Aaron Walton
Fort Smith,AR
Summary
Accomplished operations leader with expertise in inspiring teams to continually improve and excel in challenging, constantly evolving environments. Highly skilled in directing aggressive performance and quality objectives while empowering teams with resources to meet or exceed goals. Talented in analyzing processes to design and implement improved practices and procedures to enhance cost savings, productivity, quality, and employee engagement. Passionate in leading improvement projects to ensure efficient operations that yield high productivity and cost-effectiveness. Utilize a Safety First, Quality, and Production for production decision making.
Experienced in managing plant operations with a focus on safety, quality, and productivity. Successfully trained and coached teams of up to 75 employees while implementing process improvements through standards development and audits. Demonstrated ability to analyze departmental financial results and create cost reduction strategies, contributing to overall operational efficiency. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and fostering employee engagement through effective communication and performance evaluations.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Finishing General Foreman and NDT Facilitator
Gerdau Special Steel North America
Fort Smith, AR
10.2023 - Current
- Train and coach 75 employees.
- Manage routine processes for multiple processes.
- Revise and update standards, coordinate and provide training on standards development.
- Audit standards (Routine Procedures, Job Aids, and One Point Lessons) and mitigate problems found.
- Manage processes to ensure Safety, Cost, Productivity, Environment, Delivery, and Quality routine achievement.
- Establish and negotiate Cell goals and manage Action Plans for Cell goals achievements.
- Analyze, treat, and establish counter measurements for failures.
- Practice positive feedback, motivate, train, and empower operators.
- Communicate, recognize and provide positive feedback.
- Conduct employee Performance Evaluations bargaining collective and salary non-exempt personnel.
- Contribute with Technical Knowledge.
- Prioritize work with the team and ensure behaviors align with positive results.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and engage employees to solve problems using QIS, Kaizen Events, and Ideas.
- When identified, manage failures by removing symptoms, analyzing failures, attacking causes, and following up on failures daily.
- Collaborate with and encourage operators on the GBS processes, audits, 5S initiatives, needs assessments, preventative maintenance, safety management processes and procedures, QIS, Kaizen Events, and other process routine management activities to identify opportunities for improvement and solve problems.
- Develops and applies technical skills in AS400, QMOS, PLEX operating systems and programs.
- Completed three CAPEX projects and developed OPEX plans for each project.
- Analyze departmental financial results and create paths to cost reduction.
- Participated in Horizontal Alignment team focused on creating active and collaborative channels with our Brazilian team members.
- Management style is considered as the benchmark for Improvement and Routine facilitators. Mentor newer and struggling facilitators as well as new employees.
- Recognized for exceptional leadership, training, and analytical skills by selection for organization’s long-term incentive, grant, and profit-sharing incentives.
- Gerdau team member for 2025 contract negotiations.
General Manager
Finish Line
Fort Smith, AR
01.1999 - 02.2006
- Directed, mentored, and developed a team of 25 employees to deliver exceptional customer service while successfully increasing sales, quality, and productivity.
- Reviewed data to design and implement enhanced systems and procedures to improve productivity, customer service, and a positive team atmosphere.
- Evaluated current market and competition trends to create and execute innovative sales and merchandising strategies that significantly increased sales revenue from $750k to $2.5M.
- Communicated and collaborated with employees to increase performance through goal setting, coaching, and career development activities.
- Managed employee workflow, projects, and tasks while building trusting business relationships to support employee engagement.
- Directed and executed creative marketing and advertising initiatives to positively drive customer traffic, substantially boosting sales.
Education
Master of Science - Management and Leadership
Western Governors University
Master of Business Administration -
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix
Skills
- Quality Control
- Strategic Planning
- Operations Management
- Leadership & Communication
- Team Collaboration
- Relationship Building
- Quality Assurance
- Financial Management
- Flexible & Adaptable
- Cost Control
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Power BI experience
- Union Negotiation
- Employee training
- Process management
- Standards development
- Audit compliance
Timeline
Finishing General Foreman and NDT Facilitator
Gerdau Special Steel North America
10.2023 - Current
General Manager
Finish Line
01.1999 - 02.2006
Master of Science - Management and Leadership
Western Governors University
Master of Business Administration -
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Business Management
University of Phoenix