Craig Charlton
Cape Canaveral
Summary
Manufacturing/Operations management professional with in-depth experience in overcoming complex challenges and making high-stakes decisions using experience-backed judgment, strong work ethic, and irreproachable integrity. Direct and participate in high-level operational initiatives, including infrastructure design, process reengineering, turnaround management, technical studies performed to validate ROI and safety analysis for Production System, and reorganization. Adept in assuming hands-on leadership role overseeing strategic planning and initiative management, multi-site operations, labor, team building, and project management. Demonstrate ability to communicate principles to internal/external personnel on all levels to facilitate progress and initiate turnaround. Technical Leadership with history of defining Engineering requirements and specifications. Connected to domestic/international teams, both internally and externally, in the manufacturing industry at the uppermost the uppermost executive level. Real-time access to the latest in manufacturing technology and future factory concepts. Developed documents to set the standard for vendor/supplier qualification to machine hardware and support commercial airplanes. Standardized the requirements across the supply chain base. Maintain up to date state-of-the-art Production system, work cells, and filler lines for day-to-day functions.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Technology Specialist – New Product Introduction
Blue Origin
Merritt Island
07.2024 - Current
- Senior Technical Specialist involves applying advanced technical expertise in a specific area to support complex projects
- Provided technical guidance on critical aspects of spacecraft development, manufacturing, or testing, while upholding rigorous quality standards and safety protocols within the company's mission to pioneer space exploration
- Responsibilities included leading technical analysis, troubleshooting complex issues, designing solutions, mentoring junior engineers, and collaborating with cross-functional teams across the organization
- Tool design for complex structure to include creation of detailed build plan
- Calculations for necessary tooling space with safety (personnel and product), repeatability, sustainability, maintaining vision on cost
- Performed planning documents for release to the factory floor to include eBOM to mBOM transfer and consumption
- Validation of configuration and sequence to install including proper tools and processes
Program Manager / Project Manager
GKN Aerospace
Charleston
02.2023 - 06.2024
- Transferring product and tooling for the 3 major program- to include office space and support areas about a 155,000 sq foot facility
- Programs moved from one to another location, extracting from the production to make sure it is clean so that it can be sold
- Worked with cross countries, ensuring product safety which includes packing and restoring/ reselling
- Managed various contracts with different nations
- Project Budgeting
Manager / Project Manager (Machine Shop/Advanced Manufacturing)
Boeing Commercial Airplane
Charleston
03.2012 - 01.2022
- Designed/Senior Project Manager of Implementation/Setup requirements to support creation of an emergent operations ship side team consisting of 20+ machines: airplane assist, wire repair, tube and duct repair, NDI inspection, precision quality inspection area, composite repair, filler (CFRP/GFRP) fabrication machine shop, tool grind shop
- Upon completion, maintained management of all areas
- Directed and created training requirements, wrote training procedures, contracted with external facilities to utilize specified curriculum for training in designated discipline; followed by one-on-one OJT
- Upon evaluation, determined cross-training opportunities to help support the business needs and goals for greater than 80 employees
- Implement change orders/opportunities by applying statistical methods supporting future factory (Manufacturing) needs/requirements
- Invented process to remove on-airplane drilling operations thereby removing ERGO factors, enhancing safety, reducing critical path flow, and removing FOD from operation resulting in cost efficiency and on-time delivery
- Finished process was patent protected (Patent #10,934,020/11,370563) implemented at Enterprise level
- Architect for developing new process in support of Production System and Rate Enabler for design, test, and implementation of new method to align and install barrel to barrel and bonnet to barrel assembly
- Guest speaking as composite machine expert (BDE) at seminars for expos/new machining facility start-ups/technical colleges/major machine manufacturer merger both domestic and international
- External consultation (i.e., JGR, DMG Mori, IFW; Hannover Germany) on process/compliance, supplier qualification, and machining requirements/tolerances, while maintaining Boeing proprietorship confidentiality
