Caleb Leaser
Phoenix
Summary
Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist with strong background in identifying and implementing process improvements to enhance operational efficiency. Successfully led initiatives that streamlined workflows and reduced waste. Demonstrated proficiency in Lean methodologies and principles.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work History
Continuous Improvement Specialist
W.L. Gore & Associates
12.2024 - Current
- Led cross-functional teams to identify value & waste in their processes, define problems, conduct root cause analysis, and implement rapid, sustainable improvements.
- Facilitated 20+ kaizen events across product development, supply chain, and commercial sales teams with a 90% success rate of achieving and sustaining event targets.
- Developed and facilitated training programs in structured problem-solving, value stream mapping, daily operations management, and strategy deployment to upskill associates in lean methodologies.
- Partnered with executive leadership to set, monitor, and achieve measurable annual strategy goals.
Design Engineer
W.L. Gore & Associates
05.2022 - 12.2024
- Led design projects for innovative medical devices, ensuring compliance with industry standards.
- Developed and refined prototypes using CAD software to enhance product functionality.
- Streamlined design processes, reducing lead times for project completion and enhancing efficiency.
- Conducted thorough testing and validation of designs to ensure quality and performance standards.
Process Improvement Engineer
W.L. Gore & Associates
09.2020 - 05.2022
- Led cross-functional project teams to identify and implement process enhancements, improving operational efficiency.
- Analyzed manufacturing production data to identify root causes of low-yield processes and implement next-generation solutions.
Design Engineering Co-op
Crayola LLC
08.2018 - 08.2019
- Developed over 15 marker and toy sets through cross-functional collaboration with product designers and manufacturing engineers, receiving a patent for a Quick Articulating Easel (US 10,842,271).
- Drafted detailed specifications and bills of materials for external suppliers and tested incoming lots of product to ensure quality standards were being met.
Education
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering and Product Design
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania05-2020
Skills
- Lean Process Improvement
- Kaizen Facilitation
- Structured Problem Solving
- Value Stream Mapping
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Strategic Planning
- Daily Operations Management
- 5S Methodology
- Standard Work and Leader Standard Work
Accomplishments
- Increased clinical study team capacity by coaching the team to identify waste in their processes and facilitating a structured problem-solving and process mapping kaizen event. The team gained the equivalent productivity of 2 full-time associates while remaining headcount neutral, enabling them to pull their critical-path timeline in by 10 months.
- Implemented lean methodology and daily operational management disciplines in tooling design & manufacturing organization, reducing the cycle time from "order received" to "tooling delivered" from 3 months to 2 weeks.
- Mentored 27 leaders across the product development organization to learn, leverage, and coach A3 problem-solving methodology to their teams.
Timeline
Continuous Improvement Specialist
W.L. Gore & Associates
12.2024 - Current
Design Engineer
W.L. Gore & Associates
05.2022 - 12.2024
Process Improvement Engineer
W.L. Gore & Associates
09.2020 - 05.2022
Design Engineering Co-op
Crayola LLC
08.2018 - 08.2019
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering and Product Design
Lehigh University