Bradley R. Bechthold

*** ********* *****

La Porte City, IA 50651

319-***-****

adg6rc@r.postjobfree.com

Employment Objective: Operations Manager

Education:

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

BA: German Language

May 2012

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

MA: Industrial Technology Management, Emphasis in Industrial Training and Supervision

GPA: 3.88/4.00

May 2007

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

German Language Studies Certificate

20 University Credit Hours

December 2003

University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA

BA: Industrial Technology Management

Magna cum Laude

May 2003

Hawkeye Community College, Waterloo, IA

AAS: Mechanical Engineering Technology

June 1980

Professional Experience:

Sales Engineer, Cutting Tools

Ceratizit Group, Schaumburg, IL

May 2019 – January 2020

Provide metal cutting tool support, sales and applications experiences through an established distributor network to end user customers

Home based position, supporting multiple distributor and multiple end users on-site, with manufacturing operations located in the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Illinois

Supplier Quality Engineering Supervisor

John Deere, John Deere Power Systems (JDPS), Waterloo, IA

May 2014 – December 2018 (Retired)

Guide, develop, and supervise a team of supplier quality engineers, focusing on engine component program quality, providing quality engineering support to 6 John Deere engine factories world-wide

Assign and lead Distinctive Product Quality initiatives

Grow company talent by being an Enterprise recognized Mentor

Conduct supplier quality system audits, JDS-G223; TS 16949/IATF 16949; ISO 9001:2015

Led the Strategic Supply Management JDPS warranty specialist efforts to achieve ~$1.0 Million in warranty recovery FY 2015

Developed and implemented a warranty recovery strategy

JDPS Supplier Quality Engineering program contact and lead for engine series ranging from 2.9L to 13.5L

Lead JDPS SQE Manager for Special Components and new engine program development, with co-development colleagues at Liebherr Machines Bulle

Internal auditor ISO 9001:2015

Translate German to English documents when necessary

Project Manager

John Deere, John Deere Power Systems, Waterloo, IA

May 2011 – April 2014

Established relationships with 20 JDPS China national colleagues, located in Tianjin, China to support Start of Production (SOP) of the engine program

Established relationships with 3 new suppliers to support SOP of small to medium displacement diesel engines in China

Foundry supplier, cylinder blocks and heads

Machining supplier, cylinder blocks and heads

Crankshaft casting and machining supplier

Lead the Team, and successfully executed to a compressed timeline to achieve Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) approval on all cylinder block, head, and crankshaft components ~ 1 month prior to SOP

Supply Base Manager

John Deere, John Deere Power Systems, Waterloo, IA

November 2009 – April 2011

Established working relationships with 3 primary casting suppliers of cylinder blocks and heads – located in Mexico, Germany, and Spain

Managed ~ $95 Million spend annually within this commodity group

Established working relationships with factory colleagues in Waterloo, IA; Saran, France; Torreon, Mexico; and Rosario, Argentina

Developed a scrap pricing strategy amicable to both JDPS and suppliers to reduce time spent monthly between JDPS and the suppliers negotiating scrap pricing in a fluctuating markets (worldwide)

Supplier Quality Engineer

John Deere, John Deere Power Systems, Waterloo, IA

November 2005 – October 2009

Applied quality planning tools and analysis to develop quality plans with suppliers for new product and parts related to off-highway and marine diesel engines

Applied knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and blueprint reading to resolve manufacturing and design related issues of component parts

Extensive quality planning experience with service parts, direct ship kits, fasteners, fittings, crankshafts, after-treatment components such as air throttle vales, Exhaust Gas Recirculating (EGR) valves, emissions fuel dosing systems, and connecting rods

Quality Engineer

Omega Cabinetry, A Division of Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc., Waterloo, IA

March 2005 – November 2005

Originated Inspector Accountability and Recognition program protocol, hardware, software, and process mapping used by manufacturing associates

Originated special set-up and inspect checklist in a user-friendly format to also be used as a training tool

Lead quality team associates in conducting daily finished goods audits

Monitored effectiveness of training programs by reviewing audit report results and cross-checking results with actual dock audits to improve and meet market and employment demands

Production Supervisor

Omega Cabinetry, A Division of Masterbrand Cabinets, Inc., Waterloo, IA

August 2003 - March 2005

Directed, lead and supervise ~ 40 production personnel associated with various aspect of cabinet machining, finishing, and assembly in a premier quality cabinet manufacturing environment

Assumed the duties of the Manufacturing Manager in his absence, reporting to the V.P. of Operations

Lead and participated in Safety Awareness, Six-Sigma, Lean Mfg., Kaizen, and 5-S projects within an assigned area of responsibility

Maintained and improved internal customer relationships to ensure on-time completion and shipping of a quality product

Identified production capacities, and formulate compile, and submit proposal to add an additional shift operation, which was approved and implemented prior to my departure

Constructed training schedules for multiple shift departments

General Manager/Partner

Bechthold True Value Hardware, La Porte City, IA

August 1983 – May 2002

Owned and operated a successful retail and wholesale hardware business

Sales installation, and service of residential HVAC systems - Geothermal and forced-air

Established and cultivated relationships, servicing the customer’s needs, and growing the business to eventually having a customer base extending to a ~ 15 mile radius

Developed a relationship, and became a supplier to John Deere, Waterloo, IA

Sales and service of residential and commercial gasoline engines, including: Kohler, Briggs & Stratton, Tecumseh, Onan, Wisconsin-Teledyne

Sales and servicing dealer of residential and commercial power equipment, including Stihl, Grasshopper, Poulan, Ariens

Tool Engineering Liaison

The Boeing Commercial Airplane Company, Seattle, WA

October 1980 – June 1983

Evaluated and resolved tooling related problems encountered in an assigned area of airplane assembly

Examined, measured, and inspected production assembly tooling for conformance to engineering design and specifications

Implemented corrective action orders as necessary and followed-up for verification of proper tooling operation

Honors, Activities, Organizations

University of Northern Iowa Leadership Studies Advisory Committee member

Associated Locksmiths of America # 22340, RL Locksmith certification, member since 1994 - current

American Society for Quality (ASQ) member

Former School Board member, 3 years La Porte City – one year as board president; 2 years Union Community Schools District, board member

John Deere/Future Farmers of America (FFA) Alumni member

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