Senior Scientist - Polymers, Materials & QC Leadership

`Ronald A. Andrekanic

412-***-**** ******@*******.***

White Oak, PA 15131 linkedin.com/in/ronaldandrekanic

Technical Summary:

Senior Scientist and Quality Control Leader Specializing in,Polymers, Coatings. Resins, Materials & Industrial Chemicals

●Leader driven and initiated and manage R&D technical projects for innovation and product improvement.

● Collaborated work assignments and technical programs with QC/plant operations to optimize sales/marketing/commercial/business development including procurement and supply chain initiatives.

●Quality Control leader to oversee testing requirements, C of A, method development and database approval of resins compounds, films in a plant operation for manufacturing support and customer applications.

●Practice and utilize skill sets using quality statistical tools for GMP manufacturing process improvement, evaluating, and solving customer complaint and skill sets to determine Root Cause analysis, and vendor and customer issues. SCARS, 5S, and MOC associated methods plus experience in streamlining quality management systems.

●Have ability to adapt and be agile, meet expectations, and needs amid constant changes and advancement of technology through innovative practices to include laboratory/application automation and robotics.

●Proactive as a leader directed to direct work assignments to chemists and technicians and in charge to hire, supervise, coach and mentor diverse technical team players

●Have establish professional credentials and recognitions through active participation in high profile technical organizations, conferences, and IP initiatives.

●Responsible in previous roles to collaborate with vendors and manufactures and support cross functional teams to oversee, recommend and purchase new product portfolios for lab consumables, chemicals & new equipment needs.

●Leader for new opportunities and networking with customer service and sales /marketing groups to develop strategies to address and identify key players for new products and solutions for business improvements.

●Experience with direct hands-on skills in operating and understanding analytical instrumentation including, mechanical & physical property equipment, GPC/SEC, SEM/OM, FTIR, Capillary Rheometer, wet chemistry/fractionation.

●Successfully managed research projects, collaborated with cross-functional teams, and applied analytical testing methodologies to support the development and commercialization of new products. I have experience working with multifunctional teams to help and support technical research and analytical reports and presentations to find new business opportunities, customer needs and requirements for various market segments.

●Demonstrated the flexibility and agility to operate independently, use good business judgement and practices and have strong organizational, time management and communication skills to effectively learn and support growth opportunities.

Key Strengths

QC Supervisory Experience Leadership Polymer & Material Science Researcher Quality Statistical Tool ISO9001

Project Management Team Mentoring Lab Safety Improvements Communication Lean Six Sigma Quality Management

SQC Database Management Systems LIMSOracle- LabSoft Product Development ASTM/ISO Testing Polymer Synthesis

Analytical Testing Mechanical Testing Plastic Extrusion& Injection Molding Plastic Additives Quality Assurance

Relevant Experience

Chase Corporation ·Pittsburgh, Pa Oct 2021– Present

Team Lead Quality Control -Resin Design and Humiseal

Quality Control Testing Lead of the Resin Design products for manufacturing at the Zeta Pittsburgh operation.

Support R and D staff at the Pittsburgh facility to develop and optimized the quality assurance of testing improvements for Resin Design products. Supported and developed testing parameters and specifications in the Oracle data system for streamlining quality control information, testing characterization and C of A requirements.

Advance knowledge and experience in testing techniques for both Humiseal and Resin Design high performance products and applications related to epoxy, urethane acrylics, silicones, and UV curable chemistry and technology.

Managed the review process of production batches, batch ticket compounding and formulation records and documented results using Minitab and Statistical Process Control (SPC) methods to monitor and identify QC parameters to improve manufacturing throughput and QC efficiency.

Integral member of the batch audit system for reviewing critical products to improve process optimization related to compounding, mixing, degassing of finished products. Look and ways to eliminate issues in batch production, and inconsistencies and overall improve efficiency.

Provided on hands QC inspection of packaging of finished good products in syringes/cartridges, bulk and film form for final production and customer approval. (i.e., automotive, IATF 16949, aerospace)

Collaborated with operations, engineering, R and D to determine if a new or updates to SOPs parameters were needed for QC testing improvements and production process protocols.

Integral QC team member of site safety programs and 5S improvements, building and lab safety observations and ways to support an ongoing and healthy safety culture.

Braskem, Pittsburgh, Pa. 2010 - 2019

Analytical Lab Manager/Analytical Chemist and Staff Scientist

Supervised and developed a highly skilled team of eight at the I&T Center. Team was responsible to provide support and solve problems using techniques such as thermal analysis, rheology, microscopy, physical testing, spectroscopy, and chromatography (including size exclusion, gas and liquid). Delegated work assignments and of testing needs and requirements for support of R and D, technical service, catalyst, and new product development.

