Gregory Rutlidge
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Executive Profile
Driven to manage costs and establish strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships and relationships with users, vendors and service providers.
Ambitious, who creates strategic alliances with organization leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives.
Builds and retains high performance teams by hiring, developing and motivating skilled professionals.
Offering outstanding presentation, communication and cross-cultural team management skills.
High-energy, results-oriented leader with an entrepreneurial attitude.
Skill Highlights
Project management Leadership/communication skills Product development Product line expansion New product delivery, Budgeting expertise, Negotiations expert, Employee relations, Self-motivated,
Core Accomplishments
Project Management:
At Schwan foods, I Initiated the aseptic project for diced green chili's, which resulted in 20% less defects, better quality product, less overhead,
Staff Development:
Launched well-received program of professional development courses for all staff. Mentored and coached employees resulting in a 12% increase in productivity, and 14% decrease in mechanical downtime throughout the maintenance department.
Operations Management:
Managed over 500 projects through my career. Handled all functions related to Engineering in a food production environment. I also have extensive experience in managing the maintenance department as Schwan’s maintenance department fell under my umbrella.
Education
University of Wisconsin
Bachelor’s Degree – Mechanical Engineering
Kansas State University
Certifications - Refrigeration / Design
Professional experience
Engineering Manager
August 2019 to Current
Demkota Ranch Beef
Processed food production. Managed $42M new construction project adding 50% more capacity. Created new revenue streams through the addition of strip grading that produce 2.5# and 5# pouches for food service. increased profits by 28% in one year through restructure of production line 2 and 3.
Active participant in Management reviews, Weekly One-on-One session engagement with actionable results with Director of Operations maintaining daily, weekly, monthly schedule for all engineers, and Overseeing programs related to Engineering and new product development, within the Operations realm.
Address training and skillsets within department - evaluate, counsel and / or plan to replace
(if needed) Work with Management team proactively to produce desired result set forth by executive level leadership or our customer(s).Ownership over all part processes:
Knowledge in Quality Management Systems: Quality Control, Regulatory Compliance, HACCP Documentation and development of HACCP Programs Experienced in Regulator compliance with FDA, USDA. Knowledge of Laboratory equipment and procedures
Managed 100MM annual budget for continuous improvement projects, as well as new products.Part of the company strategic planning and cross functional business team. Development of new production procedures to eliminate downtime and increase line productivity rates by 15%Project leader for development of New product equipment and production line layout, design, and build. Developed improved methods of analyzing production downtime resulting in thousands of dollars in savings every year.
Developed Preventative Maintenance schedules, TPM programs, and Reliability engineering, to reduce plant production downtime 25% Led Project Planning committee with Sales and Marketing to establish multiple new product lines. Designed Wastewater pretreatment containment system to reduce BOD's and PH control. Experience in cooked, packaged, Ready to Eat food items. Conducted Safety training (with the Safety Manager) including HazMat, Electrical, Lockout/Tagout, & Chemical Handling, as well as PSM systems, and regulatory programs. Managed Staff of as many as 150 direct and in direct reports, including Maintenance, and Engineering. Knowledge in Quality Management Systems: Quality Control, Regulatory Compliance, HACCP Documentation and development of HACCP Programs Experienced in Regulator compliance with FDA, USDA. Knowledge of Laboratory equipment and procedures Reduced Wastewater emissions to city by 75%.Experienced in developing plant SOP's including cleaning machines, tools, and environmental areas. Reduced chemical over-usage through implementation of new chemical delivery system.
Director of Engineering
August 2016 to August 2019
Perdue Farms
Managed $50mm new construction project adding 50% more capacity. Created new revenue streams through the addition of strip grading that produce 2.5# and 5# pouches for food service. increased profits by 28% in one year through restructure of production line 2 and 3.
Active participant in Management reviews, Weekly One-on-One session engagement with actionable results with Director of Operations. Maintaining daily - weekly - monthly schedule for all engineers. Oversee Program Management, and Customer activities (appoint team members to work if needed) Address training and skillsets within department. Evaluate and counsel staff. Work with Management team proactively to produce desired result set forth by executive level leadership, or our customer(s). Knowledge in Quality Management Systems, Quality Control, Regulatory Compliance, HACCP Documentation. Worked with the Quality management staff in restructuring the HACCP plan. Experienced in Regulator compliance with FDA, USDA. Work with all departmental managers, corporate staff, and consultants to continually evaluate, develop, and execute projects that improve safety, reduce costs and improve quality. Execute projects to include funding (Capital expenditure requests), defining scope, conducting cost analysis and justification for all capital project over $10,000. Develop skills of engineering/maintenance staff and perform annual performance evaluations, Ensure that the equipment is capable of making product to specification at a rate to achieve production schedule, targeted efficiencies and operate at design specifications. Support daily operational troubleshooting and problem solving. Support and lead environmental and energy conservation program. Implement and share best practices. Ensure a safe working environment for team associates.
