ERIC SCHAEFER 586-***-**** ad1vke@r.postjobfree.com SORRENTO, FL

SENIOR ENGINEERING LEADER

Mechanical, Electrical, Controls & Robotics Engineering Design, Development, & Integration

Dedicated, forward-thinking Senior Engineering Leader with 20+ years of experience leading engineering teams in the design, development, and implementation of manufacturing, industrial controls (PLC / Automation), robotics, and safety systems.

Leverages valuable mix of business acumen, customer relationship management, and deep engineering expertise to bridge the gap between customers and engineering teams, translating customer functional requirements into engineering strategies.

Expert in managing multi-million-dollar systems modernization and technical engineering projects from conception through full integration, with record of over-delivering on quality, streamlining project timelines, capitalizing on process efficiencies, and managing cross-functional stakeholders.

Highly adaptive, successfully pivots to new or enhanced roles, viewing challenges as opportunities to excel.

Values diversity of people, ideas, and abilities, informed by extensive international experience.

- Areas of Expertise -

Systems Design & Development Systems Testing & Implementation Mechanical/Electrical/Robotics/Control Systems Project Management Systems Modernization Process Engineering Engineering Team Development Strategic Planning Project Management Budget Management Cost Control Strategies Change Management Complex Problem Solving Resource Allocation Continuous Improvement Regulatory Compliance Workflow Planning/Management Leadership

- Select Career Highlights -

Developed 2 patents for robotics production and maintenance operations in the aerospace industry.

Patent pending device for bike rider safety, completed mechanical and electrical development, production startup.

Slashed systems onsite integration time by 50% through restructuring and standardizing project management procedures.

Extensive international experience, logging 1.87 million miles travelling to 11 different countries.

11-year single point safety engineer for Paint, Body Shop, and General Assembly automated cell design and commonization for General Motors robotic paint, interior sealer, Liquid Applied Sound Dampener (LASD), rocker coating, hem seal, and glass decking applications.

Systems Engineering development for the world’s first robotic paint application on a fully assembled airplane for the Boeing Company.

Subject matter expert in Robotic painting, interior sealing, LASD, rocker coating, and hem seal applications across North and South America, Europe, Mexico, and Canada

P ROFESSIONAL E X P E R I E NCE

STEELE AUTOMATION LLC – Orlando, FL 2022-Present

Owner/CEO - Project Manager, Controls, Robotics, and Process Engineering Led robotic focused engineering engagements with client organizations. Partnered with client executives and engineering teams to define functional specifications and desired business outcomes and designed custom engineering solutions to support client operations.

Alpha Technologies Inc (FutureCow) (February – Present)

- Responsibility for product development in support of cow milk production. Automated motor coating process development for teat cleaning material resistance for handheld cow teat scrubber. Development of an automated system for cow teat connection and milking using vision and PLC controls. Post milking system development for the application of anti-bacterial protection on cow’s teats and udders for parallel and carousel milking processes. Mechanical and Controls system creation utilizing Siemens PLC, Allen Bradley PLC, Unitronics / VisiLogic PLC, Solidworks mechanical, and AutoCAD electrical tools for UL 508A compliance. ERIC SCHAEFER 586-***-**** ad1vke@r.postjobfree.com 2

Plasman Manufacturing (December 2022 – March 2023)

- Process development of PLC and robotic code for adhesive tape application on two-piece molding assembly. Siemens Step7 PLC and Kuka KR C4 program sequencing between 4 production stations. Conversion from original tape application to PLC integration of Robotape adhesive tape applicator. Added Ethernet/IP to Profinet Converter, integrated interlocking between Kuka robot and cell redundant safety control. End of arm tooling design requirements for reach capabilities for all production stations.

Pactiv Evergreen (October 2022 – December 2022)

- Design coordination and project management of 11 vision guided vehicle transport subsystem moving between brownfield production operations with simultaneous installation, startup, and commissioning of greenfield warehouse conveyor and shrink warp automation. Redundant safety system controls design responsibility, conveyor controls, and shrink-wrap integration as a system. Successful coordination of 5 vendors to meet system GoLive target dates. Project value $3.5M.

Proterra (July 2022 – October 2022)

- Design consultation for automated robotic assembly of battery pack construction for inline battery module and pack assembly line. Design for manufacturability, FMEA, and Risk Assessment analysis. Robotic programming and PLC coding specification creation. In line process flow development and step by step laser weld process monitoring, traceability, before assembly individual cell testing and after construction individual cell non-destructive testing of completed battery pack. 2nd line development for custom pack creation between 40-62 cells.

Swisslog Logistics, Inc (Feb 2022 – July 2022)

- Project management orchestration of software and controls installations for warehouse distribution, order fulfillment, stored goods, and e-commerce distribution systems, both brownfield and greenfield, ranging from

$2.5M - $50M.

Safety Saber – VP of Engineering (Feb 2022 – Present)

- Perform all design functions of engineering for the product; electrical and mechanical design for co-patented light for bike rider safety startup company. Currently in production development, manufacturing partner selection, and investor solicitation.

