Open To Work
Andrew Kay
Plastic Engineer
Angola,IN
Summary
Dynamic Sr. Tooling Engineer with extensive experience in the plastic industry, excelling in mold flow analysis and design for manufacturability. Proven track record in project management and cross-functional collaboration, driving quality improvements and ensuring customer satisfaction. Adept at problem-solving and leading teams to achieve project goals efficiently.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Sr. Tooling Engineer
Crestal Liquid Coatings
Kendallville, IN
02.2024 - 02.2026
- Collaborated with customers’ engineers and project managers to optimize part manufacturability.
- Coordinated with tool shop and customers to resolve issues identified in mold design and DFM processes.
- Work with the hot runner company and mold flow personnel to ensure the warp, sinks, injection presses, and material shrinkage meet the customers' and CLC team’s concerns.
- Scheduled the first trial of tools and worked with the tool shops to solve any problems at the tool trial.
- Partnered with quality engineers to uphold customer standards and specifications.
- Complete paperwork and steps to start mold manufacturing (IQMS paperwork, mold flow, DFM).
Sr. Quality Engineer
HCP
Hinsdale, NH
04.2019 - 03.2024
- Formulated and executed quality plans throughout development phase, assisting plant Quality Control Managers in drafting Quality Control Procedures (QCPs) to enhance compliance.
- Managed quality processes for new project launches and ongoing improvement initiatives, ensuring effective coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion.
- Enforce quality standards, consistently enhance staff awareness of quality, and minimize factors that may impact product quality to ensure all products comply with established quality requirements.
- Managed project timelines for all QA-related tasks, ensuring alignment with project goals and timely delivery.
- Coordinated with Quality Managers from both plants to define project tasks and allocate resources.
Manufacturing Engineer
ITW
Westminster, MA
03.2018 - 04.2019
- Resolved issues in injection molding and assembly lines, ensuring production met or exceeded targets.
- Collaborated with departments to install assembly lines, improving workflow efficiency.
- Coordinated with vendors and departments to set up injection molding machines and equipment, enhancing factory capabilities.
Plastic Engineer
Plastic Molding Manufacturing
Hudson, MA
07.2016 - 03.2018
- Conducted process validation and equipment qualification (IQ, OQ, PQ) for manufacturing medical products.
- Collaborated with quality managers to prepare and update PPAP and APQP documents for new parts at two locations. Conducted inspections and measurements of new parts in the quality laboratory.
- Developed work instructions and trained engineering and manufacturing staff on IQMS for entering BOMs, APQP, PPAP, ECNs, prints, and QC documents.
- Coordinated with various departments to ensure on-time delivery of project outputs and samples that met customer expectations.
- Collaborated with multiple departments to address production tooling issues, procure materials, and ensure timely shipment of parts to customers.
- Coordinated with customer service to deliver accurate injection molded part and tooling quotes, enhancing customer satisfaction.
Project Engineer
Evco Plastics
Calhoun, GA
10.2015 - 04.2016
- Coordinated with departments to deliver sample parts and project outputs on time, ensuring alignment with customer expectations.
- Coordinated with departments to fix production tooling, purchase materials, schedule tool trials, and ship materials and parts to vendors and customers.
- Collaborated with factory quality managers to update PPAP paperwork for new parts across all factories; conducted checks and measurements in HQ's quality laboratory and CMM department.
- Enter BOM for new parts into the QAD system. Update the QAD system for parts to reflect the current factory conditions. Use Plant Star to set cycle time, quality scrap rate, and other production information.
- Collaborated with the sales team to prepare injection-molded part quotations for both new and current customers.
Senior R&D Manager
frames Fuzhou Ltd.
Fuzhou, China
01.2009 - 02.2015
- Collaborated with customers to finalize manufacturability design, recommend changes, select materials and quality standards, quote costs, and establish timelines.
- Supervised team of developers to ensure project alignment with objectives and timelines.
- Reviewed mold designs and coordinated with mold shop during construction to ensure adherence to specifications.
- Adjust the tool and injection process during the trial to ensure part quality.
- Evaluate new technologies and materials for molding.
- Led training sessions on plastics for Adidas and other shoe companies.
Chief Manufacturing Engineer
Tuthill China Group
Shanghai, China
06.2007 - 11.2008
- Established and maintained budget for new location startup to ensure financial viability.
- Establish and execute the schedule for setting up a new manufacturing plant.
- Built engineering team to establish manufacturing, assembly, and quality processes.
- Transferred technology from US manufacturing plant to Chinese plant, overseeing TBS system implementation to enhance operational consistency.
- Work with each department to set up standard manufacturing and supply chain procedures.
Project/Tooling Engineer
CK Technologies, LLC.
Montpelier, OH
07.2004 - 01.2007
- Determined Mold Design Criteria for tools and how each assembly will be manufactured.