- Familiar with AutoCad, CATIA, Solid Works and Microsoft suite of tools
- Capable of using and designing in all electronic tools above as well as light boards for blue prints
Manager / Project Manager (Machine Shop)
Boeing Commercial Airplane
Everett
06.2007 - 03.2012
- Directed the operation of 787 build requirements to ensure smooth operation and continuous flow of communication
- Organized the triage center consisting of four larger groups to allow immediate support to 787 customers
- Supervised team in lean activities, 5S implementation, and shim cell stabilization while executing EVM (earned value metrics) to senior staff
- Duties included prioritization of work load and daily task supporting customer
- Streamlined cost metrics, burn down, as well as future expansion vision and growth to support real time emergent efforts and ship side support along with 787 assembly line to use in support of ordering material aiding in Make/Buy determination with supporting data
Project Manager
Boeing
02.2006 - 06.2007
- Organized machining center for integration, fabrication, build, test, and check out of Shim Fabrication Cell (Titanium, GFRP & CFRP Composite material) in support of 787 airplane requirements
- Responded to customers and management throughout the shift to ensure the best possible passenger service was delivered
- Performed procurement of machines, support equipment, area layout/design, cutter technology, measurement process, safety, and quality requirements
- Duties included vendor evaluation, selection, Engineering procurement specification, and vendor Test and Check out at vendor and on site
- Maintained capital spending and projected budget for capital along with the material procurement, staffing requirements, as well as EVM, P3E, and milestone schedules with customer/supplier daily interface
- Managed the visual controls in support FA&D requirements and factory of the future vision on 787 production line involving statement of work, software design, and factory layout
Manufacturing Engineer / Lead Ops Group / Acting Manager
Boeing Special Operations Forces / Aerospace Support
Ft. Walton Beach
03.2005 - 02.2006
- Led Internal/External Suppliers Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, and Management to positively impact supplier quality, cost, and schedule along with the execution of work instructions for electrical/electronic/structural/systems assembly and installation used in the major modification of military aircrafts
- Managed engineering and internal/external suppliers for design changes and producibility with define/produce/supplier teams for Manufacturing Engineering along with the trade and cost studies in support of program decisions
- Advised peers in all aspects of Manufacturing Engineering efforts involving Lean Processes and Employee Involvement as well as extensive internal and external customer coordination
- Utilized the VSM tools used in accordance with company wide Lean Enterprise practices to create road map of current to future state
- Responded to production problems; organized the sequence of operations that affect product performance; and established the advanced manufacturing technology
- Generate decision reports from analysis with recommendations to implement
- Performing/identifying potential suppliers for evaluation around ability to support/supply solution to developed requirements
- Developed overall manufacturing plans, detailed work instructions, and designed changes to the plan of Manufacturing Engineering and Operations Organizations
- Validated MBOM consumption including requirement/s verification
- Served as the Lead Liaison Manufacturing Engineer supporting multiple sites during build phase of military C-130 program
Manufacturing Engineer / ME Planner Lead (Military GPS & Commercial XM4)
Boeing Satellite Systems
El Segundo
03.2005 - 02.2006
- Managed the process improvements in support of customer and program commitments for product delivery as required per performance plans and scheduled commitments
- Recognized for the ability to create, maintain, and release build packages to support factory assembly, installation, wire harness, harness stop, and testing work instructions while directing and collaborating with internal / external suppliers, Design Engineers, and GSO Engineers doing continuous engineering, design changes, producibility, and implementation of drawing changes and tooling requirements
- Organized man-loading operations and cost controls to meet delivery dates and determined current process controls to facilitate new footprints for area layout
- Established real time technical solutions for immediate factory support with the development of master process planning and process team in root cause and disposition of discrepant hardware using EPAR system
- Assisted process teams in conceiving, creating, and implementing cost reduction methods, as well as standardizing and documenting processes
