Plant Manager/Superintendent

Thomas Kuchemann

**** * ***. **, ***** Rapids, IA. 52405

319-***-**** / *******@***.***

Operations Management - Sales and Marketing - Strategic Planning - Financial Analysis

Qualifying Skills and Competencies:

Multiple Plant Operations Statistical Process Control Project Management

Lean Manufacturing/6S/TPM LEAN Tool Utilization Labor Relations/Negotiations

High Performance Work Teams Root Cause Analysis Vendor Negotiations

Full P&L Responsibility Value Stream Mapping ERP/MRP

Sales and Marketing HACCP/BRC/AIB Cert. Utilities Management

Professional Employment:

SunOpta Ingredients – Cedar Rapids, IA and Galesburg IL. September 2004 – Present

SunOpta manufactures and distributes healthy food products and ingredients world wide.

Plant Manager- Fiber and Starch April 2008 - Present

Top ranking manager at two food grade grain milling/corn starch and blending manufacturing locations. Responsibilities include management of production, maintenance, quality, shipping, receiving and materials. Interface with customers and sales for matching products, handling systems and applications for product lines. Manage $20.0 MM annual operating budget. Manage capital budget/P&L and operating projects for plants. Plant team facilitator and change agent for Operation’s team and Continuous Improvement and LEAN initiatives. Knowledgeable in general food science, microbiological and environmental programs. Knowledgeable in heavy utilities including gas, electric and sewer. Inventory reduction champion.

Plant Manager – Cedar Rapids, IA September 2004 – April 2008

Accomplishments:

• Facilitated and established Mass Balance Flows and support equipment for fiber and starch processes.

• Team member for patent development for new continuous-flow soy fiber process.

• Project Champion on new roll dried starch product. Commercialized production model.

• Championed $1.5 MM, 35% capacity increase for soy fiber expansion project.

• Commercialized soy fiber production levels from pilot plant to commercial scale.

• Facilitated successful AIB, FPA and BRC certifications process for local facilities.

• Increased oat fiber production by 50% with zero capital expense.

• Increased specialty starch production in Galesburg facility by 30% thus reducing product cost by 20%.

• Scaled-up plant production, schedule and staffing from 24/5 to 24/7.

• Championed LEAN projects in 2007-2011 for over $1.5 mm in annual cost savings.

• Recognized 2009/2010 (two periods) Division leader for plant operations.

• Project Champion for 2010/2011 - $3.5 MM, 30% plant expansion project.

Diskin Systems Inc. – Crystal Lake, IL. (Family Business Start-up) February 2004 – September 2004

Diskin Systems manufactures and distributes innovative new products to the car wash industry nationwide.

Assist President with company start-up, product development and patent activities for the Air Shammee product line. Developed five-year business plan highlighting all sales, marketing and operating financial activities relative to sales forecasts. Developed assembly, supply vendors and distribution programs. Assisted with product launch and start-up sales initiatives.

Sonoco Corrflex Display and Packaging - Iowa City, IA. March 2000 – January 2004

Corrflex Display and Packaging specializes in the design, manufacture, assembly, packaging and fulfillment of Point-Of-Purchase corrugated displays and products for manufacturing and retail. ISO/AIB/FDA/DEA certifications.

Sales Manager May 2002 – January 2004

Responsible for start-up of the Midwest B2B Sales and Marketing initiatives for contract assembly, packaging and fulfillment services. Responsible for the development and training of the regional sales program. Lead team of Sales and Customer Service representatives. Establish new sales and up-sell sales program to reduce customer total delivered costs. Set customer price and contribution margin levels for new customers and projects utilizing plant P&L, job costing, project estimating and EBIT guidelines.

Kuchemann: Page 2

Production Manager March 2000 – May 2002

Responsible for managing a 24/7, assembly/packaging department with 500 permanent and temporary employees. Responsibilities included P&L, production and materials planning, scheduling, purchasing, customer service, maintenance and distribution. Instrumental in implementing LEAN manufacturing methods and training. Manage the operating and capital budgets for the above departments and plant. Acting Plant Manager in the absence of formal Plant Manager.

Accomplishments:

• Team member on start-up of 315,000 square foot assembly/distribution plant. Responsible for plant and utilities layout, equipment purchase, relocation logistics and operations start-up.

• Reduced rework expenses by over 50 percent through Statistical Process Control and sampling.

• Increased production efficiencies by an average of 22 percent, through use of LEAN and CI manufacturing techniques, improved production and materials scheduling, preventative maintenance programs and facilities layout.

• Team leader on corporate team to reduce packaging material expenses. Saved $250K during first year through comprehensive vendor selection program and price/contract negotiations.

• Quoted $4.0 MM in new business for first 18 months of the new sales program. Developed Sales and Marketing materials for corporate assembly, packaging and fulfillment operations. Established new sales territories and responsibilities.

City Carton Co., Inc. / Greenfield Energy – Iowa City, IA. November 1995 – March 2000

Regional Plant Manager – Iowa City / Davenport IA. November 1999 – March 2000

Promoted to this position. Operations responsibilities for two operating plants (75,000 annual ton, 80 employees) including plant production, maintenance, logistics/transportation, sales and marketing. Additional responsibilities included management of corporate safety program, sales and marketing of corporation’s non-paper grade products, and relations with supply customers and paper mills. Accountable for plant profit and loss/ financial analysis for projects. Pricing of new business and markets.

Plant Manager – Iowa City, IA. November 1995 – November 1999

Accomplishments:

• Increased annual production by 15 percent through Continuous Improvement - manufacturing methods/plant layout.

• Reduced operating costs, per ton of material processed saving $150K annually.

• Increased processing equipment run time by 10 percent through efficient production and maintenance scheduling, and implementation of Total Preventative Maintenance Program.

• Created production, safety and quality tracking models using Excel spreadsheets and other specialized support software.

• Established and maintained plant operating budgets.

Penford Products Company – Cedar Rapids, IA. November 1992 – November1995

Facility Manager May 1995 – November 1995

Safety Supervisor January 1994 – April 1995

Operations Team Leader November 1992 – January 1994

Orville Redenbacher Popcorn/Con-Agra – Valparaiso, IN. October 1989 – November 1992

Warehouse Manager November 1991 – November 1992

Production Team Leader October 1989 – November 1991

Education:

December 2002 University of Iowa - Iowa City, IA.

Masters of Business Administration.

May 1989 University of Wisconsin - Platteville, WI.

B.S. Industrial Technology

Minors: Industrial Power and Control Systems /Business Administration

References: Available upon request.

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