Amanda Thompson
Bridgewater,VA
Summary
Results-driven Plant Manager with extensive experience in manufacturing operations and process optimization. Proven ability to lead teams effectively while enhancing productivity and reducing costs. Key strengths include exceptional communication, relationship building, and strategic decision-making skills. Aiming to leverage expertise in driving operational excellence to achieve organizational goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Plant Operations Manager
Cargill
Dayton, VA
03.2024 - Current
- Directed and maintained a complex production facility's operation ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
- Indirect responsibility of 1,100 employees and direct responsibility of 450-500 frontline team members, and 14 salaried team members.
- Achievements:
- Achieved first-year efficiency gains by reducing labor variance dollars by 42%.
- Achieved a 55% betterment in labor variance dollars and a 7.2% increase in throughput for finished good whole bird packing.
- Revamped onboarding strategy to boost employee retention by 5%.
General Manager
Cargill
Nashville, TN
05.2023 - 03.2024
- Lead and ensured a highly complex production inclusive of raw material grind, blend, thermal screw (TSL) and fermentation/ cooked processes while operating safely and in compliance with regulatory and corporate safety and environmental programs.
- Lead a team of 280-300 hourly/salaried team members.
- Responsible to lead through reduction in force efforts while maintaining full production and meeting customer demand as well as product line capacity alignment with supply chain leads, lead through divestiture and acquisition efforts.
- Achievements: Yield improvement PEP loss of ($1.2 M) in May 2023 to $8k positive monthly Dec 2023 though May 2024.
- Improved TSL production volume performance over 6 months from 800k lbs. to 1.1M lbs.
- Operating costs improvement over Fiscal year 2024 to (0.04 /lb) from ($ .1070/ lb).
- Led efforts to ensure full compliance in the 2024 EPA inspection of our highly hazardous process, with no significant findings or fines issued.
- Supported a 2024 USDA FSA, ensuring full compliance, and achieving zero significant findings or regulatory noncompliance records.
General Manager
Cargill
Vernon, CA
02.2021 - 05.2023
- Directed plant operations and acquisition efforts, including the plant integration efforts, and ensured all employees met the appropriate regulatory requirements for employment all during COVID-19 and CA challenges.
- Multiple product launches and product development projects to expand the portfolio.
- Major integration efforts around OSHA general safety, as well as high-risk work such as elevated work, PSM/RMP (anhydrous ammonia), and wastewater pretreatment.
- Oversight of approximately 215 hourly and salaried employees in the value-added cooking process for retail and food service for customers such as Applebee’s, Del Taco, and grocery retailers such as Costco and HEB.
- Achievements: A significant impact to Cargill Protein by delivering an additional 5 MM lbs. In volume in our continuous cooked product line, as well as a $5.5 million contribution margin, by securing CPG customer Costco and increasing efficiency.
- Partnership with supply chain capacity and planning teams to compile capacity, run rates, and yield data to streamline schedules for increased throughput and reduced changeovers.
- Reduction in customer complaints resulting in a 75% improvement in customer complaints per million pounds produced over 2 years, from 2.33 to 0.62.
- Improved annualized turnover from 104% to 35.8% over two years.
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Superintendent (Fabrication)
Cargill
Fresno, CA
08.2018 - 02.2021
- Managed the Fabrication FSQR team to ensure that all food safety requirements and product specifications were met.
- Implemented and maintained quality and regulatory programs, including specification monitoring, grade/claims programs, pathogen trim sampling, internal audit reviews, and budget responsibility.
- Managed important customer relationships, such as In and Out, McDonald's processing facility, and other major grocery retailers, through specification adherence and interactions regarding claims and complaint responses, and maintained the integrity of P&L by professionally addressing and challenging unsubstantiated claim costs.
- Achievements: Implemented and sustained the BEV/EV export program for Korea and Japan in our fabrication and harvest departments.
- Created and implemented a toll process quality management program for the grass-fed beef niche product line to ensure full program and USDA labeling compliance requirements.
Superintendent
JBS Case Ready
Riverside, CA
06.2018 - 07.2018
- Directed processing, value-added, and pork operations and personnel to meet established processing and quality control standards.
