Quality Engineer Industrial

GRAHAM LEWIS THORNTON

EXPERIENCE

****-**** **** ******** *********, IL

Industrial Engineer

Researched, developed, wrote, and rolled out Work Instructions in all areas of a start-up electric vehicle company.

Worked to continuously improve all workstations and processes.

2021-2022 RACO South Bend, IN

Lean and Quality Engineer

Lead Kaizen/5S/Gemba projects at the South Bend RACO manufacturing plant.

Coordinated all capital expenditures for new equipment and general facility improvements.

Worked with suppliers and customers to resolve quality related issues.

2018-2021 MSC Industrial Supply Elkhart, IN

Lean Program Specialist

Lead Kaizen/5S/Gemba projects in the Elkhart Customer Fulfillment Center.

Co-lead Kaizen events in the Chicago, Shelbyville, Columbus, Atlanta, and Reno Customer Fulfillment Centers.

Visited multiple customer facilities as part of our Lean outreach program to consult with them on their Lean journey. Often invited them to join us in our next Kaizen event as team members so they could participate first-hand.

Provided Lean Basics training to all hourly associates as part of onboarding, as well as more advanced Lean Fundamentals and Lean Leader training to Supervisors and Management associates.

2014-2017 Robert Weed Bristol, IN

Industrial Engineer

Designed and implemented cost savings and process improvement initiatives based on Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma principles which resulted in direct savings of over $1,750,000 annually while increasing product output, safety, and product quality.

Working with the costing team we devised and implemented a mathematical costing system. Robert Weed had been without a good way to track their costs since their inception 50 years ago.

Selected and commissioned several pieces of new equipment leading to cost savings and quality improvements.

2012-2014 Strategic Materials Inc. Chicago, IL / East Troy, WI

Quality Manager / Process Engineer

Designed and implemented cost savings and process improvement initiatives based on Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma principles which resulted in direct savings of over $500,000 annually while increasing product output, safety, and product quality.

Represented the company to the local board of East Troy’s trustees, OSHA, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

2009-2012 Polyair Packaging Chicago, IL

Industrial Engineer / Quality Engineer for Polyair - Chicago and Polyair - Toronto

Designed and implemented cost savings and process improvement initiatives based on Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma principles which resulted in direct savings of over $250,000 annually while increasing, and in some cases doubling, product output.

Cross trained in other management positions including freight, production supervision, procurement, and supply chain.

1999–2009 Greif, Inc. Stoney Creek, ON / Alsip, IL

Quality Assurance-Continuous Improvement Manager / Production Supervisor

Chaired Greif-Stoney Creek’s Quality/Top Management Committee, which devised improvements to processes, procedures, and systems. During my five-year time as the committee chair, our efforts resulted in a 50% reduction in scrap material and a 30% gain in OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

Chaired the Canadian Internal Audit Committee, which was responsible for coordinating Quality Management Systems at nine different facilities.

Lead investigations into customer complaints at both Greif-Stoney Creek and Alsip and served as a resource for other member plants of the Internal Audit Committee. My duties also included ensuring prompt resolution of any complaints, verifying the effectiveness of all arising corrective actions, and reporting my findings to the customer, often in person.

Directly supervised Administrative, Production and Maintenance staff of 35 people.

Designed, implemented, and managed ISO-9001 registered Quality Systems for multiple plants, and served as Management Representative.

Provided classroom and practical training to all staff, shop floor and management employees. Topics included Quality, Safety, Environmental Compliance, New Processes and Lean Manufacturing Principles.

EDUCATION

2002-2005 Mohawk College Hamilton, ON

Quality Assurance Level II

Course of study included Statistical Process/Quality Control Level 3, Design of Experiments, Report Writing and ISO 9001.

1997 Sheridan College Oakville, ON

ISO 9000 & Total Quality Management

Course of study included statistical techniques, internal auditing, lead auditing, quality system implementation, technical writing, and communications.

1992-1996 Waterloo Management Windsor, ON

“Soft Training” courses including team building, meeting facilitation, conflict resolution, and effective task planning.

1989-1991 University of Waterloo Waterloo, ON

Majored in physics

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Senior Member of the American Society for Quality (Section 1201-Chicago)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Certified Lean Manufacturing Specialist / Six Sigma Green Belt certified / Six Sigma Black Belt trained.

Completed OSHA 30-hour and 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health Outreach courses in General Industry Safety and Health.

Competent with standard computer software packages including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint as well as statistical software including Minitab and Design-Ease.

Authorized to work in the United States and Canada

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