Don Ledford

**** ********* ***** • Kodak, TN **764

865-***-**** • adrv7m@r.postjobfree.com

Objective: Manufacturing Manager

Results-driven management professional with proven record of experience since 1995 in the manufacturing industry with Double H Plastics, LS Industries, Dura-Line Corporation, United Plastics Corporation, and Saxton Wire and Cable that includes directing facility-wide production operations, scheduling, staff management, customer service, training management, and warehouse operations.

Achievements include: (1) successfully bringing the Double H Plastic extrusion plant from 11 lines to 20 lines (2) achieving Dura-Line’s first ISO Certification worldwide as well as two follow-up re-certifications; (3) implementing the first Lean Manufacturing methodologies and 5S Program; and (4) reducing scrap from 14% to 6.5% and reducing time for equipment setups from 3.5 hours to 30 minutes. Additional strengths:

• Operational Turnarounds • Customer Service • Production Process Improvement

• Inventory Management / Control • Problem-Solving • Lean Manufacturing & 5S

• Regulatory Compliance • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Quality Assurance Programs

• Team Building & Cross Training • Materials Distribution • Staff Management / Scheduling

• Time Management Skills • Systems Integration • Cost Savings Initiatives

Professional Experience

Small Business Owner/Operator – D&S PROPERTY SOLUTIONS, Sevierville, TN 2021 - Present

Co-Founder and Co-Owner of D&S Property Solutions, a property management company dedicated to short term vacation

rentals. Manage all aspects of the business including finances, marketing, sales, customer service and quality.

Guided the company from the ground up, growing the company from 1 property to 70 properties in 18 months.

Hired and trained 15 employees in the day to day operations of the company.

Implemented a scheduling program to provide accurate and on time scheduling for services.

Communicated with vendors, negotiating pricing and investigating alternative sources for better pricing.

Provided consultation to property owners, making recommendations to achieve maximum return on properties.

Operations Manager – DOUBLE H PLASTICS, Morristown, TN 2018 - 2021

Steer and direct the plastic extrusion operations in a 23 line extrusion plant. Establish operational processes and implement

process improvements to ensure superior quality and superior output of extruded parts. Develop and implement training

programs to develop staff, improve effieciences, and improve performance.

Reduced the staff by 15 while maintaining production levels and quality standards.

Implemented scrap reduction measures that reduced scrap by 16%.

Provided strategic direction and leadership to the team for the installation of 9 new extrusion lines and the

coordination of training and qualifications for team members.

Planned, directed, coordinated and assigned manpower to promote cross-functional operations.

Improved efficiency and productivity by enforcing a culture of lean manufacturing.

Sales Consultant - LS INDUSTRIES, Knoxville, TN 2009 – 2018

Generate sales growth of industrial packaging solutions for this manufacturer of corrugated plastic packaging for

the industrial and automotive markets.

Consistently exceeded sales quotas for corrugated packaging.

Collaborated with the Engineering Team to provide marketplace insights for new product development.

Developed and maintained relationships with customers increasing sales and growing sales territory.

Provided guidance for the Sales Team regarding plastic materials and the extrusion process.

Don Ledford – Page 2

Plant Manager - DURA-LINE CORPORATION, Middlesboro, KY 2000 – 2009

Recruited by this leading international manufacturer and distributor of communication and energy infrastructure products and systems including conduit, cable-in-conduit, pipe, and accessories. Assigned to the senior leadership role with responsibility for turning around employee morale/performance issues and improving production that was at approximately 55% of expectations for the company’s largest plant worldwide with 175 employees.

• Improved plant-wide operational performance by overseeing all aspects of P&L, production, maintenance, shipping/receiving, quality assurance, engineering, materials/inventory control, and human resources.

• Generated an immediate impact by implementing the first Lean Methodologies/System and 5S Program that:

- Successfully reduced scrap from 14% to 6.5%

- Reduced time for equipment setups from 3.5 hours to 30 minutes

- Improved efficiency for locating and setting up tooling, and established a more organized, cleaner workplace

- Enhanced employee performance through ongoing staff retraining on new processes

• Achieved the plant’s first ISO Certification as well as two follow-up recertifications; recognized as the first Dura-Line facility worldwide to achieve ISO Certification.

• Implemented the first Material Resource Planning (MRP) System that eliminated manual processes and improved

plant efficiency, order tracking, scheduling, inventory control, and customer service.

• Implemented management and leadership efforts that led the plant to recognition as the most profitable division (for

nine consecutive years) in the US Dura-Line organization out of eight manufacturing facilities.

• Developed and implemented the Employee Communications Program for any plant worldwide that provided

transparency for operations among all employees/managers to communicate goals and facilitate a united, cohesive

workforce with rewards for employee feedback on process improvement recommendations; program earned global

recognition and was rolled out internationally to all Dura-Line facilities.

Assistant Superintendent - UNITED PLASTICS CORPORATION, Mt. Airy, NC 1995 – 2000

Managed/coordinated all manufacturing activities for this profile extrusion facility with 30 extrusion lines and 110 employees.

• Substantially reduced tooling changes over time by 35% through process improvements.

• Implemented changes to employee handbook that enhanced employee morale for this union facility.

• Assigned as the Project Manager for the development and installation of RIGID PVC FOAM extrusion lines

that became an extensively profitable product by the company.

Additional Experience (Prior to 1995):

Lead Supervisor / Shift Supervisor – SAXTON WIRE & CABLE, Sanford, NC & COMMUNICATION CABLE, INC., Siler City, NC

• Managed 55 employees at Saxton Wire & Cable, and supervised 25 employees at Communication Cable.

Departmental Supervisor – UNITED STATES NAVY, Various Locations (1978 -1992)

• Provided leadership direction for up to 180 personnel and qualified in maintenance, repair, operation of HVAC, HI-CAP Refrigeration, Hydraulic, and Pneumatic engineering systems.

Education

Attended various college courses in Management – COMMUNITY COLLEGES (Multiple locations)

Diplomas/Certifications, Management – UNITED STATES NAVY MILITARY & PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

High School Diploma – HAYESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Certifications & Training:

• Internal Auditor Training & Certification • OSHA Compliance • Quality Auditor Training & Certification

• Statistical Process Control • Diesel Trend Analysis • Leadership & Management

• Leadership Zenger/Miller

Contact this candidate