- Obtained quotes from mold and secondary tool shops, ensuring part quality met specifications.
- Coordinated external and internal tool trials for molds and secondary tooling, facilitating effective testing.
- Worked with customers to design moldable parts and reduce tooling and assembly costs.
- Worked with quality engineers on quality standards.
- Developed layouts for press and assembly areas utilizing lean manufacturing principles for optimized workflows.
- Completed paperwork for the customer and processed PPAPs.
Tooling Engineer
Plastech
Kendallville, IN
05.2000 - 07.2004
- Collaborated with corporate engineers to review and approve new tooling, ensuring timely implementation of necessary changes.
- Analyzed defective plastic parts to diagnose problems and offer short-term and long-term solutions.
- Coordinated in-house and vendor repairs, facilitating weekly preventive maintenance to minimize downtime.
- Supported tool room operations by procuring tools and parts for in-house repairs, enhancing tool availability.
- Completed paperwork for QS9000, Ford PPAP, and internal documentation.
Engineer
Kamco IND. Inc.
West Unity, OH
06.1998 - 05.2000
- Worked with Honda designers and project leaders to ensure plastic parts were moldable and tools were reliable.
- Reviewed final part designs with tool shops, implementing changes to tools based on 3D modeling feedback.
- Scheduled and coordinated first tool trials, collaborating with tool shops to address and resolve issues.
- Attended the first car builds and reviewed, completed, and quoted necessary changes.
- Received quotes from tool shops and filled out detailed cost breakdowns for Honda to review.
- Completed required paperwork to ensure compliance with QS 9000 and Honda PPAP standards.
Mechanical Engineer
Bargman Co.
Albion, IN
09.1995 - 06.1998
- Design new RV components with AutoCAD.
- Designed assembly line layouts utilizing lean manufacturing principles for improved efficiency and reduced turnaround times.
- Managed part printing process and implemented modifications to ensure quality standards.
- Collaborated with vendors to optimize manufacturing costs and enhance tool performance.
- Assisted maintenance department in setting up new machinery to enhance production capabilities.
Design Engineer
Dekko Engineering
Kendallville, IN
09.1993 - 09.1995
- Collaborated with senior engineer to design product line, producing detailed concept drawings and prints.
- Engineered machinery to streamline assembly of components.
- Created prototype samples and mockups aligning with customer specifications.
- Designed plastic and metal components and machinery with AutoCAD.
- Worked with the sales department for technical support.
Education
BS - Mechanical Engineering
09.1987 - 09.1990
Associate of Science - Mechanical Engineering
09.1985 - 09.1987
Skills
- Mold flow analysis
- Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing
- Design of experiments
- APQP documentation
- Product design
- Configuration and troubleshooting
- Root-cause analysis
- Risk management
- Lean manufacturing principles
- Project Management
- Vendor Management
- Collaboration
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Problem Solving
- Critical thinking
- Technical training
- Skills development
- Problem solving
- Technical training
- Problem solving
Continued Education
- 08/2008, Training the Trainer
- 09/2007, Lean Manufacturing
- 07/2004, Team Problem Solving '8D' System.
- 11/2003, RJG Systematic Molding for Mold Builders
- 11/2002, MIG & TIG Welding
- 10/2001, Supervision II
- 09/2001, Fundamentals of Supervision
- 07/2001, Handling Conflict
- 06/2001, Communicating
- 05/2001, Product Delivery Process
- 10/2000, RJG Introduction to Decoupled Molding
- 12/1999, Coaching & Counseling
- 07/1998, CATIA Documentation
- 07/1998, CATIA Basic Surface Modeling
- 07/1998, CATIA Foundation
Work Preference
Job Search Status
Open to workWork Type
Full TimeLocation Preference
On-SiteHybridSalary Range
$90000/yr - $200000/yrTimeline
Sr. Tooling Engineer - Crestal Liquid Coatings
02.2024 - 02.2026
Sr. Quality Engineer - HCP
04.2019 - 03.2024
Manufacturing Engineer - ITW
03.2018 - 04.2019
Plastic Engineer - Plastic Molding Manufacturing
07.2016 - 03.2018
Project Engineer - Evco Plastics
10.2015 - 04.2016
Senior R&D Manager - frames Fuzhou Ltd.
01.2009 - 02.2015
Chief Manufacturing Engineer - Tuthill China Group
06.2007 - 11.2008
Project/Tooling Engineer - CK Technologies, LLC.
07.2004 - 01.2007
Tooling Engineer - Plastech
05.2000 - 07.2004
Engineer - Kamco IND. Inc.
06.1998 - 05.2000
Mechanical Engineer - Bargman Co.
09.1995 - 06.1998
Design Engineer - Dekko Engineering
09.1993 - 09.1995
Tri-State University - BS, Mechanical Engineering
09.1987 - 09.1990
Vincennes University - Associate of Science, Mechanical Engineering
09.1985 - 09.1987