Product Development General Manager

STEVEN HEINRICH

Beverly Hills, MI, *****, United States +1-248-***-**** **************@*********.*** WWW: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-heinrich-6977745 Professional Summary

Senior Automotive Executive with 35+ years of global experience leading engineering, manufacturing, and product development in EV systems, BMS, and embedded electronics. Proven success managing $250M+ product launches, plant operations, and cross-functional teams across North America, Mexico and India. Strong background in electric vehicle innovation and automotive electronics, cost optimization, and full lifecycle program management. Adept in aligning technology, operations, and strategy to drive growth and profitability.

Skills

• Crisis Management

• Strategic Leadership

• Stakeholder Engagement

• Embedded Systems Design

• Innovation & Problem Solving

• Electric Vehicle (EV) Systems

• Vehicle Electronics Systems and Protocols

• Global Engineering Management

• Manufacturing Plant Management

• Injection Molding Operations

• Program & Project Management

• Decision-Making Under Pressure

• Mentorship & Talent Development

• Cross-Functional Team Management

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)

• A2LA 17025 Product Validation & Testing

Work Experience

General Manager – New Business Pursuit and Launch 05/2022 to Current Methode Electronics Southfield, Michigan, United States

• Assumed full P&L ownership and strategic leadership for the Automotive Power Products Division amid organizational restructuring.

• Partnered with Sales and Finance to pursue and win $185M in new EV programs within 12 months, exceeding business acquisition targets.

• Directed the launch of $250M in new product lines, integrating Sales, Engineering, Manufacturing, Testing, and Quality teams under unified project delivery goals.

• Established program governance structure and reporting dashboards to improve launch readiness and accountability across functions.

• Negotiated cross-functional alignment with global stakeholders to streamline product ramp-up, reducing time-to-launch by 15%.

• Implemented KPI-based review processes that enhanced visibility and performance tracking across early-stage EV programs.

General Manager – Mexico Operations / Plant Manager 05/2019 to 04/2022 Methode Electronics Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

• Oversaw all operations at the Santa Catarina plant with 1,200+ employees and over $70M in annual revenue.

• Led functional teams across injection molding, painting, digital imagery printing, optical bonding, customer service, inventory, MP&L, and clean-room assembly.

• Lead A2LA 17025 accredited accredited validation lab facilities and all production validation testing.

• Lead Advanced Manufacturing teams responsible for designing, fabricating and certifying all assembly lines for the plant.

• Increased inventory turns by 2x and cut inventory costs by 50% through improved demand planning and floor space optimization.

• Improved on-time delivery from 96% to 99.5% and reduced internal scrap rates by 10–50% through Lean Six Sigma initiatives.

• Enhanced OEE across departments by up to 10% by standardizing machine setups and real-time performance monitoring.

• Successfully maintained full operations during the COVID-19 crisis and global resin shortages while leading global EHS protocol design.

Chief Engineer NAA and Director of Launch NAA 12/2011 to 04/2019 Methode Electronics Southfield, Michigan, United States

• Directed all engineering initiatives across North America, from concept to production, for automotive and industrial applications.

• Oversaw launch quality and cost performance in partnership with Manufacturing, Quality, and Procurement teams.

• Led the creation of the Global Engineering Team, defining long-term strategies, tooling standardization, and engineering specialization.

• Fostered global collaboration across US, EU, Asia, India and Mexico regions, reducing engineering cycle time by 20%.

• Took over management of Industrial Controls and Medical Divisions in 2014 and assumed program launch ownership in 2018.

• Reorganized and scaled the NA engineering team to support expanded product development and regional integration.

Engineering Manager Battery Management Systems EV 05/2010 to 12/2011 LGCPI, Inc. Troy, Michigan, United States

• Recruited and led multi-functional engineering team for BMS product development supporting hybrid and electric vehicles.

• Managed end-to-end development for three OEM programs across US and Europe, from design through validation.

• Supervised ECAD, harness design, embedded systems, and high-voltage lab testing to ensure full system compliance.

• Served as primary liaison with OEMs and suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of technical milestones and feedback loops.

• Developed reusable “bookshelf” architectures and processes to streamline future EV program launches.

• Managed program budgeting, hiring, roadmap planning, and risk mitigation across internal and external teams.

Engineering Manager – Interior Electronics 07/2002 to 04/2010 Visteon Corporation Van Buren Township, Michigan, United States

• Led design and development of 15+ Driver Information System and Center Stack programs across MY05–MY09 product lines.

• Directed multidisciplinary engineering teams (mechanical, electrical, software, manufacturing) across all development phases.

• Recognized for “perfect launches” by both engineering and manufacturing teams for innovation and execution quality.

• Ensured all program launches met deadlines despite late-stage customer changes, with 0 MIS in first 90 days of production.

• Developed detailed project timelines and engineering schedules to ensure cross-functional alignment.