Director of Engineering/Corporate Project Engineering Manager
January2008 to August 2016
Schwan Food Company
Multi-plant (5) experience including facility planning, cost, project development, and regulatory compliance.
Managed 100MM annual budget for continuous improvement projects, as well as new products. Part of the company strategic planning and cross functional business team. Development of new production procedures to eliminate downtime and increase line productivity rates by 15%Project leader for development of New product equipment and production line layout, design, and build. Developed improved methods of analyzing production downtime resulting in thousands of dollars in savings every
year.
Maintenance Management: Developed Preventative Maintenance schedules, TPM programs, and Reliability engineering, to reduce plant production downtime 25% Led Project Planning committee to establish multiple new product lines. Designed Wastewater pretreatment containment system to reduce BOD's Experience in cooked, packaged, Ready to Eat food items. Conducted Safety training including HazMat, Electrical, Lockout/Tagout, & Chemical Handling, as well as PSM systems, and regulatory programs. Managed Staff of as many as 150 direct and in direct reports, including Maintenance, and Engineering. Knowledge in Quality Management Systems: Quality Control, Regulatory Compliance, HACCP Documentation and development of HACCP Programs Experienced in Regulator compliance with FDA, USDA. Knowledge of Laboratory equipment and procedures Reduced Wastewater emissions to city by 75%.Experienced in developing plant SOP's including cleaning machines, tools, and environmental areas. Reduced chemical over-usage through implementation of new chemical delivery system.
Director of Engineering
January2005 to January 2008
Bay Valley Foods
Active participant in Management reviews. Initiated One-on-One session engagement with actionable results with Plant Operations Director. Maintaining daily - weekly - monthly schedule for all engineers, and Maintenance team members. Oversee Programs for maintenance reliability and preventive maintenance. Address training and skillsets, and arrange technology training programs. Work with Management team proactively to produce desired result set forth by executive level leadership or our customer. Process Design, Process Control, and Change Control. Consistent results for process sustainment. Continuous improvement ideas implemented and worked from the floor to the back door. Result driven, to meet or exceed deadlines with accuracy of process plan and accountable measures.
Director of Engineering
January2000 to January 2005
Patterson Vegetable Company
Developing and managing the capital budget for all maintenance and engineering departments and projects
Developing comprehensive processes for equipment selection, installation and validation Facilitating continuous improvement in the manufacturing process by identifying and executing equipment upgrades and creating systems to enhance the skills of technical personnel Working closely with both customers and senior leaders to ensure equipment installations and upgrades are being performed according to established timelines and budgets Continuing development of the company's predictive and preventive maintenance systems Enhancing the company's parts inventory system to ensure a "zero stock-out" environment Developing a system for "engineered safety" by integrating employee health and wellness into the equipment selection, installation and validation process.
Engineering ManagerJanuary1996 to January 2000
Schreiber Foods
Maintenance / Reliability management using CMMS for preventative maintenance, PM and predictive maintenance program, planning, scheduling, parts and work order system management Lead and develop associates, supervisors, and work teams through training and coaching Ensure training for newly implemented methods, equipment and systems to continuously improve technical skill level Manage capital, labor, parts, contracted services and expense budgets Provide engineering analysis using procedures that include generation f drawings, engineering design principles, process capabilities, and equipment layouts Work with production
managers, corporate staff, consultants to continually evaluate, develop, and execute projects that improve safety, reduce costs and improve quality Execute projects to include funding (CARs), defining scope, conducting cost analysis and justification, and project management Develop skills of engineering/ maintenance staff and perform annual performance evaluations Ensure that the equipment is capable of making product to specification at a rate to achieve production schedule, targeted efficiencies and operate at design specifications Support daily operational troubleshooting and problem solving Support and lead environmental and energy conservation program Implement and share best practices Ensure a safe working environment for team associates.
Education Further Education Certification; KVCC- Business management (non degreed) Refrigeration Design And Engineering (Certification : Refrigeration Engineering and design, 1999Kansas State University - Manhattan, KS, US Received a certification in Refrigeration engineering and design
BSME : Mechanical Engineering, 1986University of Wisconsin - Madison, Wi, US Mechanical Engineering Skills budgets, budget, Business management, coaching, Continuous improvement, cost analysis, delivery, Documentation, functional, inventory, layout, leadership, Director, managing, personnel, problem solving, Process Design, processes, Program Management, project development, Project leader, project management, Project Planning, quality, Quality Management, Quality Control, Safety, scheduling, SOP, specification, strategic planning, troubleshooting, upgrades, validation
Additional Information
Accomplishments:
1999 and 2000 recipient of the Schreiber foods Presidents Award for Excellence in Leadership