/2014.

Product Development Manager - Lead domestic and international project for the development of outdoor power equipment, including utility vehicles, lawn mowers, pressure washers, and garden tillers.

Direct design engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing to achieve project timing, cost goals and objectives.

Develop innovative product solutions, timelines, budgets, and project definitions.

Lead brainstorm activities for new product and features.

Provide sustaining engineering support for existing products.

Analyze new projects for intellectual property opportunities.

Create test plans and evaluate products.

Interface with customers for product line reviews.

Support sales and marketing teams with technical information and trade show support.

Developing hybrid power equipment by combining household maintenance equipment and small generators into multipurpose power systems. Evaluating alternative cutting methods and integration of existing power generators.

Developed cost effective, 10,000 piece volume, pressure washer and garden tiller product line in a compressed startup environment. Features robust designs in fabricated metal and molded plastic to emphasis the company’s expertise in engine manufacturing.

ATS Automation Rock Hill, SC– 1/2013 – 8/2013.

Project Manager - Managed projects for design and construction of assembly equipment for automotive components.

Liaison between design engineers, suppliers, and manufacturing to achieve project timing, cost goals and objectives.

Develop component specifications, timelines, budgets, and project definitions.

Specified and conducted equipment acceptance tests for robotic handling equipment and feeder bowl systems.

Drove project activities to exceed goal of 20% material savings, and improved terms through negotiations with suppliers to overall strategic goals of the department.

Created database of vendor technical specifications and costing documents, standardizing data between domestic facilities.

Focus group leader for corporate summit of department managers.

Established a set of standardized department procedures, best practices, and reporting documentation.

Created new workflows for component approval and release for production, in preparation for roll out of site wide ERP system upgrade.

Husqvarna Outdoor Products Charlotte, NC -– 8/2010 –1/2013

Project Engineer - Lead innovative projects for manufacturer of outdoor yard equipment.

Developed all-wheel drive (AWD) mower system.

Utilized a majority of existing components and technologies, along with a limited product cost to create a unique and cost effective solution.

Created the concepts, designs, project and test plans, modified and created new tooling, and put into production all components.

Gave assembly direction and mentored engineers in component development, bill of material creation, design for manufacture (DFM), and FEA analysis.

Directed the release and implementation of products to manufacturing facility.

Developed high volume (1 million pieces) opening price point product.

Design was converting high dollar steel stamping and assembly to an injection molded part that integrates multiple components, reduces assembly labor, increases product durability, and enhances product design.

Critical development areas were material volume, simplicity of assembly, and product performance defined by volume of air flow, noise, and cutting results.

Lead development engineers in the US and coordinated specifications and activities with engineers in Europe, developing plastic esthetic components for multi-branded yard equipment.

Intellectual property development program.

Conducted brain storming sessions on different areas of development, then using design matrixes, concepts that prove acceptable are developed further, tested, and documented for patent applications.

Pelton and Crane Charlotte, NC - 4/2007 – 8/2010

Senior Engineer - Developed products for manufacturer of class I and II medical equipment.

Directly responsible for the implementation of design control procedures and performance of project resources.

Gave assembly direction and mentor in component development, bill of material creation, design for manufacture (DFM), and FEA analysis.

Direct the release and implementation of product to manufacturing facility.

Directed component design and review, maintain FDA design history files, supplier qualification and component approval, quality report approval and ppap review

Department representative to corporate intellectual property program for patent data.

Specify product details, working with marketing for customer input.

Lead Value Engineering program, analyzing designs and components for cost reduction opportunities, resulting in $600k in product savings in 2009.

Developed and launched new product line to replace and consolidate existing product line.

Complete modularity of design that allows maximum customer and manufacturing flexibility, plus future expandability.

Coordinated the design with additional product engineering groups for the integration of additional electrical and mechanical product lines.

Also worked with material suppliers for addition of environmentally responsible materials to be used in product construction.