TOMPKINS SOLUTIONS – Orlando, FL 2017-2021

Director of Engineering

Directed a team of 31 engineers, 2 project managers, with technical oversight for 5 support engineers, in developing distribution center and order fulfillment mechanical and controls systems architecture, hardware and software development, mechanical installation, startup, and long-term support management. Manages the full scope of project lifecycles, including budget management, project planning, team recruiting and onboard, and client executive engagement. Oversees distribution center support for legacy systems and ongoing change management for 19 clients across food and beverage, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, retail, chemical, medical, and apparel industries.

Restructured project management of 19 logistics and automation installations valued between $500K-$105M:

- Spearheaded requirements for the controls software, HMI systems, and PLC software to be developed, completed, and tested prior to scheduled customer site work, reducing time onsite by 50% and streamlining the system installation, factory acceptance test, and system startup processes.

- Defined and documented customer and project team responsibilities prior to onsite project kickoff; implemented milestone check ins and change management procedures to avoid project delays.

- Initiated Controls team and HMI Development team involvement beginning in the project quoting process; earlier involvement capitalized on efficiencies and reduced development time from 16-20 weeks to 10-12 weeks.

Expanded a singular Siemens offering to a hardware-based Siemens and an Allen Bradley PLC solution to better meet client needs and facilitate easier upgrades while providing the cleanest solution with minimal staff requirements. Standardized visual interface across both solutions and allowed for system modernization across legacy and new facilities through development of an HMI visualization system using Inductive Automations Ignition HMI package.

Orchestrated the conversion of the legacy C++ middleware controls software operating between the warehouse management system and PC-based conveyor controls system. Design architect of Java code between the middleware controls software and the hardware-based PLC controls system implementation. Collaborative development with the software team handling the warehouse management interface modernization.

Spearheaded controls system development and startup support for Tompkins Robotics t-Sort™ sortation systems, as well as developed a hybrid t-Sort™ sortation system and conventional conveyor distribution system. ERIC SCHAEFER 586-***-**** ad1vke@r.postjobfree.com 3 OCEANEERING ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS – Orlando, FL 2015-2017 Electrical Engineering Design Manager

Led systems design and project management across multiple projects valued between $18M-$27M for several international theme park companies, including Universal Studios. Directed team of 5 electrical/mechanical engineers creating both wired and wireless CIP safety protocols for Autonomous Guided Vehicles transporting riders in a dark ride environment. Engineered the coordination of multiple control systems, leveraging extensive knowledge of automotive and aerospace industry safety standards to meet client organization’s creative intent while ensuring regulatory compliance. Documented system designs, data flows, and interfaces.

Spearheaded development of redundant onboard and offboard controls systems, which became the new core system offering of the company; the new system was developed to meet strict safety requirements by creating multiple interacting control systems with accuracy and outcomes nearly equivalent to SIL 3 safety protocols. STEELE AUTOMATION LLC – Chesterfield, MI 2009-2015 Owner/CEO - Project Manager, Controls, Robotics, and Process Engineering Led robotic focused engineering engagements with client organizations. Partnered with client executives and engineering teams to define functional specifications and desired business outcomes and designed custom engineering solutions to support client operations.

Boeing Company (2009-2015)

- Systems engineering architect from prototype to production ready automated robotic paint process for painting commercial airline fleet. Led team of 11 engineers, providing expertise in safety system design, controls architecture, robotics paint programming, and HMI development for 8 paint hangars in Washington and South Carolina valued at $65M each

- Co-developed and patented production system for robotic surface preparation and robotic surface riveting

- Supported mobile automated assembly using indoor GPS for dispatch and navigation, localized vision for process development, and modified Automated Guided Vehicles.

- Managed Boeing Research & Technology robotics development using FANUC, ABB, and Kuka systems.

Exel North America (2009)

- Performed Allen Bradley PLC5 program upgrades from robotic gun to bell painting process methodologies, creating a more standardized process resulting in 22% cycle time reduction and 3.2mil uniform paint film thickness across the surface

- Updates to HMI using Visual Basic 6.0 for display, monitoring, and control of FANUC robots including new bell painting process.

Altivity Packaging (2009)

- Increased carton assembly process and product packaging by 62%, driving additional $1.3M in revenue within 6 months through spearheading ABB robot installation and s4C programming integrated to the existing Allen Bradley SLC PLC and associated hardware; as well as Allen Bradley Panelview 1000 upgrades for control and interface operations.

GEICO ENGINEERING & AUTOMATION – Milan, Italy 2008-2009 Project Manager, Controls & Robotics Engineer

Provided international project management services for automotive paint shop operations at Egypt General Motors Corporation and Iranian Motors in Iran. Managed team of 3 installation engineers.

Managed 14-month, $18M paint automation equipment installation and commissioning in Egypt; coordinated the startup between Italian operations and Egypt satellite office for process and part transfer.

