Work Experience

 

Summary of Qualifications

 

A seasoned Rubber Management Consultant experienced in leading projects to support medium to large scale facilities.  Responsibilities include all aspects of the rubber business:  selection and procurement of equipment, vendor contract negotiation, compounding and mixing, facility site evaluation, safety and security, quality assurance, staff development and training, compliance to corporate and regulatory requirements, inventory control/managing (supply chain) and the immediate response to the need for operational issues to increase productivity and lower operating costs.  

 

A strong background in supporting and maintaining service levels for clients, project management and reducing overall operational costs within Compound Development and Process Operations, Rubber Mixing, and Molding Methods. 

 

Services available for Consulting Engagements and collaboration with Rubber facilities domestically (USA) and globally.

 

Experience Highlights

 

Extensive experience as a leader who established priorities and anticipated issues for problem resolution for a client’s operation.

 

• Management Evaluation - Effectively assess business, rubber products and compounding needs, operational and technical requirements; planned and estimated work effort; evaluated results; directed the creation of and execution of project plans, assessed functionality of operation and ensured compliance to regulatory requirements.

• Effective Communication - Worked closely with all levels of management, staff, outside vendors and contractors.  Routinely, provided timely budgets, operational, financial and statistical reporting as needed.

• Staff Supervision - Directed the appropriate work flow assignments based on corporate priorities and resource allocations. Responsible for the design of comprehensive training aids and mentoring programs to enhance the supervisory staff's problem solving and decision making capabilities.  Ensured technical competency programs were maintained with consistent accountability. Implemented new best practices and cost controls throughout the facility and optimized existing practices to enhance the effectiveness of the operation.

• Problem Solver and Consensus Builder - Requested by client to assist with resolution of complex technical, operational and management challenges to reduce cycle time, improve service levels and reduce overall operational cost.

 

Core Competencies

           

• Rubber Mixing

• Compound Development          

• Outsourcing Management

• Equipment Selection               

• Supply Chain Development        

• Plant Design / Layout                                           

• Material Selection                

• Compound Evaluation                

• Quality / Kaizen

• Lean Enterprise                       

• Product Testing                           

• Continuous Improvement

• Management Training

• Staff Development

• Curing Medium: Molding: Injection / TF / Compression

 

Relevant Work History

 

2015-2014       

Rubber Tree LLC                                               

Managing Consultant & Partner

Established a full service consultancy firm emphasizing solutions in mixing, development & curing of rubber compounds.   Specialties include Compound Development, Training, Lean Manufacturing, and Lab Testing Design.

 

2004-2001 and 2014-2011

Kardoes Rubber                                              

Tech Sales Manager

A full service custom compound rubber mixer

• Managed over 60 accounts mostly in the Southeastern, Southwestern USA & Northern Mexico for this Custom Compounder

• Served the following markets: Tires, Tank Tracks, Belts, Oil Service/ Energy, Automotive, Hose, Wire & Cable, General Molding

 

2011-2008      

Preferred Compounding

Tech Sales Manager

A full service custom compound rubber mixer.                 

• Managed over 60 accounts in the Southeastern, Southwestern USA & Northern Mexico for this Custom Compounder

• Served the following markets: Oil Service/ Energy, Automotive, Hose, Wire & Cable, Tire, Belts, General Molding

 

2007               

QRT Tires

President

A pre-revenue start up Tire Company (Retread Technology) in Qingdao, Shandong , China.

• Lived as an EX Pat in China for four months

• Developed supply chain relationships from Asian & Global sources –  India, Singapore, China, Italy, Germany, USA, others

• Coordinated manufacturing plant build in Export Processing Zone (China)

• Interviewed & hired key management, engineering, technical & administrative people

• Coordinated contractually Asian & European relationships including IP, equipment sourcing and installation, & compound development

 

2006-2005      

Robbins LLC

Director of Operations

A custom compound rubber mixer with a Tire related molding operation.

• Responsible for the manufacturing, engineering, technology, maintenance, and quality processes of this custom compounding and tire envelope molding facility.

• Improved mixing compound quality from 90% to 99.75%

• Defined and resolved retread envelope quality recall issue

• Developed new compounds for diverse tire & non-tire applications: annual new sales - $500,000

 

2000-1998       

WARCO / Biltrite Industries

Director of Operations

A molding / sheet goods & flooring company.              

• Managed processes including mixing, molding, rotocuring, extruding, calendering

• Improved mixing compound quality from 90% to 99.50%

• Led a cross functional team to install a compound mixing line:   F270

                                                                       

1997-1992       

Mark IV Automotive

Gemba / Kaizen Director, Internal Consultant

A hose extrusion operation for Tier One Auto Applications.                                          

• Provided Leadership on implementing World Class Manufacturing Techniques i.e. Toyota Production, Lean Enterprise, and Kaizen to several Manufacturing Facilities

• Led week long Kaizen Events Corporate wide

• Saved company in excess of one million USD in operating costs: 1st time yields, Cycle time reduction, changeover process, lead time reduction, productivity gains, etc.

• Partnered with Coopers-Lybrant for an 18 week Cycle Time Reduction Exercise Operational Savings: $1,000,000 USD

 

1991-1984       

Burton Rubber (Known today as Hexpol)             

Plant Manager

A full service custom compound rubber mixer.

• Full P & L responsibility – profitable each year

• Selected as Best Plant (of three) for Customer Service in Burton System

• Selected as first approved outside compound mixer for Michelin Tires Worldwide

 

Educational Experience and Development

• University of Tennessee

• BS Degree

 

Professional Membership

• Energy Rubber Group

• ASTD (American Society of Training & Development)

          

 

References upon Request