Michael L. Crabtree

**** * **** **

Arvada, Co. *0004

Tel. 303-***-****

To whom it may concern,

My name is Mike Crabtree. I am self employed as a consultant and the

owner of Crabtree Air Suspension Engineering.

In my employed career I was an engineer and lead teams of engineers and

technicians developing new products and sustaining existing products for

the international Automotive Original Equipment (AOE) and Industrial

markets. The products are based in a technology covered by 8 patents in

my name. As a result of the efforts of my team and the manufacturing

engineering team, the technology and first product was successfully

commercialized in 1993. There are now 15 additional successful production

applications. Customers for these products include Chrysler (Dodge Truck),

FORD, General Motors (Cadillac and Chevrolet Truck), BMW, Land Rover,

Daimler, Renault, Harley Davidson, and aftermarket customers.

The experience I have gained being involved in the development of a new

technology and product has been extremely diverse. My responsibilities and

experience include program/project management, resource forecasting and

analysis, budget preparation, performance appraisals, component/system

design, materials selection, failure analysis, and

customer/sales/production support (international and domestic) and training

of new and existing staff. I have extensive automotive noise, vibration,

harshness, and handling experience. In addition to my professional

experience, I feel my personal traits of resourcefulness; creativity,

dedication, flexibility, and an entrepreneurial spirit are equally valuable

assets.

While my official job has been an engineering manager for the past 20

years, I am a very hands-on oriented person with a passion for problem

solving. I am seeking new challenges and opportunities to contribute in

other markets including other automotive markets. I believe my experience

and knowledge can greatly help you to meet your existing business goals and

establish and meet new goals.

Sincerely,

Mike Crabtree

Mike Crabtree

Qualifications Summary

Education: BS Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, December

1980

Employment:

June 2014 to Present - Assisted/consulted with 2 high level clients for

improved manufacturing processes and product design.

February 2005 to June 2014 - Manager of Product Development, Vibracoustic

North America (A division of Freudenberg -NOK)

Vibracoustic North America is an automotive components manufacturer with

headquarters in Plymouth Michigan. They acquired the Air Springs business

unit of the Gates Rubber Company in February of 2005. I was hired by

Vibracoustic to continue in my position as Manager of Product Development

for their newly acquired Air Springs Division.

1981 to 2005 - Research and Development and Manager of Product Development,

The Gates Corporation (Gates Rubber Company)

I started at the Gates Corporation in 1981 in an entry-level engineering

position. I was hired to provide engineering support to existing product

development groups. In addition to this function, I also had

responsibilities for researching new products and processes for the

corporation from sources within and external to the corporation. In this

later capacity, I invented a new process for fabricating reinforced

elastomeric products. This process has since been used to manufacture AIR

SPRINGS for passenger car, SUV, and light truck applications. I started the

effort at Gates and was involved in all aspects of the birth of a new

division for the Gates Corporation. This includes product and process

development from concept to production, customer development, and capital

acquisitions.

My groups at both Gates and Vibracoustic developed products completely

under a Level 1 TS16949 certification (the same as ISO-9000 but with

automotive emphasis).

I have strong experience (hands-on as well) with virtually all machine shop

practices, rapid prototyping technology, and Design/Verification/Validation

testing. I have used advanced data acquisition and analysis techniques for

new product concepts and failure analysis, 8D, PFMEA and DFMEA, and lean

manufacturing.

Finally, I have had extensive customer contact responsibility in both

domestic and international settings. Being the primary inventor of the

process and product, I have in essence been chief technology developer and

salesman of the product. I am a recognized expert in my field.

Professional Skills and Expertise

Mechanical Design

Air Spring/Sleeve Design

Air Sleeve Manufacturing Processes

Machine Shop Practices (component design for CNC lathes, mills, can operate

manual lathes and mills etc.)

Design for High Volume/Low Cost Production,Personal Computers (MS Office

Suite, MS Project)

Working Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, APQP, DFMEA, PFMEA, 8D

Mechanical/Failure Analysis (reinforced elastomers, steel and aluminum

components, production systems and processes), Process Selection and

Development (stamping, rolling, injection molding, welding, vulcanization)

Vibration Isolation (High and low frequency/amplitude) Complex Prototype

Design and Fabrication

Vehicle (passenger car and light truck) ride and handling

development/evaluation

Pneumatic Systems (design for function and assembly, pressure vessels,

compressors, valve/manifolding)

Utilization of Complex Data Acquisition Systems for Accelerometers, LVDT's,

Pressure Transducers, Thermocouples, and Load Cells

Servo-Hydraulic Systems (High amplitude linear actuators and control

systems

CAD (Proficient in AutoCAD 2008, learning SOLIDWORKS)

Materials Selection (solid and foamed elastomers, textiles, reinforced

plastics, steel, aluminum, corrosion protection)

Cost Estimation and Layout for Lean and Batch Manufacturing and Product

Development

Contact this candidate