VP/Director/Manager Engineering, Product Development

CHUCK ZEGRATI

*** ***** *******, *********, ** **010

805-***-****; *********@*****.***

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Engineering Management Professional with MS Mechanical Engineering and MBA, plus over 20 years of experience and progressive responsibilities in managing and building successful engineering and product development organizations for manufacturers of a wide range of products Demonstrated ability to initiate and sustain profitable growth while ensuring quality. Provided strategic vision, organizational and motivational leadership to cross-functional teams in Asia, Europe and the United States.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Harbor Freight Tools, LLC. Camarillo CA May 2006- Jan 2010

A retail company with a wide variety of products (industrial equipments, pumps, compressors, valves, generators, welders, power tools, etc.) manufactured globally.

Sr. Director of Engineering and Quality Assurance

Responsible for managing product quality, engineering, new product development, test labs and interaction with global suppliers on all technical/engineering issues

• Enhanced product reliability and functionality by reviewing the product design and working with global suppliers to implement design and manufacturing process improvements.

• Managed product testing and evaluation methodologies.

• Worked with global suppliers in development of new products and benchmarking.

• Managed technical interaction and cooperation with global suppliers (China, India, Taiwan)

• Established testing Labs (including facilities, equipments, staffing, methodologies, etc.) in Oxnard, CA and Shanghai, China.

• Evaluated/assessed the factories’ capabilities and capacity

PROFESSIONAL TOOL MANUFACTURING, LLC, Ashland, OR June 2003-November 2005

Manufacturer of a line of drill bit sharpeners (Drill Doctor Brand)

Vice President, Engineering and Product Development

Responsible for the management of the New Product Development and Project Management Processes. Responsible for all aspects of engineering (design and manufacturing), Product Management, product development, and Quality for electric powered drill bit sharpeners (Drill Doctor brand). Also responsible for identification, qualification and management of global supply chain for new product as well as existing products.

• Led the selection and implementation new set of engineering design and analysis tools (3D modeling, finite element analysis, Tolerance Stack up analysis, etc.

• Established and implemented a New Product Development Process (With Toll Gates).

• Established the use of SPC and root cause analysis methodology as well as Lean tools like Value Stream mapping in the Quality function.

• Provided effective interaction with and support to marketing, manufacturing, purchasing, and sales.

• Redesigned the complete product line and achieved significant cost reduction while improving the product performance and customer appeal.

CORKEN, INC., Oklahoma City, OK August 2000-June 2003

A unit of IDEX Corp., Corken manufactures valves, compressors and pumps for the propane, butane and anhydrous ammonia industries.

Vice President, Operations and Engineering June 2001-June 2003

In addition to maintaining the responsibility for engineering and product development/introduction, I managed the Oklahoma City operations, with direct responsibility for all aspects of manufacturing, purchasing and quality systems for production of pumps, valves, and compressors.

• Established and implemented a New Product Development Process (With Toll Gates).

• Increased profitability by over 30% and average inventory turns by 17%, while in a slow economy.

• Reduced rework by 17%, scraps by 33%, and warranty by 14%.

• Developed and introduced a methodology for Strategic Out Sourcing.

• With support from Corporate, implemented Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing methodologies.

Vice President, Engineering and Quality August 2000- June 2001

Responsible for all aspects of engineering and product development/introduction, as well as establishment of quality systems for products lines including pumps, vales and compressors for specialty gases.

• Managed the selection and implementation of new engineering tools (3D modeling, CFD, FEA, etc.).

• Established and implemented a New Product Development Process. Introduced QFD, FMEA, and DOE as the essential tools and trained the appropriate personnel from all functions.

• Managed the Engineering and Quality functions by organizing, allocating financial resources (multi-million dollar budget), staffing, guiding, coaching, developing, and evaluating groups of engineering professionals.

• Provided effective interaction with and support to marketing, manufacturing, purchasing, and sales.

• Stayed abreast of state-of-the-art product and process technology and its implementation into new and existing products.

