Expert Details
Supply Chain Management & Logistics, Material Planning & Logistics (MP&L), Packaging Engineering, Freight & Transportation Optimization
ID: 740625
Michigan, USA
Expert's career began in packaging engineering roles supporting major automotive OEM customers, where Expert developed cost-effective and compliant packaging solutions, managed multimillion-dollar packaging budgets, and achieved substantial annual cost savings. Expert progressed into indirect procurement and supply chain specialist roles, managing freight networks, inventory systems, and warehouse operations, before advancing into plant-level materials management and general management roles overseeing full manufacturing facility operations, including staff of 300+ employees and tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Most recently, Expert has served in senior material planning and logistics leadership roles overseeing multi-plant freight spend, inventory reduction initiatives, and standardized supply chain processes across a network of manufacturing facilities in the United States and Canada. Expert has also founded an independent supply chain consulting practice, providing cost reduction, process optimization, and training services to businesses of varying sizes. Expert holds APICS certification, Six Sigma Green Belt certification, and additional certifications in hazardous materials handling and emergency management.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2016 | Degree: MBA | Subject: Supply Chain | Institution: Central Michigan University |
| Year: 2008 | Degree: BS | Subject: Packaging Engineering | Institution: Michigan State University |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2017 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Supply Chain Consultant (Owner) | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Helps small and mid-sized businesses optimize their supply chains to reduce costs and improve efficiencies on a contracted hourly or project basis, serving companies ranging from under 5 employees to multi-million-dollar organizations with established supply chain teams.• Evaluates client supply chains across transportation costs, inventory levels, procurement negotiations, packaging, and process standardization, achieving average reductions of 10% in supply chain costs and 28% in inventory carrying costs. • Provides one-on-one and group training on supply chain concepts, and supports companies on a contract basis during staffing transitions or business expansion. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2022 to 2024 | Employer: Flex-N-Gate | Title: Senior MP&L (Material Planning and Logistics) Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Supported MP&L teams across 10 plants throughout the U.S. and Canada, managing over $50 million in annual inbound and outbound freight spend.• Mitigated a 25% fuel and lane cost increase in 2022 through freight optimization metrics and plant-level accountability measures. • Implemented a Plan for Every Part (PFEP) metric governing freight, space, inventory, orders, and packaging; drove a 10% reduction in $177 million of on-hand inventory through improved safety stock management. • Established standardized MP&L processes and monthly scorecards across all facilities, tracking inventory accuracy, freight spend, and customer delivery performance. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2020 to 2022 | Employer: Flex n Gate | Title: General Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Managed a $60 million annual revenue automotive manufacturing facility with a managerial staff of 18 and overall headcount of 300+ salaried, hourly, and union employees.• Oversaw injection molding operations (TPU/ABS/PET materials, 1,000–4,000 ton presses) and automated paint application processes for automotive bumper components. • Improved monthly EBITDA following a COVID-related sales downturn while continuing to serve concurrently as facility materials manager. • Reduced customer non-conforming defects by 90% through enhanced quality inspection and safe-launch protocols; led a cost-savings task force delivering over $1 million in annual savings. • Improved facility labor efficiency from 65% to over 80%, reducing weekend production needs across departments. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2018 to 2020 | Employer: Ventra Automotive | Title: Plant Materials Manager | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Managed crisis response for part shortages and line-down situations, including recovery planning and customer communication.• Set daily and long-term production schedules across molding, paint, and assembly departments, balancing capacity and labor across the facility. • Maintained $1.6 million in on-hand inventory while achieving 40 inventory turns per year and less than 7 days on-hand inventory. • Managed a team of 5 salaried planners, 1 customer service supervisor, and 1 warehouse supervisor overseeing 12 drivers and shipping clerks. • Developed a freight network reducing logistics costs to 1.75% of sales on $1.5 million in annual freight spend. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2015 to 2018 | Employer: ZF Automotive | Title: Supply Chain Specialist | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Managed domestic and international freight lanes, shifting shipments from air consolidation to LCL sea freight to reduce costs.• Installed a $600,000 automated tug (Mother/Daughter) material handling system to eliminate fork truck use within the plant. • Designed and programmed an electronic Kanban system integrated with the facility's SAP Material Management Module. • Developed a Plan for Every Part (PFEP) document for every facility component and redesigned warehouse layouts across 3 onsite warehouses. • Implemented a FIFO inventory management system and improved transportation lanes for approximately $200,000 in annual savings. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2012 to 2015 | Employer: TRW Automotive | Title: Senior Packaging Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:• Designed, purchased, and managed inbound returnable dunnage and outbound finished goods packaging for new program launches.• Reduced weekly FedEx expenses from $10,000 to $3,000 per month through shipment consolidation and carrier/service-level changes. • Managed customer dunnage systems for major automotive OEM customers to avoid production interruptions from dunnage shortages. • Resourced cardboard and corrosion-inhibiting packaging suppliers, generating approximately $275,000 in annual savings. • Managed a staff of 25 full-time employees across two facility materials departments. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2008 to 2012 | Employer: Mahle America | Title: Indirect Buyer & Packaging Engineer | Department: |
Responsibilities:Indirect Buyer:• Managed indirect material purchase orders including packaging materials, IT equipment, and office supplies. • Negotiated multiyear freight and cardboard supplier contracts via RFQ process; resourced cardboard suppliers for approximately $300,000 (20%) in annual savings. • Established a minority-owned supplier relationship generating $50,000 in annual savings while supporting supplier diversity requirements for new OEM business. • Negotiated over $1 million in one-time packaging purchase orders supporting new program launch timing and savings targets. Packaging Engineer: • Developed cost-effective, safe packaging solutions in collaboration with major automotive OEM customers. • Managed all packaging functions within SAP as key user, including packaging budgets and logistics cost calculations for new programs. • Exceeded annual cost savings targets of $500,000 through optimized packaging and tighter supply chain solutions. • Managed $6 million in OEM-owned returnable packaging (dunnage) using a custom-designed RFID tracking system. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| • APICS Certificate (Production and Inventory Management) • Six Sigma Green Belt Certification • Karrass Effective Negotiating Certificate • Lift Truck Trainer Certification • Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) Certification • FEMA Certification |