Benjamin Riggs
Madisonville,KY
Summary
Experienced individual with 25 years of manufacturing experience. Proven track record of expertise in the setup and execution of EDM operations throughout the shop. Ensuring production goals are met in a high-quality manner. Going above and beyond the daily routines to achieve success in the work area.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Shot Peen Certifying Agent
GE Aerospace
Madisonville, KY
06.2024 - Current
- Verify and document that shot peening processes, equipment, media, and resulting parts meet specified requirements.
- Ensure compliance with applicable standards, customer specifications, and process controls, and to issue formal certification records that parts have been properly shot peened.
- Confirm the shot peening procedure, parameters, and equipment setup match the applicable specification (e.g., intensity, coverage, media type/size, nozzle distance, air pressure, and exposure time).
- Validate and record peening intensity using Almen strip testing (correct strip type, fixture, saturation curve, and measured intensity within tolerance).
- Verify required surface coverage percentage (commonly 100% unless otherwise specified) using accepted inspection methods.
- Check media size distribution, hardness, cleanliness, and contamination levels; verify sieving/screening and replacement intervals meet requirements.
- Ensure gauges, flow meters, pressure regulators, and monitoring systems are calibrated, and that preventive maintenance is current.
- Verify shot peening operators are trained and qualified per specification or customer requirements.
- Issue and control certifications, travelers, and process records linking part numbers, lots, parameters, Almen data, and inspection results; maintain auditable traceability.
- Identify deviations, initiate corrective actions, and requalify processes as needed.
- Ensure compliance with relevant spec (P11TF3), blueprint requirements, and support internal/external audits.
Blades Manufacturing Engineer (EDM Specialist)
GE Aerospace
Madisonville, KY
02.2023 - Current
- Setting up and maintaining EDM processes on multiple types of machines.
- Ensuring all hardware meets blueprint requirements.
- Reviewing nonconforming hardware against the blueprint to accept, reject, or repair status (Preliminary Review).
- Production and Prototype Tool Management.
- Standard work development and/or improvements.
- Machine programming and program offsets for production machines.
- Cycle Time Analysis for Process Improvements Using Lean Strategies.
- Driving root cause and corrective actions for your production lines.
- Daily management on providing information concerning your production line's performance.
- Integrates with other teams, and contributes to the area.
- Resolve issues in situations that require good technical knowledge and judgment within established procedures.
Flex 2 Operator
GE Aerospace
Madisonville, KY
07.2004 - 02.2023
- Producing quality aircraft turbine engine blades.
- Setting up and operating various EDM hole drill operations.
- Performing standard visual and measured checks on all hardware by work instructions/planning.
- Conforming or nonconforming hardware by said checks.
Quality Liaison
Dana Corp.
Hopkinsville, KY
10.2002 - 07.2004
- Worked between two sites troubleshooting and relaying quality problems on lines building automobile frames.
- Corrected the issue on site if possible and worked with both teams to address problem going forward.
Lead Man/Press setup
Dana Corp.
Hopkinsville, KY
01.2002 - 09.2002
- Making sure press bay ran smoothly by helping coordinators and staff.
- Helped schedule tooling change overs and run times of presses.
- Coordinated with shipping so that parts met demand.
- Installed and setup tools in presses.
- Ran the shift when coordinators were unavailable.
Production Welder
Dana Corp.
Hopkinsville, KY
03.2000 - 12.2001
- Producing truck frames.
- Press operator on presses stamping truck frame components.
Education
Certifying Agent – P11TF3 - Shot Peening of Metal Parts
GE Aerospace Special Process Technology Center
06-2024
Associate of Applied Science - Engineering Technology: Advanced Integrated Technology
Madisonville Community College
05-2024
Academic Diploma -
Hopkins County Central High School
01.1998
Skills
- Process qualification and oversight
- Intensity verification
- Coverage verification
- Media control
- Equipment calibration and maintenance
- Operator qualification
- Documentation and traceability
- Nonconformance management
- Standards and audit readiness
- Production and prototype tool management
- Standard work development
- Machine programming
- Cycle time analysis
- Lean strategies
- Root cause and corrective actions
- Daily management
- Team integration
- Technical knowledge
- Judgment
- Reading a micrometer
- Dial caliper
- Blueprint reading
- Measuring tight tolerances
- Welding
- Good communication skills
- Problem solving
- Fast thinking
- Organizational skills
- Fast, efficient worker
- Ability to learn new assignments quickly
Timeline
Shot Peen Certifying Agent
GE Aerospace
06.2024 - Current
Blades Manufacturing Engineer (EDM Specialist)
GE Aerospace
02.2023 - Current
Flex 2 Operator
GE Aerospace
07.2004 - 02.2023
Quality Liaison
Dana Corp.
10.2002 - 07.2004
Lead Man/Press setup
Dana Corp.
01.2002 - 09.2002
Production Welder
Dana Corp.
03.2000 - 12.2001
Certifying Agent – P11TF3 - Shot Peening of Metal Parts
GE Aerospace Special Process Technology Center
Associate of Applied Science - Engineering Technology: Advanced Integrated Technology
Madisonville Community College
Academic Diploma -
Hopkins County Central High School