Engineering Manager A Team

MARGARET “PEGGY” BENTON

Grand Blanc, Michigan ***39 810-***-**** *********@*******.***

FINANCE LEADER COST ENGINEERING MANAGER PURCHASING MANAGER

Dynamic leader with proven expertise in finance, purchasing, vendor tooling and cost estimating. Skilled in driving teams to deliver significant savings and cost reductions through strategic negotiations and process improvements. Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with a target-oriented approach that delivered successful results.

SKILLS

Project Management Sourcing and Procurement Analysis Vendor Management Cost Control Financial Forecasting

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GENERAL MOTORS NA, Pontiac/Warren, MI 2005 - 2024

PPCO Finance Manager Finance, Product Program Cost Optimization (PPCO), 2016 - 2024

Managed a team of several high-performing cost engineers to oversee the estimation and analysis of tooling costs totaling over $760M globally. The scope included initial studies, statements of requirements, cost estimates, sourcing and engineering change reviews.

Led PPCO Cost Initiatives (Re-Costing, Engineering Design and Development, Engineering Change Requests, Project Re-imagine, Autonomous Tier II reviews, Process Training Improvements

Reduced overall Chassis Team costs, recruited, and mentored a team to execute saving strategies effectively.

Ensured cost alignment and efficiency, reduced costs, improved cost accuracy by 50% and implemented a streamlined review process, reducing approval times by 30%.

Engineering Group Manager Manufacturing, Global Propulsion Systems, 2005 - 2016

Managed the $500M annual tooling budget for GM Powertrain, ensuring alignment with financial and operational objectives.

Generated cost savings surpassing the team’s savings goals through strategic vendor negotiations and process optimizations.

Served as the global liaison between domestic and international divisions, driving the resolution of cross-functional issues and leading the development of standardized policies and procedures across global operations.

Designed and implemented a global training module, “Negotiating Techniques” for the Vendor Tooling team, improving supplier negotiations and reducing errors across international teams.

Recruited and developed top talent, overseeing hiring, performance management, and training initiatives, resulting in a 15% improvement in team efficiency and employee retention.

Audited and enforced compliance with the updated “General Motors Tooling Requirements” for all suppliers, reducing non-compliance issues.

ADDITIONAL ROLES AT GENERAL MOTORS NA

Supervisor and Team Leader Finance

Handpicked by GM’s executive staff to join an elite team piloting a new vendor tooling project, successfully identifying opportunities for cost savings in General Motor’s vendor tooling spend.

Supervised a tooling engineer team, overseeing the accurate estimation of piece price and vendor tooling costs for General Motor’s Powertrain projects, and drove significant cost savings. Achieved $100M in tooling reductions and $250M in piece cost savings through optimized processes and strategic supplier negotiations.

Designed and implemented a comprehensive global training program for General Motor’s Purchasing, Finance, and Engineering teams, reducing purchase order errors by 12% and eliminating allocation mistakes in accounting rules.

Created a specialized training module for new employees, accelerating onboarding by 7% and improving early-stage productivity

Developed and implemented an invoice reconciliation process to address supplier double billing for prototype and production tooling, eliminating duplicate payments resulting in a savings to General Motors.

Margaret ”Peggy” Benton *********@*******.*** Page 2

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

MODERN ENGINEERING, Troy, MI

Production Buyer Contracted to General Motors Powertrain

Managed $200M annual procurement portfolio for ferrous castings, metal stampings, and fasteners, collaborating cross-functionally with engineering to reduce costs and enhance casting quality.

Developed a new supply base, achieving a 3% cost reduction while maintaining supplier performance and product standards.

Assistant Buyer

EDUCATION

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY, Mt Pleasant, MI

Master of Science (MS), Business Administration

Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Administration

CERTIFICATIONS

Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) Green Belt

DFSS Black Belt

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