Continuous Improvement Professional

Brent Weichers Mill Creek, WA. ***** • 206-***-****

*********@*****.*** • https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentweichers/

Executive Summary

Extensive experience with the Toyota Production System and Danaher as a Lean and Six Sigma Sensei. Change management expert with a keen ability to pinpoint areas for improvement, lead teams through multi-phased initiatives, and deliver measurable and sustainable results. My specialties include conducting Whitebelt and Greenbelt Training programs, leading Kaizen activities, develop and train Lean principles to all levels of an organization.

Master Black Belt in Toyota Production System

Former Danaher Business System Manager

$500k plus in cost savings year over year

Host of popular webinar series on Lean Leaders

Guest on multiple Gemba Academy podcasts

Professional Experience

Ventec Life Systems, Bothell, WA.

Continuous Improvement Director, 08/2020-Current

Introduce and build a multi-site Lean culture

Train leaders on Lean principals

Responsible for facilitating continuous improvement during the growth from $50 to over $400 million in sales

Design cell layouts, product flow, and document Standard Work

Direct kaizen events as the subject matter expert

Develop program to certify White and Green belts.

Implement 5S Gemba Walk program and instituted audits

Developed cost savings calculator to demonstrate both hard and soft cost savings are hitting targets

Develop library of training materials both in person and online versions

Lighthouse for the Blind, Seattle, WA.

Director of Continuous Improvement, 12/2013-3/20/2020

Build and direct a multi-site Lean culture

Lead a team of five Greenbelts across three sites

Responsible for facilitating continuous improvement during the growth from $55 to over $100 million in sales

Use DFSS for cell layouts, product flow, and workstations to ensure ergonomic and productivity goals are met.

Direct kaizen events as the subject matter expert to ensure cost savings goals are met

Train frontline supervisors on continuous improvement and leadership skills.

Developed program to certify White and Green belts.

Lead IT related projects related to Helpdesk request turnover, designing metrics and automating manual processes

Implemented 5S Gemba Walk program and instituted audits to ensure sustainment

Manage projects with outside organizations and universities to introduce new skills and technologies. Including IT related projects, timecard system integrations, project planning and tracking solutions and metric dashboards.

Developed cost savings calculator to demonstrate both hard and soft cost savings are hitting targets

Triple growth of OP% in five years

30% improvement in sales per employee

Average 50% productivity improvement per Lean conversion

Cashmere Molding, Woodinville, WA.

Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager, 12/2011-12/2013

Responsible for Quality Performance at all three locations

Coordinate with manufacturing team to identify improvement opportunities

Develop Lean training material

Initiate 5S program

Develop Strategic Plan with Senior Staff

Lead IT related Finance projects developing applications to determine P&L forecasting accuracy.

Lead Kaizen events as subject matter expert

Develop mentoring program for employee development

Worked with Boeing and Danaher on Quality initiatives

Implemented a complete visual factory in 6 months

Developed Lean training program

The BoxMaker, Inc., Kent, WA.

Continuous Improvement & Quality Manager, 12/2008-12/2011

Responsible for Quality Performance at all seven locations

Train a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt program

Evaluate production bottlenecks and develop action plans to resolve

Lead the Five-Year Strategy Deployment Process

Coach Lean Green Belts leading high priority projects

Lead Kaizen events, facilitate and teach Lean tools

Work with IT on several applications to measure variation in manufacturing throughput

Work with customer base to develop cost savings

Developed ISO9000 program

Reduced average setup times by 50%

Developed program to assist key customers with process improvement

Crane Aerospace, Redmond, WA.

Operational Excellence Manager, 12/2006-12/2008

Coach Lean Black and Green Belts leading high priority projects

Define, plan and execute organizational goals and objectives

Lead Kaizen events, facilitate and teach Lean Six Sigma tools

Develop all training material

Train and facilitate Strategic Planning process

Support locations across the US and Asia

Worked in aerospace, medical and space products

Kaizen events in class A cleanroom environment

Assisted Crane locations across the U.S.

Danaher, Grants Pass, OR.

Danaher Business System Manager, 12/1998-12/2006

Trained Danaher associates worldwide on Lean Implementations

Lead Kaizen events for targeted areas of improvement

Develop Green Belts in key areas of the western region

Managed cost reduction programs with supply base

Developed training materials on Lean concepts and tools

Conducted on-site kaizen events

General consultant on Lean to Danaher West Region companies

Developed kanban system saving $10 million in inventory

Kaizen event created Excess & Obsolete inventory warning system

Maintained over 30% OP year over year

Education

BS in Computer Science

Southern Oregon University, Ashland, OR.

Key Skills

Six Sigma Black Belt IASSC

Danaher Business System Manager

Trainer of Toyota Kata Method

Featured speaker at Association of Manufacturing Excellence annual events

Trainer for National Industries for the Blind, Washington, D.C.

Co-Authored book on Lean Six Sigma assisting Non-Profits

Assisted CVS Health and Premera Insurance employees with specialized training

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