Kenneth R. Lewno

P. O. Box *** Cell Phone: 605-***-****

White, SD 57276 Home Phone: 605-***-****

Email: adgk2f@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Highly motivated management executive with 23+ years of overall experience in operations, manufacturing, service and consumer goods industries, including 16 years experience in upper level management and leadership in a manufacturing environment. Critical member of management team for a $100 million manufacturer of high-grade residential and commercial play sets with over 250 independent distributors operating nationally and internationally. Skilled strategic, tactical and operational planner incorporating project management skills to accomplish corporate goals. Goal oriented and technically minded individual that strives for continuous improvement and continued learning.

EXPERIENCE

Jan 2018 to Present: 3M Brookings – Brookings, South Dakota

Window Out 4 (WO4) Assistant Operator

Working with the Operator of WO4 to ensure that product is safely, timely and produced according to standard. This is done by working on one of 3 different areas of WO4, which include the jumbo area, converting machine operation, and packager side.

Follows safety and other EHS policies to ensure that product is produced safely and with as little waste as possible.

Proficient at looking up, reading and understanding 3M Standards.

Proficient in the use of production reporting programs (Oracle and Pass and PMCS) assist in the completion of reporting work center information as it pertains to the production of 3M product.

Proficient at the testing processes used for WO4 product that ensure the product is within specifications as stated in standard.

Use of problem solving, lean, 5S and continuous improvement theories and practices to improve WO4 and Propak work area daily.

Clear understanding of inventory procedures and practices to ensure that inventories are accurately reported.

2012 to June 2017: Gopher Sign Company (GSC) – Clear Lake, South Dakota

$3 million Company with 18 employees. GSC is a job shop manufacturing facility which supplies their customers with various signage needs, including novelty, street, parking, traffic and custom signage. www.gophersign.com

Process Engineer

Process Engineer for GSC, with the expanded role of new product development, research and development and product implementation, along with the implementation of operations management theories and practices.

Installed and implemented the use of CNC router to factory, which brought the ability to manufacture non-standard shaped product in-house, critical to “Image-Loc” product development.

Integral in development of production processes for new “Image-Loc” product line that introduced an innovative and unique product to the marketplace.

Development of strategic plan for production year that focuses on strategic, tactical and operational goals for management and factory personnel.

Implementation of Traffic Jet Printer that allowed for greater flexibility and better product offering to existing/new customers.

Rapid tactical and operational responses to customer requests concerning custom products for emerging markets.

Use of CAD/CAM software to process “Image-Loc” products that enabled the sale of custom size and shaped product offering to Gopher customers.

Expanding of sales operations in local markets to assist in growing business and local visibility of Gopher Sign.

2010 to 2016: Student at South Dakota State University (SDSU) – Brooking, South Dakota

Attended SDSU from 2010 to 2012 for the purposes of receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Manufacturing Engineering and Technology (BS MNET). Graduation Date May 2012. Attended SDSU from 2012 to 2016 for the purposes of receiving a Master’s of Science degree in Operations Management (MS OM). Graduation date May 2016.

Student

Involved in leadership roles of organizations and activities related to the college of engineering, to include Joint Engineering Council (JEC), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME); Chair of various JEC outreach programs to include, College of Engineering Phonathon (2012 & 2013), College of Engineering Career Fair (2011& 2012) and Engineering Expo Senior Design Judging (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014) .

Successful interrelations between students (of all ages), faculty, staff and public as part of student organization leadership.

Increased attendance and participation in JEC activities by 20% during tenure as JEC President.

Successfully mentored executive board ensuring continuation of quality leadership of JEC.

Assisted the Dean of Engineering in development of an exit review process for all JEC outreach events, which resulted in continuous improvement of all events that continues to this day.

1995 to 2009: RAINBOW PLAY SYSTEMS, INC. – Brooking, South Dakota

Rainbow Play Systems (RPS) is an industry leading $100 million producer of high-grade residential and commercial play sets. www.rainbowplay.com

Director of Strategic Projects, Director of Showroom Services, Engineering Change Manager

Concentration on strategic objectives of the company to include development of P&L statements, oversee yearly and monthly budgets; oversee and execute all functions related to corporate strategic objectives.

Developed, implemented and managed the startup factory seconds distributorship in Billings Montana, which had annual sales of $150k, while maintaining the budget, P&L statements and producing profits of $10k, while reducing and repurposing unusable parts for RPS.

Crucial in managing the acquisition of Rainbow Play Systems of Nebraska, to include inventory buyout, relocation to new retail site, development of new site, maintaining a budget and P&L statement and producing sales of $380k in the first year resulting in a profit of $20k.

Managed Showroom services department, which serviced the 250 RPS distributors and dealers. Developed and maintained all documents for, as well as, correspond with the distributor network to include the processing of all wholesale orders from distributors and dealers.

Management of all customer service activities for all of RPS

Key member of numerous teams brought together to outline and accomplish specific tactical and operational goals aimed at accomplishing key corporate strategic goals.

Developed the talents of the team members to increase the talent pool available to RPS and to advance the skills of RPS staff/employees, as well as encouraging team members to take leadership positions.

Development and implementation of costing and pricing structures for high-end play systems - from purchase of raw parts to sale to consumer, to include an activity based costing system, resulting in costing and pricing structure that ensured a profitable product line, including the evaluation of product line to ensure a natural progression and profitability.

Developed and maintained an engineering change policy that processed in excess of 250 changes per year, while maintaining integrity of the manufacturing and engineering processes. Disseminated the change information to all parties, to include manufacturing personnel and the distributor/dealer network.

Managed new product line implementation on a yearly basis for 12 years of yearly product line improvements.

Project Management – Utilized project management philosophies to manage and accomplished 20 projects in excess of $50k along with numerous smaller projects throughout all of RPS. These projects include, but are not limited to the startup of new companies, management of said companies, strategic and tactical planning, development of budgets, distributor development/startups, development of products, new procedures/processes, problem solving, etc.

Participated and lead 8 kaizan events that resulted in numerous process improvements, product improvements, along with dollar savings in excess of $300k.

Military

Jan 1991 to March 1991 – Recalled to active duty for Desert Storm – Honorably Discharged

June 1986 to Sept 1990 US Army – Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic – South Carolina, Germany, and California – Honorably Discharged

Critical learning period in my career where I discovered the nature of integrity, leadership, honor and the value of hard work. The development of these important principles allowed me to build the foundation for which to build upon the skills to become a competent and effective leader and executive.

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