ROBERT C. KUFNER

**** ******** **** ***** * Erie, PA 16509

814-***-**** ò acz34h@r.postjobfree.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

A highly effective and accomplished business leader with over 25 years of progressively challenging manufacturing leadership experience. Proven track record in shaping strategy and driving improvements in shareholder value by effectively communicating the vision and values that drive change in an organization. Conditioned to drive improvements in revenue and profit by identifying and converting market opportunities, creating and growing partnerships with large OEM customer organizations, applying lean to the structure and process of the organization, and cultivating employee engagement / team building. A knowledgeable, decisive, and highly motivated executive experienced in leading medical device, aerospace, defense and precision machining enterprises.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2013 – 2017 Designatronics Inc., Dyson, Dyson, & Dunn Inc. portfolio company ~ Hicksville, NY

PRESIDENT

Leadership responsibility for a world class, 229-employee, $40M, global leader of robustly designed gearing and power transmission devices for a wide array of markets including medical device, aerospace, defense and industrial.

Transformed a struggling machining and distribution company by driving an 80% improvement in operating cash flow and 200% improvement in net profit.

Recruited top level operating staff following the removal of former senior leadership.

Installed KPI and metrics resulting in an improved customer experience and operational performance.

Rebuilt product marketing, brand structure and ecommerce resulting in an improvement in brand identity and revenue.

Improved employee engagement and accountability.

Drove a 300% improvement in safety (550 days of no lost time accidents).

Lead the successful implementation of a new ERP system and an upgrade of the quality system to AS9100.

Consolidated four (4) manufacturing facilities into new green field headquarters.

2010 – 2013 Lake Region Medical (Accellent Inc.), KKR/Bain Capital portfolio company ~ Orchard Park, NY

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS II

General Management responsibilities for a multi-site, 250-employee, $42M, FDA registered medical device manufacturing company.

Achieved the “2011 / 2012 Plant of the Year Award” based on revenue growth, EBITDA growth, delivery improvement, employee engagement / satisfaction and community action.

Drove improvement in 2011 multi-site revenue of $700,000 over AOP and EBITDA improvement of $1.1M over AOP.

Drove a 58% improvement in employee engagement in 2011.

Restructured the site leadership and supply chain teams to deliver 95% on-time delivery to the customer’s requested date.

Accountable for the multi-site P&L, Annual Operating Plan, and financial planning / analysis.

Accountable for the quality system (ISO 13485), regulatory affairs and FDA compliance.

Built and motivated highly effective cross-functional Value Stream teams.

2010 – 2010 PerkinElmer Optoelectronics - Defense ~ Miamisburg, OH

SITE LEADER

Responsible for site P&L goals and coordinating site functions to develop a production plan in alignment to the site revenue plan.

Developed plans to meet site financial objectives and improved customer satisfaction.

Developed continuous improvement strategy including the use of Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and quality control tools.

Installed metrics, processes and tools that promoted sound and responsible operational business decisions.

2007 – 2010 TurboCombustor Technology Incorporated ~ Cincinnati, OH

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

P&L responsibility for a manufacturing facility focused on delivering high quality Aerospace Flight Hardware and Industrial Gas Turbine products for GE, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and their suppliers. Facility is NADCAP and AS9100/ISO9000 certified.

Responsible for business development and sales strategy for new and existing customers.

Responsible for building and directing an industry leading team that improved revenue from $6M in 2007 to $12M in 2009.

EBITDA delta from ($1.5M) in 2007 to $650,000 in 2009 on $12M in sales.

Lead management staff through Root Cause and Corrective Actions to improve the quality system of the facility passing both NADCAP and AS9100 Rev. B re-certification audits.

Implemented Lean Culture delivering substantial cost savings and cycle time reduction.

Cellularized facility into Lean work centers and continuously improved performance through Six Sigma analysis of operations.

2005 – 2007 SETCO ~ Cincinnati, OH

DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE OPERATIONS

P&L responsibility for a precision machine tool manufacturing plant and four (4) national service centers with combined revenue of $30M.

Responsible for annual operating plan, operations financial reporting, PIP, performance goals and revenue generation / sales.

Managed 57 union hourly and 25 salary personnel.

Delivered substantial increases in operations performance, profitability and product quality year-over-year through cost savings, international sourcing programs and supply chain improvements in low cost regions.

Implemented Lean work centers as Lean Champion and function as cultural change agent.

Implemented ISO 9001-2000 program with certification in 2007.

1996 – 2004 Perfection Corporation, Division of American Meter Co. ~ Madison, OH

PLANT MANAGER II (1998 – 2004) --- Promotion

Full responsibility for two (2) separate ISO 9000 certified manufacturing plants.

Responsible for division profit and loss on $25M in sales.

Improved manufacturing productivity and plant efficiency by 25% in the first year.

Received “Whirlpool Corporation Supplier Performance Award” in 2000 and 2001.

Managed 145 union hourly and 23 salary personnel.

PLANT MANAGER I / ENGINEER (1996 – 1998)

Promoted from entry-level engineer to Plant Manager I in the fall of 1997.

Responsible for plant capital equipment design, purchase and maintenance.

Developed tooling, fixtures, methods and machines to produce new customer part designs in various plastic extrusion materials including PP, PS, PE, and cross-linked PE.

Reduced production costs through machinery and method improvements.

EDUCATION

PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, BEHREND CAMPUS, Erie, PA

Masters of Business Administration (MBA), 2001 Graduate

KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, Kent, OH

Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology, 1992 Graduate

AFS and FEF scholarship recipient

TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

- Financial Analysis Training

- FDA Compliance

- GE Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Training

- Lean Master Training – Q.E.S.

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