• Created and scaled “HOT Management” model, which became an internal standard for team leadership and program delivery.

Program Manager–Silicon Development – Embedded MP 01/2001 to 06/2002 Visteon Corporation Allen Park, Michigan, United States

• Managed silicon design and development for next-gen instrument cluster platforms across teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.

• Delivered custom microprocessor architecture with enhanced features, resulting in $1M+ annual cost savings and reduced warranty claims.

• Collaborated with global engineering and design partners to streamline silicon development and platform validation.

• Reduced material costs while increasing performance and scalability across vehicle models.

• Served as key liaison between embedded teams, product planning, and executive leadership.

• Integrated cross-functional execution plans to align silicon milestones with product development timelines.

Technology Planner – Driver Information Systems 01/2000 to 01/2001 Visteon Corporation Allen Park, Michigan, United States

• Coordinated technology planning across quoting, business development, hardware/software design, and marketing teams.

• Chaired global Technology Council to align engineering innovation with business strategy across NA, EU, and Asia.

• Drove strategic planning that led to engineering org restructuring and technology roadmap creation.

• Directed integration of market forecasts and technical feasibility for next-gen driver information systems.

• Managed platform timelines and future tech planning in coordination with cross-functional leaders.

• Led coordination for internal development, positioning Visteon as an innovation leader in the segment. Lead Engineer – Driver Information Systems 01/1998 to 12/1999 Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan, United States

• Led the electrical design and validation of multi-processor instrument clusters for global OEM platforms.

• Ensured FMVSS and homologation compliance, including head impact and EMC validation standards.

• Designed test plans and provided factory automation specs to ensure successful high-volume launch readiness.

• Oversaw coordination with ECAD, software, and mechanical teams to ensure product integration.

• Supported full product lifecycle from concept through production support and quality handoff.

• Delivered successful program launches while improving diagnostic reliability and manufacturability. Manufacturing Engineer – Electronics Division 01/1995 to 12/1997 Ford Motor Company Lansdale, Pennsylvania, United States

• Led end-to-end design and commissioning of a $6M+ assembly line for electronic sensor manufacturing.

• Authored technical specifications for control systems, PLCs, CIM systems, and facilities integration.

• Managed unionized skilled trades and final line installation, achieving aggressive timelines and quality benchmarks.

• Rated top engineer in plant for three consecutive years due to innovation and leadership on the factory floor.

• Executed debug and startup protocols that ensured safe launch and reduced post-production downtime.

• Introduced “Quick Launch” playbooks that improved productivity and line stability during initial ramp- ups.

Electrical Engineer-Ford Racing-Electronics Div 10/1988 to 12/1994 Ford Motor Company Dearborn, Michigan, United States

• Served as lead systems engineer for Ford's Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA racing programs.

• Designed and implemented advanced telemetry, powertrain control, and cockpit display systems for elite motorsports teams.

• Reduced weight and failure rates by introducing LCD multi-display cockpits that replaced analog gauges.

• Supported engine calibration and vehicle telemetry validation using dyno testing and trackside data systems.

• Designed high-speed data acquisition and communication systems for endurance and turbocharged platforms.

• Collaborated with race teams and engineering groups to deliver electronics solutions for competitive advantage.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• U.S. Patent Holder (2008): Developed an innovative low-cost continuous rotary knob design using simple molded plastic components, eliminating traditional electronic encoders in HVAC automotive systems.

• Two-Time Emmy Award Winner (1991, 1993): Recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for designing and implementing real-time in-car telemetry systems combined with onboard cameras for NASCAR broadcasts.

• Vehicle Restoration & Recognition (2020–2023): Partnered with a local company to restore iconic vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s; earned multiple prestigious awards in the U.S. and Canada. One vehicle featured in a national magazine in 2021.

• Industry Publication & Conference Speaker (1996): Published author of “Design, Implementation, and Case Study of an Automated Flexible Assembly System” and featured speaker at the Strategic Manufacturing Conference hosted by Lehigh University.

• Executive Program Launch Leadership (2005): Nominated for Visteon's “Leading the Way” award after delivering MY05 automotive electronics programs recognized internally as “best in class” for engineering and manufacturing excellence.

• Competitive Racing Engineering Leadership (1988–1994): Designed and managed advanced vehicle electronics systems—including engine management, engine calibration, telemetry, cockpit display systems and data logging devices—for Ford's Formula-1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and IMSA racing teams.

• Early Innovation in Motorsports Data Systems (1988): Independently designed a complete data acquisition and post-race analysis system featuring an LCD display, embedded microprocessor, and ultra-low-power memory, later adapted for professional motorsport use. Education and Training

MBA: Executive Master of Business Administration 08/1999 to 05/2001 Michigan State University Troy, Michigan, USA

Master of Science: Degree in Electrical Engineering 08/1986 to 10/1988 The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, USA

Bachelor of Science: Degree in Electrical Engineering 08/1982 to 06/1986 The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, USA

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