Mechanical Engineer Continuous Improvement
Resume:
Mary E. Partridge
Lincoln Park, MI 48146
***********@*****.***
MECHANICAL PROJECT LEAD ENGINEER
Continuous Improvement · Industrial · Lean Manufacturing
Lead Mechanical Engineer in manufacturing environments with expertise in assessment and improvement of processes and machinery and for fabrication of OEM equipment. Proven success designing and developing equipment impacting increased reliability and safety. Patent holder recognized for supporting the execution and coordinating the implementation of a concept through all phases of development and production until the manufacturing and performance of the product meets established expectations. Ability to use creative and conceptual thinking skills to solve technical problems and achieve gains in product performance, cost, and effectiveness. Core competencies include but are not limited to the following:
Project Engineering / Management
Coach / Mentor / Train
Piping / Equipment Design
Collaborative Partnerships
Process Improvement
Prototype Design / Implementation
Lean Manufacturing / Value Stream Mapping
Patent Holder
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Cooper Standard Automotive, Northville, MI (working remotely) Nov 2023 – February 2025
A leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components.
Senior Process Engineer
Worked with the design and development of glue application equipment for use in the making of hose assemblies for car fluids. Worked with the reconfiguration of a multiproduct line for the extrusion of multilayer hose for both EPDM and TPV materials. Worked with extrusion equipment vendors to trial and develop heads to manage the material change.
Kraft Werks Engineering, LLC, Medina, OH (working remotely) July 2022 – May 2023
Provider of precision machining, complex fabrication, assembly and testing services. Fabricator of fluid drives and ash handling equipment.
Design Engineer
Designed and developed components and bills of material of Gýrol™ fluid drives to meet customer orders. Created General arrangements and general assembly drawings for fluid drives for customer approvals. Worked to help establish department specifications and standards. Created 3-D models and 2-D drawings in Inventor for components being modified. Performed review of components removed from dismantled fluid drives for customer rework approval. Specified chroming and machining requirements for shafts and replacement requirements of worn components. Compiled inspection reports for review by clients. Input fluid drive bills of material into the ERP system.
Solutia, Inc. / Eastman Chemical Company, Trenton, MI October 2013 – June 2021
Manufacturer of materials and specialty chemicals for thermoplastic polyurethane interlayers for laminated glass, aftermarket window films, protective barrier and conductive films, and rubber processing chemicals.
Project Engineer / Lead
Designed and led projects from concept through checkout and installation of chemical processing equipment. Managed contractors for installation and project checkout and monitored newly installed equipment for quality operation of startup.
Improved the hydrolysis process with the design of the reactor and associated piping for the replacement of the failing reactor; included redesigned piping runs and a water heating system associated with the job.
Streamlined the polymerization system:
oRedesigned three, 3000-gallon reactor kettles and associated piping for the replacement of three failing reactors and standardizing the piping runs similar for each of the three reactors.
oImproved system efficiency and maintenance access by relocating heat exchangers for the system to the roof level and incorporated additional valving to allow for sub-cooling for the fluids.
oManaged installation of reactors and piping and replaced structural components of building supports for reactors during installation. Instrumental in correct fabrication of piping, numbering and labeling tie-in points, and sequencing installation of components.
oRealized less than 10% of piping required modification on field installation.
Created a rework processing system for the processing of rejected material interfacing with operations and maintenance, which allowed re-introduction of that material into the existing production system.
Collaborated with the manufacturer of an improved distillation column. Inspected and approved the column design and further implemented improvements to realize reduced time between tray clean-outs, and reduction in plugging following grade changes. Facilitated changes to ensure a robust support structure for the additional weight.
Created and coordinated the installation of natural gas / diesel fuel supply for temporary boiler installation for plant use during steam supplier downtime to allow continuous plant operation in less than five weeks.
Supported product quality by assuming a lab analyst position for testing both in-process product and final product in the quality lab. Tested for cloud points; checked laminations, volatiles, % solids, acid, and organics using titration equipment, gas chromatograph, and other typical lab equipment used for quality testing.
Howden North America Inc., Canton, MI October 2007 – April 2012
Fabricator of Gýrol™ Fluid Drives, lubrication skids, and lubrication sets for use in power transmission for fans, pumps, and other variable speed drive applications such as motor / generator sets and fans.
Design Engineer / Project Lead
Primary engineer overseeing the timely development and delivery of drafting, manufacturing, and purchasing components, drawings, P&IDs, termination drawings, monitoring, constructed testing plans, and customized the installation including creating operations manuals meeting client specifications.
Specified instrumentation; designed piping runs; ensured proper connection, flow, cooling, coupling style, and sub-base requirements for orders, including welding specifics, paint specifics, galvanization, and severe climate precautions.
Led value stream mapping, LEAN manufacturing, and future state within the engineering department including 5S efforts.
Standardized, created, and updated internal drafting practice, including engineering bill of materials, file management, and keyword use for items and bills of materials.
Directed the restructuring of data for the plant change to Dynamics AX ERP system.
Developed a new 198 Class 6 fluid drive with special low-profile body and linkage.
U.S. GreenFiber, LLC, Charlotte, NC April 2002 – August 2004
Quality-conscious, low-cost provider of Cocoon™ light density cellulose insulation.
Design Application Engineer
Designed and developed the new equipment and the method of application for cellulose insulation, a new machine for use in surfacing the wall sprayed insulation and multiple trials to allow development of above items for use in commercial applications. Collaborated with adhesive supplier to create special adhesive for the application. Responsible for documentation of the same.
Duracell, Inc., Lancaster, SC December 1997 – December 2001
The world’s leading manufacturer of alkaline and lithium batteries.
Manufacturing Engineer / Project Engineer
Streamlined the manufacturing success of cell assembly, metals, and anode departments. Improved assigned cell line efficiency 15%. Improved consolidation-end down time by 85%. Installed 1,200-liter plow blender, dust collection houses, sound abatement housing on nail making, sifting equipment, and dust control systems.
Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, WI August 1990 – December 1997
The worldwide manufacturing leader of pulp and paper products.
Maintenance Engineer (Beech Island, SC) December 1996 – December 1997
Implemented both preventative maintenance and grade change activity parts for diaper lines from fluff forming end to case packer.
Plant Engineer / Project Manager (Beech Island, SC) June 1994 – December 1996
Retrofitted multiple machine sections and coordinated with contractors, engineers, and maintenance; supported startup of both plant and staff sponsored projects ensuring installation success.
Staff Engineer, Infant Care Engineering (Neenah, WI) August 1990 – June 1994
Coordinated projects across plants in the U.S.A. and Canada, including all aspects of project management at the staff level involving converting equipment. Solely responsible for capital projects to $500,000
EDUCATION
University of Michigan at Dearborn, Dearborn, MI
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mathematics (BSE-Math)
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL SKILLS
Lean Champion Training, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center
Facilitator Training, Columbia, SC
Howden Academy, Glasgow, Scotland
ERP systems: JobBoss E2, Baan LN, Microsoft Dynamics AX, and SAP; CAD programs: AutoCAD, Inventor, Solidworks, Navisworks, Cadam, ME10; Commonly used programs: Microsoft Suite, MS Project and MS Outlook.
Contact this candidate