R. D. Childers

adu0la@r.postjobfree.com 512-***-**** www.linkedin.com/in/rdchilders

Hello,

My passion and skill set lie at the intersection of new product development and building the infrastructure needed to make an idea come to life. I untangle emotions from obstacles for a living.

Would it help to have someone on your team whose experience encompasses, director of operations, manufacturing engineer, buyer/planner, and is passionate about continuous improvement? Someone with new product introduction experience, developing supply chains with OEM and CM vendors in Europe, Asia, and Mexico?

How would you utilize someone talented at tactical response, with a long-term focus on root cause analysis? My background provides a unique insight, allowing me to quickly discern when to spotlight symptoms or accept the sunk cost. I saved the best for last. I really enjoy mentoring others.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

R. D. Childers

R. D. Childers

adu0la@r.postjobfree.com 512-***-**** www.linkedin.com/in/rdchilders

Director of Operations

OVERVIEW:

●Fluid tactician during a crisis who maintains a long-term focus on finding the root cause of problems.

●A bit of a Rosetta Stone. Translating between executives, engineers, purchasing, and production.

●Design for Manufacturability advocate during New Product Development.

●Experience in several startups and a few Fortune 500 companies.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

●Semiconductor equipment, mass spectrometers, artificial heart valves, metal, plastic, quartz, ceramic, machining, Mastercam, SOLIDWORKS, mechanical, electrical, robotics, casting and yes, feathers.

●Buying, planning, quality, operations management, bills of materials, product configuration, ERP systems, documentation, CNC, FANUC, rock concert lighting, ultra-high vacuum.

SOFT SKILLS:

●Mentoring, training, servant leadership, account management, technical sales, marketing.

●Supplier relationships, domestic and international, OEM, startups, and Tier 1 contract Manufacturing.

EXPERIENCE

Director of Operations, Gemba Guide (Startup) Apr 2018 – Present

●Managed pilot line production of lithium-iron phosphate battery module for solar energy storage market.

●P&L responsibility for a 20-person machine shop, increased the throughput of CNC MASTERCAM programming and machining set up time,16% within the 1st four months.

●Lead new product introduction and sustaining engineering for artificial heart valves, shoulder sockets, and finger joints, machined out of graphite and coated with Pyrolytic carbon.

●Implemented standardized documentation, decreasing labor cost 20% by managing inventory levels, establishing Kanbans, production planning and supply chains.

●Managed the organizational transformation of two CNC machining companies to form a new company.

●Increased the available floor space 30%, eliminating the need to move a 15-person company to a larger building by using Lean Six Sigma guidance around 5S principles.

●Increased throughput 36% by training shipping and sales departments on new software automation.

●Developed and maintained documentation for ISO and FDA compliance for OEM product lines.

●Lead the team of engineers pursuing UL 9540 certification.

Quote Manager, Flex Inc. Dec 2016 – Apr 2018

●Lead an account management team, quoting industrial products and consumer electronics.

●Managed projects from a napkin sketch to full-scale production at a Tier 1 contract manufacture.

●Provided Manufacturing Engineering insight to both startup and Fortune 100 companies.

Operations Manager, Plum Inc. (Startup) Jul 2014 – Dec 2016

●Scaled pilot line production 500% for a start-up. Led the transition from ideation to 10K units.

●Managed very dynamic supplier relationships with our contract manufacturing companies in the U.S., China, and Mexico producing an IoT, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connected light dimmer.

●Orchestrated purchasing, planning, document control, and pilot production with a Tier 1 supplier.

Operations Manager, Gemba Guide (Startup) Oct 2008 – Jul 2014

●Reduced waste $183,000 in three months, by analyzing manufacturing and quality systems in China and the United States for a Tier 1 contract manufacture with a project size of $7 million.

●Responsible for, purchasing, supplier management, of a Tier 1 OEM contract in Mexico and China.

●P&L responsibility for testing, new product introduction, and production support for silicon wafer handling robots in the semiconductor equipment industry.

●Scaled production 10x from pilot line to volume production for a process using pulsed plasma chemical vapor deposition on goose down feathers for Patagonia under ultra-high vacuum.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aug 2005 – Oct 2008

●Led team through 1700-line-item transition of chassis, PCBs, and cables to Asia in six months.

●Spearheaded new product introduction and production support for ultra-high vacuum Mass Spectrometers and Gas Chromatographs with annual revenue of $70 million.

●Certified as a Thermo Fisher Scientific Practical Process Improvement Process Champion (green belt) and as a PPI Facilitator (black belt, six sigma) and additional advanced training from Lean.org classes.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, High-End Systems Jan 2000 – Mar 2004

●Reduced receiving inspection department cycle time 500% using data analysis and focusing resources. Managed NPI, transition engineering, project management, and production support for robotic stepper motor-controlled rock concert lighting with annual revenue of $80 million. Ultra-high vacuum PVD.

Project Engineer/Account Manager, Brown Manufacturing Oct 1997 – Oct 1999

●Resolved 1,500 supplier issues in 6 months, working with engineers, buyers, planners, and managers.

●Account Manager/Project Engineer/Sales for $10 million Applied Materials’ account. CNC machining, sheet metal, anodization, and powder coat paint.

Manufacturing Engineer, Applied Materials Feb 1994 – Oct 1997

●Led teams through 9 new product releases, 16 product transitions for semiconductor equipment.

●Lobbied 5 layers of management for approval and then lead a 6000-line item BOM and configuration project. Transitioned a product structure tree to matrix format and created 750 new kits.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science: Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas Fall 1993

Major: Manufacturing Engineering

Minors: Business Administration and Math

Mastercam class at Austin Community College (For continuing education.) Spring 2019

US Army Reserves: Generator repair/electronics Summer 1987

INTERESTS:

Sustainability/circular economy, electric vehicles, homelessness, open-source, solar energy, industrial automation, robotics, ROS Industrial, artificial intelligence, art, CNC machining, TIG/MIG welding, augmented reality, Linux, deep learning, casting, woodworking, metalworking, LabVIEW, skateboarding, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, BeagleBone, LGBTQ, ISO 9001, LEAN Manufacturing.

Volunteer Work:

●Former director of Operations at the Austin makerspace asmbly.org. SEMI board member 2012-2014.

●Burning Flipside, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Lean Austin on LinkedIn, The Robot Group.

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