Katie Melinda Neel

North Liberty, IA *****

319-***-**** add65o@r.postjobfree.com linkedin.com/in/katie-m-neel/

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Goal-oriented Production Manager with strong leadership skills and the ability to multitask in a complex manufacturing environment. Comfortable with total plant oversight and the design and implementation of strategies to increase productivity and meet corporate manufacturing and production goals. Strong communicator; able to effectively communicate with department managers. Key skills include:

Safety and Compliance

Process Improvement

Quality Assurance

Management

EXPERIENCE

Cargill, Cedar Rapids, IA 2018 – Present

Vegetable Protein Manufacturing Technology Engineer

Manufactured soy protein flour and texturized soy protein.

Wrote projects for improvements in safety, efficiency, reliability and increased through-put and managed overall Plant Safety/OSHA Compliance.

Led group reporting and Quality Assurance while maintaining Policies and Procedures.

Decreased cost for waste by implementing an offal compactor instead of using carboard totes that were sent to an incinerator. Resulted in $80,000 annually cost savings improvement.

Implemented strategy to improve throughput on the grinders which enabled the facility to go to a 5/2 production schedule rather than a 24/7 production schedule. Resulted in $250,000 annual cost savings.

Possesses Fundamental understanding of soybean to flour or texturized protein manufacturing process.

ALPLA INC. Iowa City, IA 2017 - 2018

Production Manager

Managed Stretch Blow Molding Facility with seven direct reports including: Four supervisors, Training Coordinator, two process technicians and sixty-four indirect reports including: Sixteen machine operators and forty-eight packaging operators.

New Products: Led installation of new aerosol line technology which increased revenue for the facility by $120,000 annually.

Quality control: Installed mechanism to prevent cross labeling. Cost savings for the facility of $40,000 annually.

Cost savings: Reduced temp labor headcount by two per shift. Cost savings of $215,000 annually.

Possesses fundamental understanding of plastic manufacturing process.

PMX, Cedar Rapids, IA 2016 – 2017

Production Manager

Manufactured copper, nickel and tin alloys for distribution to use in a variety of different applications.

Worked with planning, distribution, and maintenance to develop most effective run schedules and PM plans.

Managed monthly budget and scheduled four salaried employees across a 24/7 operation.

Implemented continuous improvement across all four of the cleaning lines. Resulted in cost savings of $75,250 annually by recycling cleaning fluids.

Introduced a new acid blend to more effectively reduce stains on the coils. Resulted in cost savings of $125,500 by using coils rather than melting them again in order to roll again.

Worked with area managed to improve process flow across all machines (casting, milling, annealing, cleaning, bonding and slitting) $200,000 cost savings annually.

Katie Neel 319-***-**** Page Two

General Mills 2006 – 2016

Manager, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2011 - 2016

Set clear, achievable goals for platform quarter over quarter while meeting Master Plan goals quarter over quarter. Managed all operations, temp labor and team leader scheduling.

Increased MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) on cartoners from 5.7 to 88.3.

Completed an $800,000 project to internalize 20 count carton capacity (supply chain savings of $900,000 annually).

Implemented mini’s internalization with zero investment (supply chain savings of $80,000 annually).

Managed labor accountabilities to decrease GMI headcount (plant savings of $330,000 annually).

Decreased Temp Labor headcount (plant savings of $480,000 annually).

Reduced plant guidelines from 357 pages to 64 pages.

Slashed costs through productivity items and team ideations.

Worked with scheduler to ensure the most efficient schedule and help in troubleshooting scheduling issues (Managed AVC (Actual Versus Commit).

Drove change as an operational expert and leader on my area.

Built teams capability to drive the culture forward.

Effectively managed budgets for all projects and area.

Focus Team Leader, Cedar Rapids, IA. 2007 – 2011

Managed all aspects of three-shift operation of seven lines of fruit snack production. Managed daily shift operation on third shift including 72 production employees, addressing maintenance issues, personnel issues, scheduling and overtime; and managing interns and OMA group during rotations in the fruit department.

Worked with Minneapolis group as Startup Manager for project “Mars”. Utilized ability to print edible ink onto a Fruit Roll Up to market personalized Fruit Roll Ups directly to customer via web site.

Rolled out DMS (Daily Management System) to Fruit Roll Ups team. Reduced minor stops by 90%.

Participated on Fruit Snacks Holistic Management Team to reduce waste in the fruit department.

Implemented system to track, record and utilize remaining product at co-packer into “Mystery Pack.”

Provided 6% year over year reduction in overuse.

Manager, West Chicago, IL. 2006 – 2007

Managed all aspects of three-shift operation of ready to eat cereal packaging line. Utilized CI and team building to reduce changeover times, increase operator awareness, reduce overuse and increase system performance. Managed daily shift operation on third shift including 67 production employees, addressing maintenance issues, personnel issues, scheduling and overtime.

Developed and implemented team sponsored safety and reliability improvements.

Completed team-focused improvements utilizing FME (Fundamental Manufacturing Excellence).

Participated in contract negotiations contingency team to determine feasibility to continue production and organize resources in case of a lock out.

Startup Manager for “Right Size Right Price” project. Changed every SKU that we produced to a smaller size. Managed the budget, choreographed all the correct change parts, managed inventories and tying out supplies to reduce packaging write offs.

ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Dial Corporation, Montgomery, IL

Process Engineer, Team Manager

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science (BS), Chemical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Bachelor of Science (BS), Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Bachelor of Science (BS), Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

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