• Assessed available technical talent, tools, and methodologies, as well as business processes and procedures and the implementation of necessary improvements by training, acquiring or replacing.

• Developed and introduced a methodology for Strategic Product Planning and product platforms.

THE STANLEY WORKS, Mechanics Tools Product Group; Dallas, TX September 1995-July 2000

Director of Engineering

Directed Engineering and Technology function for Mechanics Tools Product Group (over $700M sales in 2000) with 11 production locations and 5 design centers in Asia, Europe, and the US. Managed development of new products with joint design and manufacturing teams in multiple locations in The USA, Taiwan, and Israel. Product lines include sockets, wrenches, torque wrenches, ratchets, air/power tools, toolboxes, and automotive electronic diagnostics equipment. Products were sold in consumer channels (Home Depot’s Husky Brand) as well as professional/industrial channels (MAC Tools brand and PROTO brand) and Government

• Responsible for the management of the product development process (With Toll Gates). Achieved double-digit (over 14% year over year) new products growth (more than 170% growth in new products in 5 years) and reduced development cycle time by more than 70% in same period.

• Responsible for new product development, product enhancement, establishment of quality standards, margin improvement, product evaluation and testing, packaging, patent process and product data management (PDM).

• Managed the Engineering and Technology function by organizing, allocating financial resources (multi-million dollar budget), staffing, guiding, coaching, developing, and evaluating groups of engineering professionals in Asia, Europe and US. Created strategic centers of design excellence to eliminate redundancies, leverage critical skill sets and tools, and to optimize the available talent pool and financial resources.

• Provided effective interaction with and support to marketing, manufacturing, purchasing, and sales.

• Institutionalized up-front design and analysis work by providing the right tools, training, and talent.

• Responsible for design and evaluation of sourced products (international as well as domestic).

• Upgraded the testing/product evaluation capability and capacity.

• Stayed abreast of state-of-the-art product and process technology and its implementation into new and existing products.

INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY 1984-1995

Engineering Manager, Athens, PA September 1993- September 1995

Air Tools Division

Responsible for new product development, product enhancement, margin improvement, and testing of hand held air tools. Products were sold in professional, industrial and consumer channels, with manufacturing facilities in The US and Europe. Assessed available technical talent, tools, and methodologies and implemented necessary improvements by training, replacing or acquiring the necessary resources.

Design Engineer/Project Leader, Garland, TX May 1989- September 1993

New Product Development Department, Rotary Drill Division

Lead New Product development project teams from concept to market introduction. Product lines included truck and track mounted self-propelled drilling equipment for blast holes in mining industry, shallow oil and gas wells, and water wells. Responsibilities included project management, design of mechanical components, power train components, hydraulic systems, vibration and noise reduction, air conditioning systems, as well as air induction, cooling, and exhaust systems for engines.

Design Engineer/Project Leader, Garland, TX May 1984- May 1989

Sustaining Engineering Department, Rotary Drill Division

Lead product enhancement and margin improvement projects. Responsibilities included project management, design of mechanical components, power train components, hydraulic systems, vibration and noise reduction, air conditioning systems, as well as air induction, cooling, and exhaust systems for engines.

EDUCATION

MBA; Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX,

Organizational Behavior and General Management

MS; Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK,

Mechanical Engineering

BS; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR,

Civil Engineering

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION / TRAINING

• Design Management Institute, Using Design Research for Product and Brand Innovation.

• MIT, Sloan School of Management; Implementing and Managing a Successful Product and Technology Strategy

• Six Sigma Qualtec/IDEX Corporation, Certified Six Sigma Green Belt

• ISO 9001 – 2000 Certified Lead Auditor

• Center for Creative Leadership, Leadership Development Program

• The Stanley Works, Management by Facts

• The Stanley Works, Problem Solving Training

• The Stanley Works/Kepner Tregoe, Project Management

• The Stanley Works, Global Relationship Management

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