Supply Chain Product Manager

Michael Layton

Cartersville, Georgia

316-***-**** ***********@*****.*** https://Linkedin.com/in/michael-layton-71690086

Summary

A seasoned professional with over 28 years of experience in the aerospace industry and aftermarket, offering a unique blend of technical, business, and leadership expertise. Proficient in Quality Management systems, including AS9001, SQCD, and Six Sigma, with a strong foundation in Supply Chain Management and Production Planning. Expertise encompasses Cross-Functional Team Leadership, focused on establishing Go-to-Market plans, Data-Driven Decision Making, and a customer-centric approach, yielding high-quality results, operational efficiency, and success in dynamic environments. Lean Manufacturing Specialist.

Educational History

Friends University – Wichita, KS

Bachelor of Administration, Business Management

Professional History

Textron GSE Aug 2024 - Jul 2025

Aftermarket Product Manager Cartersville, GA

•Led the Excessive and Obsolete (E&O) process at Textron GSE, coordinating with Finance, Station Managers, Supply Chain, and SLT to review and reduce surplus parts across multiple locations; drove measurable outcomes by freeing warehouse space and generating over $400,000 in cash within four months.

•Collaborated with colleagues and cross-functional teams to ensure high-velocity parts were available at the point of use for seasonal products like Deicers and Air starts, reducing reliance on longer lead times from the Swedish warehouse, which resulted in improved inventory turnover and shortened turnaround times for airport shops.

•Directed a marketing project that produced a video showcasing two GSE products, used by Sales during customer calls; researched design, engineering, manufacturing, and performance details, co-wrote the script with SLT approval, and featured as the lead in the training segment to drive user understanding and engagement.

•Partnered with multiple airport shops in Lean Manufacturing Kaizen events focusing on 6S organization to prioritize safety and enhance shop usability, involving managers and technicians from various departments to boost productivity, enhance morale, and reduce customer unit downtime.

•Facilitated production floor tours for new office employees and interns, emphasizing critical thinking, quality, and safety in manufacturing, aircraft assembly, and automotive work, while fostering a culture focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Textron Aviation Defense Jan 2021 - Aug 2024

Product Manager Wichita, KS

•Collaborated with international partners to coordinate the procurement and delivery of parts and materials essential for aircraft fleet operations, ensuring alignment with USG requirements and optimizing product support processes.

•Managed the flow of defective parts through the Repair and Return process by engaging with Customs, third-party shippers, internal Supply Chain teams, and vendors to identify root causes, secure necessary approvals, and facilitate timely shipments, thereby maintaining operational readiness.

•Oversaw management of External Fuel Tanks (EFT) and Pylons critical for international aircraft deliveries, supporting sales initiatives in foreign military programs and ensuring compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations.

•Functioned as the primary liaison for the EFT manufacturer, facilitating effective communication across TAD departments and collaborating with engineering teams to relay essential feedback, aligning product requirements with performance outcomes.

•Developed and implemented a comprehensive system for monitoring EFTs at each stage—including vendor sites, transit, receiving, painting, storage, and delivery—integrating data tracking to support continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

•Coordinated with USG international customers to manage the flow of parts and consumables for in-country aircraft maintenance, balancing ITAR regulations, logistics complexities, and trade compliance to ensure sustained operational effectiveness.

Textron Aviation Nov 2019 - Jan 2021

Customer Quality Engineer Wichita, KS

•Utilized Root Cause and Corrective Action (RCCA) methodologies to systematically investigate part failures in privately owned aircraft, encompassing both small and large commercial fleets.

•Collaborated extensively with internal departments—including Reliability, Structure and Stress, and Operating Systems—to research and resolve customer issues.

•Compiled findings into comprehensive PowerPoint presentations, integrating data from multiple sources such as vendors, to provide customers with a single, authoritative point of contact detailing cause-and-effect outcomes.

•Coordinated with the Legal department to ensure all customer-facing materials complied with company policies and regulations.

•Achieved an approximate 10% reduction in production line failures across various aircraft operating systems.

•Enhanced customer satisfaction significantly, receiving commendations from senior leadership and customers.

Textron Aviation Sep 2018 - Nov 2019

Supplier Warranty Administration Wichita, KS

•Oversaw the management and flow of parts that failed in the field, ensuring efficient removal and return processes from Textron Aviation's customers.

•Collaborated directly with both internal and external customers to facilitate asset recovery, supporting either integration into the rotable parts pool or cost reclamation from vendor accounts.

•Partnered closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to deliver comprehensive analyses and propose operational improvements for enhanced business performance.

•Managed relationships with over 120 vendors, strengthening customer satisfaction through meticulous attention to detail, thorough understanding of each vendor's Product Support Agreement, and diligent vendor accountability.

•Increased claims processing throughput by 25% over the previous administrator.

•Conducted site visits at multiple vendor locations to evaluate operational processes and provide recommendations for improvement. Several vendors noted that it was their first interaction with a Textron Aviation representative since establishing their partnership.

Textron Aviation Commercial and Defense

Final Line Tech / Lean MFG Specialist

Nov 1997 - Sep 2018

Wichita, KS

•Led multiple Quality, Safety, and 6S Lean Manufacturing Audits.

•Served in various roles, including Line Assembler, Composite & Sheet Metal Mechanic, Substructure Assembler, Tooling, Experimen- tal, and Planning functions.

•Certified Green Belt Specialist – Collaborated with teams of varying sizes to develop a well-organized workplace by implementing Lean Manufacturing tools such as 6S.

•Played a key role in the efficient relocation of two separate production lines to new facilities.

•Directed a team of over 300 members to reorganize and optimize production line layouts using Six Sigma methodologies.

•Provided training to more than 200 individuals in sheet metal and composite processes. By utilizing custom-developed training slides, productivity increased and quality escapes on aircraft were significantly reduced.

Artistic Limousine Aug 1998 - Sep 2021

Chauffeur Wichita, KS

•A lead chauffeur responsible for transportation services for various groups. This role involves meeting specific customer requirements and driving clients, including celebrities, between hotels and venues.

Skills

•Process Improvement: Six Sigma – Green Belt Certification in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Problem Solving / RCCA, Training, Graphic Work Instruction (GWI), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Process Optimization

•Supply Chain / Logistics / Aftermarket: Supplier Warranty Processes, Salesforce, SAP, MRP, DCMA Processes, PSA, SOW, Import

& Export, ITAR Regulations, Trade Compliance, Third Party Shippers, Contracts for Commercial & Defense Customers

•Quality Management: Customer Quality Engineer, SQCD, MRB, QMS, ISO 9001/AS9100

•Management: Led groups in a variety of settings by Go-To-Market practices.

•Manufacturing / Production: Composite & Sheet Metal Fabrication, Final Line Assembly, Aircraft Systems, Blueprint, MIL Specifications, Graphic Work Instruction (GWI), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

•Additional skills: Environmental Health & Safety, Customer Relationships, Microsoft Office / 365, Valid US Passport & DL, Training, Innovative, Detail Oriented, Team Player, OSHA Experince.

Graduated

2017

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