- Identified product/process characteristics to complete control plans; assured processes were in control while evaluating and implementing their variation reduction; and developed continuous process improvement
- Performed continuous review available technology at other Boeing Facilities and industry leaders
Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer / Task Leader (TDY)
Boeing
Kennedy Space Center
10.2001 - 08.2002
- Performed varied duties including but not limited to averting program slow-down by providing technical expertise for investigation of technical issues as related to program requirements and communication across product teams; participating in technical interchange meetings; and implementing all program requirements through performance testing, staging, and troubleshooting procedures
- Led the integration/de-integration of mechanical and electro-mechanical flight hardware and facilitated training to technicians and inspectors in both fabrication and installation of assemblies as the task leader
- Served as the liaison, problem solver, and facilitator between task teams, engineering, quality assurance, product management, and customer representatives
- Conveyed company procedures, which ensured successful completion of modification and fabrication projects and was granted MRB disposition authority on mechanical, structural, and thermal systems
Manufacturing Engineer / Project Manager / Lean Manufacturing Facilitator
Boeing HSF&E
Palmdale
10.1998 - 01.2001
- Directed and coordinated activities such as the development, execution, and factory follow up of an aerospace product; designed/built plan with internal and external suppliers, including full product schedules, cost estimate coordination and rationale, and detailed product flow and build diagrams
- Generated design, layout, selection, and installation of state-of-the-art processing/fabrication area as project manager with a support team of 20, utilizing lean manufacturing processes
- Produced CATIA models for Stainless Steel and Aluminum Cold plates and performed drawing changes and specification changes as necessary to maintain first-time high-quality product
- Determined digital x-ray system (patent pending) for the space shuttle to support advance manufacturing practices to include proposal, schedules, cost, ROI, engineering changes, and internal/external customer concerns
- Developed Cold plate redesign team responsible for facilitating machining processes while working closely with design engineers of supplier to redesign stationary digital x-ray system and implement a portable x-ray system
- Supervised the machine shop in modifying technology as well as maintained daily interaction and frequent lead of high-level organization teams requiring strong decision-making abilities
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Project Management
AIU
01.2007
Associate of Arts - Business Management
AIU
01.2005
Skills
- Microsoft Suite of Tools
- MS Projects
- SAP
- Agile
- OneNote
- CATIA
- Creo
- AutoCad
Awards
- Space Flight Awareness Honoree Award
- Space Flight Awareness Team Award
- TLE (Technical Lead Engineer) Machining Composites - 2013
- Special Inventions Award - 2014
- BDE (Boeing Designated Expert) in Rapid Prototyping - 2016
- Fast Pitch Winner - 09/01/17
- BCA Excellence in PE Award - 4th Quarter 2018
- ATF (Associate Tech Fellow) FSDA - 2021
Patents Pending
- System and Method of conduction Digital X-Ray Analysis - Published 05/27/04
- Defer w/Merit - Fuselage Edge Distance Measurement Process
- Defer w/Merit - 3D Bracket Locating Adjustable Drill Jig
Patents
- Ergonomic, Puncture Proof Kneeling Pads - (10,427,376)
- Apparatus for Transferring Precision Hole Pattern Dimensions - (10,207,333)
- Drill Plate Assemblies - (10,016,820)
- Ergonomic Automated Workstation - (9,999,971)
- Exterior Indexing Process and Tooling - (9,981,367)
- Flexible Electromagnetic Clamp - (9,496,080)
- Automated Filler Production Method - (8,655,480)
- Large Manufacturing Assembly Laser Alignment System - (10,633,117)
- Method and System for Joining Structures - (10,934,020)
- Method and System for Joining Structures - (11,370,563)
Timeline
Senior Technology Specialist – New Product Introduction
Blue Origin
07.2024 - Current
Program Manager / Project Manager
GKN Aerospace
02.2023 - 06.2024
Manager / Project Manager (Machine Shop/Advanced Manufacturing)
Boeing Commercial Airplane
03.2012 - 01.2022
Manager / Project Manager (Machine Shop)
Boeing Commercial Airplane
06.2007 - 03.2012
Project Manager
Boeing
02.2006 - 06.2007
Manufacturing Engineer / Lead Ops Group / Acting Manager
Boeing Special Operations Forces / Aerospace Support
03.2005 - 02.2006
Manufacturing Engineer / ME Planner Lead (Military GPS & Commercial XM4)
Boeing Satellite Systems
03.2005 - 02.2006
Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer / Task Leader (TDY)
Boeing
10.2001 - 08.2002
Manufacturing Engineer / Project Manager / Lean Manufacturing Facilitator
Boeing HSF&E
10.1998 - 01.2001
Bachelor of Arts - Project Management
AIU
Associate of Arts - Business Management
AIU