Spearheaded process changes for new equipment installation in Iran, improving product quality and increasing production efficiency by 38% through focusing on paint application process cycle time reduction, mechanical and electrical modifications, performed all robotic programming for ABB IRB5400 paint robots, HMI upgrades, and conveyor programming.

GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION – Various Locations 1995-2008 Manager, Paint Controls Execution Project Team (2005-2008) Controls safety design subject matter expert in the GM Truck division for dispensing, painting, and metal preparation. International management for the Paint Controls Group within the Conveyor, Controls, Robotics, and Welding (CCRW) division. Cross pollination with the General Assembly and Body Shop for consistent controls safety system delivery. ERIC SCHAEFER 586-***-**** ad1vke@r.postjobfree.com 4

Managed and coordinated all installation of robotic dispensing applications across 11 plants in North America, South America, Europe, Mexico, and Canada over a 2-year period. Projects valued between $3.4 – $6.5M.

Selected as project manager and controls engineer for the GM Gravatai Brazil Paintshop throughput increase project, increasing production throughput from 45 to 53 vehicles an hour. Directed process evaluation, asset procurement, mechanical and electrical cell modifications, performed all robotic programming changes, and HMI changes. Senior Manufacturing Engineer (2002-2005)

Managed 5 engineers across installation and production operations for all GM North America, Canada, and Mexico Truck and Car facilities.

Operated as lead safety controls engineer for installation and startup of 92 new painting and dispensing robots in 4 locations over a 3-year period. Projects valued between $5M - $16M.

Worked closely with GM Opel, located in Germany, to consolidate Paint, Body Shop, and General Assembly mechanical and electrical designs, as well as build cultural bridges between the 2 organizations.

Trained all new process engineers and hourly employees in cell operation, programming methodologies, vision system training, and debugging techniques.

Selected to serve as onsite startup and training team member for GM Joint Ventures in Shanhai and Louzihua China.

Member of the GM Oklahoma City Plant Tornado Recovery Team; brought the facility back to full production in 52 days, leading the production readiness assessment and refurbishment of 32 paint and dispensing robots. Manufacturing Engineer (1998-2002)

Served as Site Installation Engineer for robotic paint and dispensing equipment across the Truck organization leading 3 engineers.

Supported the installation and startup for robotic dispensing cell in the 8 remaining Truck Paint Shop facilities; created business case justification for the new equipment and layout planning, and provided manpower reduction estimating.

Created new backup and restore testing procedures for production equipment, adopted plant wide for all manufacturing areas.

Co-authored multiple technical and process documents used to train vendors and new engineering employees, as well as used on bid efforts for the business.

Controls Engineer (1995-1998)

Served as only robotics engineer for 9 General Motors Truck Group production facilities across North America, Canada, and Mexico totaling 122 body shop and paint robots. Lead engineer for 2 new Paint Shop facilities and developed the HMI interface for the first automated dispensing cell installation within GM.

- Early Career Experience -

Controls Engineer – Ford Motor Company

Robotics Engineer – Wilson (ABB) Automation, Inc. & Dow Chemical Company & General Motors Corporation Documentation Engineer – FANUC Robotics North America T E CHNOLOGIES

Software & Hardware – AB programming (PLC2, 3, 5) ControlLogix, Guard Logix, DeviceNet, ControlNet; Siemens Step 7 & TIA Portal; Indramat IMC 123, STEPS Programming

Vision – FANUC 3DIGP, v400i, iRVision, Visloc-I 2D & 3D; ISRA CAPMES & VIAMES, Cognex

Scanners Line and Barcode – Datalogic, SICK, Cognex

Variable Frequency Drives – Allen Bradley PowerFlex, Siemens Sinamics G120C / D

Fieldbus Distributed Control – Vital Systems Smart3G, Allen Bradley DeviceNet 1799; Ethernet or Siemens Profinet

Painting Equipment - Durr, Behr, Sames, ABB, Fanuc

FANUC Robots – RH, RJ, RJ2, RJ3, RJ3ib, RJ3ic controllers

ABB Robots – s4C+, IRC5 controller, SP4+ Painting Software

KUKA Robots– RoboDK, KRL

Simulation Software – Robcad, Delmia, and Cenit, MATLAB, Simulink

HMI Interfaces – Ignition, Siemens, Wonderware, RSView, VB 6.0 (some), C, Visual C++ (some), VB.NET

Website Development – WebPublishing

Network - Cisco and Hirschman Setup

Regulatory Compliance - NFPA, NEC, RIA, UL508A

Engineering Tools – AutoCAD 2021, SolidWorks 2023 ERIC SCHAEFER 586-***-**** ad1vke@r.postjobfree.com 5 P ROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Master of Science, Micro-Electronics & Controls Engineering – Case Western Reserve University (expected 2024)

Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Robotics and Industrial Controls – Michigan State University

Associate of Science, Electrical Engineering Technology – Delta Community College

Associate of Science, Robotics Engineering Technology – Delta Community College

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