Plant/General Manager and Director of Operations

JEFFREY T. WARD

*** **** ***** ■ Middletown, DE *9709 ■ 302-***-****(C) ■ ************@*****.***

GENERAL MANAGER

Product and Site Launch / Plant Management / Lean Six Sigma/Quality Assurance

Highly effective and results-driven leader with extensive experience developing and improving production processes to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs. Effective Plant Manager with broad knowledge of lean manufacturing principles including 7S and Kaizen. Respected leader with proven talents in hiring/recruiting, labor relations, and staff training and development.

Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, impeccable attention to detail, and exceptional process development abilities. Continuously search for ways to streamline manufacturing procedures and improve plant operations. Top performer and valuable contributor to management teams. ■ Continuous Improvement

■ SPC/Quality Assurance Exp.

■ Project/Launch Management

■ Leadership & Team Building

■ Union Contract Negotiation

■ 3PL Supply Chain

■ Overhead Reduction

■ Customer Relations

■ Budget Management

■ Lawson and Kronos Exp.

■ Capital Equipment Purchasing

■ QS-9000, ISO 9000 & TS 16949

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

NEW BREED LOGISTICS ■ Swedesboro, New Jersey 7/2011 to 12/2011

Privately held, 3PL services provider that helps companies design, implement and operate efficient supply chains. Global management of millions of square feet of ISO certified warehouse space across more than 50 distribution centers and employ more than 8,000 people. Services range from distribution center operations and transportation management to highly sophisticated and technology-focused solutions involving product assembly, vendor managed inventory, reverse logistics and repair, manufacturing support, and supply chain consulting. Annual revenue of more than $825M.

General Manager ■ Swedesboro, New Jersey (2011 to present)

Led NJ launch and helped facilitate and train KC site. High volume kitting operation of Self Install Kits for Comcast. Full responsibility of design of process, safety, quality systems, hiring, labor relations, acquisition, and customer development.

AUTOMODULAR CORPORATION ■ Ajax, Ontario, Canada 1998 to 11/2010

Progressed through series of positions with increasing responsibilities for sequencer and sub-assembler of components and modules installed in cars and trucks made by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) throughout North America with 7 locations and annual revenue of more than $70M.

Project/Launch Manager ■ Oakville, Canada & Lordstown, OH (2006 to 2010)

Managed teams of 7 to 100+ employees responsible for all aspects of launch process including determining site location, supervising plant construction, and acquisition of tooling and equipment. Negotiated labor agreements and developed customer relationships both locally and nationally. Implemented standard operating procedures and established positive and cohesive company culture. Designed and developed specific production processes to streamline manufacturing/assembly and increase efficiency.

Oakville Site:

Launched plant and multiple product lines successfully, on time, and 10% under $23M budget.

Engineered corporate template for site launches, updating processes and technology for manning and equipment that reduced quoting template for new business by 12% and better positioned company to win future business.

Reduced complex tooling and equipment supplier base from 57 to 32 and improved relations with remaining suppliers.

Lordstown Site:

Completed launch in 68 days, ahead of expected timeline and approximately 15% under $19.1M budget.

Led training for 87 employees and successfully managed staff, increasing profit margin by 2%.

Achieved “Excellent” rating on annual supplier assessment and ranked in top 5% of area suppliers.

Directed contract negotiations with UAW leaders, fostering amicable relationship with employees and ensuring no issues with organized labor that could affect customers.

Plant Manager ■ New Castle, DE (2001 to 2005)

Promoted based on track record of effective leadership and skills in project management, employee direction, and customer/supplier relations. Challenged to restore relations with staff and clientele and overturn negative trend at site. Reported directly to CEO, administered $15M annual budget, and supervised 200+ employees including 4 direct reports: Production Manager, Materials Manager, Quality Manager, and Technical Manager. Presided over implementation of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives and held full profit and loss and plant safety responsibility.

Reduced operating costs 18% and increased profit margin 20% through effective application of lean manufacturing principles.

Completed QS-9000 certification and acted as internal consultant for other plants preparing for registration.

Led health and safety initiatives that raised plant’s safety management score from 95% to 98%, reduced incident rate by 23%, and cut lost workday incident rate to zero by 2004.

Created database to track key performance indicators such as units per hour, cost per unit, scrap, manpower, cycle time, and safety that was adopted as company standard for all plants.

Received GM “Excellence” award in 2003 and 2004.

Developed 3-day training program for new hires that improved orientation and ensured workers were sufficiently acclimated to machinery before beginning production.

Production Manager ■ New Castle, DE (2000 to 2001)

Directed operations of 4 assembly lines and 5 work cells with total of 165 employees. Managed 7 direct reports and 3 indirect reports and worked closely with leaders from UAW to maintain excellent labor relations and ensure smooth operations.

Owned staff training in lean manufacturing principles, encouraging self-sufficient employees and increasing production levels by approximately 14%.

Technical Manager & Delaware Launch Manager ■ New Castle, DE (1998 to 2000)

Managed team of 3 Technicians and 3 Engineers responsible for maintaining facilities, equipment, tooling, security, LAN and WAN computer networks, and customer communications.

Completed launch of New Castle, DE site, completing project on time and 6% under $22M budget.

Additional experience as Production Supervisor and Quality Assurance Supervisor for

E-A-R Specialty Composites, Inc., Newark, DE

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATION

B.A.,Major: Business Administration, Minor: Management■ Goldey-Beacom College 2011

Lean Six Sigma CLSS ■ Villanova University

Certified Quality Technician (CQT) and Mechanical Inspector (CMI) ■ American Society for Quality (ASQ)

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