●Led co-ordination of testing and quality standardization across labs in Brazil, Germany and the USA for polyolefins.

●Coordinated projects and assignments with team members including new analytical method development and novel testing techniques for testing of polymer, resins, and various plastic additives and compounds.

●Established and maintained fixed costs and capital budget for the team on an annual basis, while striving to operate in a cost-efficient manner. (Lab- SAP management for budget & capex costs within 1MM-2MM.)

●Directed the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and assigned projects and responsibilities

to team members that enhanced staff performance while ensuring quality and cost efficiency.

●Provided knowledge and data to global teams, including new product development, catalyst development,

tech service, customers, plant /QC to solving problems & developing solutions in a collaborative manner.

● Improved lab efficiency, output, and timelines by 30% through team cross-training, lab automation (robotics) initiatives, and new and improved instrument acquisitions that led to quality and productivity gains.

●Conducted research on the structures and properties of materials, such as polymers, industrial chemicals and additives to obtain information that could be used to develop new products or enhance existing ones.

●Provided training programs, staff educational in-services, safety leadership, health, environmental, including compliance and regulatory issues (i.e., FDA, OSHA, EPA) and updates to current and new employees.

Additional Relevant Experience

Sunoco Inc and Aristech Chemical, (legacy companies of Braskem) Pittsburgh, Pa. 1985-2009

Polymer Research Chemist and Scientist

●Planned, designed, and conducted Planned, designed, and conducted R&D polymer and material science synthesis projects that contributed to advance product, process improvements and raw materials for business development initiatives.

●Lead R and D synthesis efforts working with various polymers (e.g. polypropylene, polyesters, vinyl plasticizers and multiple industrial chemicals) for testing and characterization/methodologies for new product initiatives to support manufacturing and cross functional business teams.

●Executed and supported technical research, literature searches, and experimental analysis on new polymer resin formulations and chemicals that supported technical documentation, presentations, intellectual property patents and publications.

● R&D polymer and material science synthesis projects that contributed to advance product, process improvements and raw materials for business development initiatives.

●Executed and supported technical research, literature searches, and experimental analysis on new polymer resin formulations and chemicals that supported technical documentation, presentations, intellectual property patents and publications.

Education

University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA Master’s Degree in Material Science and Engineering

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Bachelor's Degree Polymer Science

Patents and Publications

Publication number 200******** Type: Application "Impact copolymers having improved properties"

Patent number:6649716 Type: Grant " Polymerization alpha-methylstyrene"

Publication number: 200******** Type: Application "Polymerization of alpha-methylstryene"

Patent number 5780546 Type: Grant "Bisphenol-A based polymer having low organic emissions"

Patent number: 5741873 Type: Grant “Low Organic Emission Resins"

SPI Conference Papers and Presentations (1988-1990)“Novel Polyester Resins for Automotive Applications”

Professional and Leadership Achievements

●ASTM International: American Standard Testing and Methods

Member Since 2001-2022-Chairman of D20.40 Committee: Optical Properties

Key Contributor to Mechanical, Rheology, Chromatography and Spectroscopy Committee

●Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE)

Attended many technical conferences associated with SPE/SACP (e.g. ANTEC, SPI, Pittcon/Automotive).

●Society of Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh (SACP)

SACP is dedicated to the education of the community, future scientists & STEM programs in our schools.

●STEM Plastivan Program Participant & Leader (2014-2019) AMA Leadership Training Certification (2017- 2019)

●Advanced user of statistical tools (e.g., D.O.E., Minitab, JMP ), White Belt lean Six Sigma Certification Course 2020 Additonal Experience

Clark Testing Labs, Jefferson Hills, Pa.-Chemist 2021

●Responsible for various wet chemistry and titration testing and analysis which included: forms of iron, PCA testing, total sulfur, nitrogen chemiluminescence, oil film weight determinations, pH, total moisture & solid loss.

●Prepared various acid-based digestion methodologies via microwave, wet chemistry and borate flux fused ashing techniques on various materials including industrial and rare earth minerals, paints, agricultural products, ceramics, carbon-based ores/metals and petroleum products used for elemental metal analyses.

●Performed Industrial Hygiene NIOSH gravimetric methods and total respirable dust/particulate measurements on coal/tar pitch volatiles oven emissions, oil mist, and benzene soluble fractions. Established new and updated internal wet chemistry SOP documentation for testing and process quality control improvements and for ISO 17025 accreditation auditing and AIHA requirements.

-United States Postal Service: May 2020 - Jan 2021 MHA/CCA/PSE -Irwin and Pittsburgh, Pa.

-Amazon: May 2020 to Oct 2020 - Grocery Shopper for Whole Food Markets, Pittsburgh, Pa

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