- Established short-term activities directed toward processing continuity and balance, such as shift schedules, ensuring the requisition of materials, machine loading, conflict resolution, and equipment maintenance.
- Help lead the site to improved order fill metrics.
- Achievement: 6% yield improvement on pork product lines by optimizing chill cycles and slicing equipment to minimize offcuts and waste.
General Foreman
JBS Case Ready
01.2017 - 06.2018
- Coordinated with other plant management to ensure output attainment, increased productivity, and quality of the product.
- Achievements: Improved trip yield by 10% through employee training, raw material inspection, and supply chain improvement.
Production Supervisor
JBS Case Ready
10.2016 - 01.2017
- Supervised 30+ stakeholders in the value-added processing and packaging departments to ensure consistent attainment of processing schedules.
- Product lines consisted of variable product components with varied animal proteins, including combinations of fresh vegetables, spices, and casings.
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory (FSQR) Supervisor (Harvest)
Cargill
Fresno, CA
08.2014 - 10.2016
- Managed a team of 5, focused on food safety processes and quality standards of slaughter, offal, and variety meat products.
- Achievements: Improved safety processes around humane handling techniques and training, inclusive of captive bolt stunning, partnered with the corporate Animal Handling tag.
- A3 project: kidney yield improvement percentage, adding $78,000 to P&L.
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Supervisor (Fabrication & Grind)
Cargill
Fresno, CA
08.2012 - 08.2014
- Managed a team of 34 FSQR technicians focused on ensuring that all products met specifications and specifically focused on providing a safe working environment.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and USDA expectations.
- Achievements: Process owner of Op Care Bridge gas tester reducing the amount of rework and downtime by 15%.
FSQR Management Associate
Cargill
Wyalusing, PA
03.2011 - 08.2012
- Management trainee role focused on learning the ins and outs of the beef supply chain/business with an emphasis on building a food safety, quality and regulatory technical skillset.
- Special projects included: Elected as the EHSMS team leader in the absence of the Environmental Superintendent, assisted with ensuring compliance to OSHA 18001 and ISO 14001 standards; reported PA Air Emissions, Tier II Chemical Inventory, and DEP Recycling Reporting, new product development and launch Zoo food to reduce waste and increase value capture of by products normally discarded for rendering.
- Covered as temporary Lab Superintendent, responsibilities included ensuring weekly micro and analytical testing reports.
Quality Assurance Technician (Fabrication)
Cargill
Wyalusing, PA
06.2010 - 03.2011
- Responsible for auditing product in the Fabrication department to ensure compliance to USDA regulations, collecting samples for laboratory technicians, room audits to ensure that SSOPs were being followed and completion of paperwork.
Utilities/Operator (MAP)
Cargill
Wyalusing, PA
06.2006 - 01.2010
- Responsible for running a production line to produce a quality production line to produce a quality product efficiently and safely under high demands while complying to regulations including the Vemag, Formax, and the Bizerba.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Lycoming College
Williamsport, PASkills
- Process optimization
- Employee training
- Cost reduction
- Regulatory compliance
- Leadership development
- Waste reduction
- Cross-functional team experience
- Project planning
Certification
- HACCP - A&M University
- Food Defense Awareness for Front-Line Employees – FDA and PCQI
Committees And Memberships
- Cargill Cares Committee
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
- Women in Agribusiness Member
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Plant Operations Manager
Cargill
03.2024 - Current
General Manager
Cargill
05.2023 - 03.2024
General Manager
Cargill
02.2021 - 05.2023
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Superintendent (Fabrication)
Cargill
08.2018 - 02.2021
Superintendent
JBS Case Ready
06.2018 - 07.2018
General Foreman
JBS Case Ready
01.2017 - 06.2018
Production Supervisor
JBS Case Ready
10.2016 - 01.2017
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory (FSQR) Supervisor (Harvest)
Cargill
08.2014 - 10.2016
Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Supervisor (Fabrication & Grind)
Cargill
08.2012 - 08.2014
FSQR Management Associate
Cargill
03.2011 - 08.2012
Quality Assurance Technician (Fabrication)
Cargill
06.2010 - 03.2011
Utilities/Operator (MAP)
Cargill
06.2006 - 01.2010
Bachelor of Science - Biology
Lycoming College
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