Converting Supervisor

KIRK MEEKS, MBA

**** **** ****** ****** • Prattville, Alabama 36066

H: 334-***-**** • *******@*****.*** • C: 334-***-****

MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS / MAINTENANCE MANAGER

Results-driven manufacturing professional with a proven track record of 20+ years of operations manager and maintenance management experience contributing to the advanced performance and productivity of several paper mills, chemical plants, electronic manufacturing and metal stamping facilities. Capitalize on superior problem solving and analysis skills to quickly identify and resolve electrical and mechanical issues impacting mission-critical equipment, systems and instrumentation. Skillfully plan and coordinate the prompt delivery of preventative maintenance and repair services that maximize production uptime and efficiency while minimizing overhead costs. Build and spearhead top-performing teams consisting of unionized and salaried workers, providing the tactical direction, training and support needed to meet and exceed business goals and objectives. Core competencies include:

Manufacturing Operations • Preventative Maintenance & Equipment Repair • Project Management

Continuous Process Improvement • Problem Solving & Analysis • Safety & Quality Assurance

Budget Control • Capital Equipment Purchasing • Cost Reduction • Performance Reviews

Communication Skills • Vendor Relations • Team Building, Training & Leadership

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Montgomery, Alabama 2005 to Present

Leading US and international manufacturer of water heaters.

Maintenance Supervisor

Oversee day-to-day maintenance operations to ensure the proper functioning of all manufacturing equipment, including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Communicate daily with manufacturing operations managers to discuss equipment issues and plan maintenance activities in compliance with their production requirements. Supervise and delegate work to 3 shift leaders, engineers, and 20 technicians tasked with completing planned engineering and maintenance repairs, installing new equipment and resolving breakdowns in the field and on site as necessary. Schedule employee overtime between shifts, handle disciplinary actions and coordinate staff training programs. Utilize Kronos payroll software to track and record employee work time and attendance as well as Oracle systems to order plant equipment and required parts.

• Increased the Rheem Heater Line Department’s production uptime approximately 4% after inventing a split block assembly that resolved inherent design flaws in the original OEM installation of high-pressure mix heads, which caused hydraulic hoses to burst and manufacturing operations to stop on a regular basis.

• Improved the quality while reducing the costs of rebuilding Rheem’s resistance welders by approximately $30K annually after identifying, qualifying and selecting 2 new machine shops to complete the maintenance task.

• Optimized the efficiency of the preventative maintenance process by designing and implementing an infrared thermal analysis program to facilitate the troubleshooting of bearings, motor windings and hot spots on fuses.

• Coordinated annual training programs to instruct all maintenance mechanics on safety procedures, including the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Standard of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

• Took on additional roles on a temporary basis to support operations in the areas of engineering, plant, production, and maintenance management.

Career Notes: 1 Completed undergraduate studies in administrative sciences to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of South Alabama (2001-2004).

2 Completed graduate studies to obtain an MBA with a concentration in Industrial Management from Baker College (2006-2009).

SOUTH AFRICAN PULP & PAPER (SAPPI), Mobile, Alabama 1993 to 2001

Global producer of newsprint and magazine grade paper; formerly owned by Scott Paper Company.

KIRK MEEKS • Page 2 • *******@*****.***

Maintenance Supervisor / Technician

Served as a temporary maintenance supervisor and electrician in the converting and finishing area of the unionized paper mill. Interfaced with production superintendents to plan maintenance work on mechanical and electrical equipment in need of service and repair. Led and supervised a crew of instrument technicians and electricians tasked with performing maintenance repairs and resolving equipment breakdowns in a timely manner to minimize production downtime.

• Increased the efficiency of SAPPI’s highest-yield sheeter by 8% after successfully implementing a preventative maintenance program that leveraged a proactive approach for identifying and resolving incipient equipment failures.

• Knowledgeable in calibrating and troubleshooting electronic and pneumatic instrumentation and control valves.

• Experienced with PH controls, variable speed drives, and PLCs.

SCOTT PAPER COMPANY, Mobile, Alabama 1988 to 1993

American manufacturing company specialized in producing tissue rolls and paper towels.

Special Skills Technician

Worked in collaboration with the other technicians at Scott to troubleshoot/repair any problems with the PLC systems in the mill. Installed new PLC systems including coax systems, fiber optic cabling and modems, and redundant PLC systems.

• Successfully developed, instituted and administered a three-tier PLC training program to develop the PLC hardware troubleshooting, software configuration and programming skills of 125 electricians and technicians.

• Improved equipment reliability and the product flow process after creating a “hot spares” room, which served as a backup mechanism for PLC systems that provided "live operating" spares in the event of key component failures.

INTERFACE ELECTRONICS, Mobile, Alabama 1985 to 1988

Domestic manufacture of electronic weighing systems/energy management systems/industrial control systems.

Operations/Production Manager

• Co-ordinated production requirements between engineering and manufacturing and reported to V/P of the

company.

• Scheduled the installation and servicing of our electronic weighing systems, industrial control panels and energy management systems.

• Conducted performance evaluations and developed performance improvement action plans.

• Resolved customer service calls by telephone troubleshooting with customer technicians or scheduling technicians to customer’s sight.

• Supervised the installation of the control panels and assisted the customers in start ups.

• Insured proper operation of customers panels and control systems by comparing “as builts” to wiring schematics and customer specifications.

• Performed electrical and instrument bids on new projects.

SHELL CHEMICAL COMPANY, Axis, Alabama 1975 to 1985

Manufacturer of specialty chemicals utilizing both batch and continuous processes.

Maintenance Supervisor / Electrical & Instrument Supervisor / Construction Co-ordinator

• Reduced maintenance operating expenses by efficient utilization of up to 25 maintenance technicians to perform daily scheduled work and emergency breakdowns. Selected as Electrical and Instrument supervisor for shutdown, turn-a-round, and start ups on batch processes and continuous processes. Selected from a field of several candidates as Shell’s representative to perform the instrument and electrical loop checks on their construction of a multimillion dollar Bladex plant in Normal, Illinois.

• Performed troubleshooting on instrumentation and electrical control systems involving level, flow, temperature, and analytical control loops.

KIRK MEEKS • Page 3 • *******@*****.***

• Disassembled and rebuilt various manufacturers control valves, regulators and transmitters including Fisher, Foxboro, Dezurik and Moore.

• Troubleshot electrical field problems including motor starter circuits, interlock Circuits and PLC control issues

• Performed troubleshooting on various analyzers including O2, N2, H2S, CO2 and others.

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration, Industrial Management – Baker College, Flint, Michigan (2006 – 2009)

Bachelor of Science in Administrative Sciences – University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama (2001 – 2004)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Advanced Supervisory Training Certification • Supervisory Skills ISO 9001 Certification

Red Cross CPR Certification • Universal License for Purchasing & Handling Freon

Lean & Six Sigma Training Courses • Certified Six Sigma Green Belt

AFFILIATIONS

Advisories Committee, Trenholm State Technical College

Rheem Volunteer Tutor, Partners in Education

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) Statistical Process Control (SPC) Software • Total

Maintenance System (TMS) Kronos Payroll System MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook,

Excel, PowerPoint) Microsoft Project

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