Electrolux Home Products Kinston, NC -– 8/2005 – 4/2007

Senior Design Engineer Developed and manufactured products for manufacturer home appliances.

Lead activity of prototype and production part release, scheduling, and design review of plastic and metal structural parts.

Provided schedule and budgetary updates with project directors.

Drove key suppliers in the development of components within the appliances along with evaluating and approving new vendors.

Developed innovative structural plastic base that aligns frame components, pre-assembles hydraulic and electrical components to modularize assembly of a new dish care appliance.

Included integrated control enclosure, motor mount, counterbalance mount and full sound isolation.

Parts included innovative insert mold and in-mold decorated features.

Multiple patents awarded for features incorporated into design.

Pentair Pool Products Sanford, NC - 8/2004 – 8/2005

Senior Product Engineer - Lead projects for manufacturer of swimming pool and spa equipment.

Developed the design, material specification, and production implementation of new components and assemblies.

Created Technical Service Bulletins for customer service group involving product changes and improvements.

Technical advisor to strategic planner for direction of product line consolidation and acquisition.

Design and development of assembly and test fixtures for production lines

Conducted analysis of competitor's equipment for performance, materials, manufacturing methods, cost, and life span.

Enhanced pool filter internal piping to improve the air bleed capabilities of the unit.

$250k savings due to reduced quality issues in the field.

Made structural changes to an injection molded manifold assembly to reduce stress cracking, eliminating the main cause for product warranty claims.

Hamilton Beach Commercial Products Southern Pines, NC - 7/2000 – 8/2004

Product Engineer - Lead Product Engineering for manufacturer of commercial food preparation equipment.

Developed the design, material specification, and production implementation of new components, and input of initial forecasts and costs into ERP system.

Conducted analysis of competitor's equipment for performance, materials, manufacturing methods, cost, and life span.

Performed failure analysis of production life test samples run in test lab.

Responsibility for all engineering change notices, including drawing markup, costing, and bill of material updates.

Directed plant value improvement program, saving facility over one million dollars in 2002 through vendor changes, material updates, and manufacturing enhancements.

Developed a new assembly line for introduction of new motor assembly into core product, reducing labor required to assemble unit by one third and reduced product cost by 10%.

Designed plastic blender housing to replace die cast parts, reduced parts count and lowered costs by 50%.

Education

Auburn University - Bachelor’s Degree – Industrial design

Included emphasis in product development, prototype construction, product illustration and engineering drawing, CAD, project planning and scheduling, economics, marketing, and photography.

ESI International and George Washington University - Associates Certificate - Project Management

Skills

Skill Name

Skill Level

Last Used

Experience

Solid Works

Expert

Currently used

10 years

Catia V5

Advanced

Currently used

5 years

Pro E + Wildfire 4.0

Intermediate

1.5 years

Additional Information

Patent Document Title

9055713

ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WALK BEHIND MOWER

EP2814312A4

ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WALK BEHIND MOWER

WO/2013/122563A1

ALL WHEEL DRIVE, WALK BEHIND MOWER

EP2529153A4

IMPROVED LED-BASED DENTAL EXAM LAMP

EP2529153A2

IMPROVED LED-BASED DENTAL EXAM LAMP

WO/2011/094249A3

IMPROVED LED-BASED DENTAL EXAM LAMP

WO/2011/094249A2

IMPROVED LED-BASED DENTAL EXAM LAMP

8042891

Counterbalance assembly for a dishwasher door and associated method

8459852

LED-based dental exam lamp

8096807

Dental instrumentation unit

D597340

Treatment cabinet

7934783

Counterbalance assembly for a dishwasher door and associated method

WO/2008/137854A1

INTEGRATED TOUCH-SCREEN CONTROL PANEL FOR A WASHING APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

WO/2008/097893A1

DISHWASHER WITH ACCESSIBLE CONTROL UNIT, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

EP2114236A1

DISHWASHER WITH ACCESSIBLE CONTROL UNIT, AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

7862132

Counterbalance assembly for a dishwasher door and associated method

D370419

Clock

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