Daryl Timms
East Lansing,MI
Summary
Results-driven Senior Project Manager and Mechanical Design Engineer with 20+ years of experience leading multi-million-dollar automation projects in high-volume manufacturing environments. Expert in end-to-end project delivery, including capital justification (ROI/NAV), supplier coordination, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), site commissioning, DFMEA, GD&T, tolerance analysis, and team leadership. Proven ability to solve complex technical challenges, manage cross-functional teams, train designers, and deliver projects on time and within budget while improving efficiency and reliability in paper, lid, and material handling automation systems.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
Invio Automation
11.2025 - Current
- Direct high-impact automation initiatives for material handling and industrial systems, leveraging expertise in project planning, risk management, and stakeholder alignment to ensure on-time delivery and performance targets.
- Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and operations teams to drive implementation of advanced conveyor, crane, and lift-assist solutions.
Industrial Sales – Material Handling Equipment
Material Handling Inc.
08.2025 - Current
- Consulted on and supported sales of industrial material handling solutions, including conveyors, cranes, and lift-assist systems.
- Applied deep technical knowledge to match client requirements with equipment specifications, contributing to successful project scoping and customer satisfaction.
Project Engineer – Paper Automation
Dart Container Corporation
01.2019 - 11.2024
- Led multi-million-dollar capital automation projects across multiple paper plate production facilities, delivering enhanced throughput, reliability, and cost efficiency.
- Authored comprehensive project proposals and performed detailed capital financial analyses (ROI, NPV) to secure executive approval and funding.
- Developed and executed detailed project plans, coordinated weekly/monthly cross-functional meetings, and maintained schedules using Microsoft Project.
- Created detailed machinery specifications for suppliers and conducted Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) and Production Acceptance Tests (PAT) to verify performance.
- Troubleshot complex automation issues during commissioning, collaborated with maintenance teams to establish preventive maintenance (PM) schedules, and worked with procurement to develop spare parts lists and procurement strategies.
Project Engineer – Lid Automation
Dart Container Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2018
- Spearheaded automation upgrades on lid and cup production lines, implementing process improvements that increased line efficiency and reduced downtime.
- Managed full project lifecycle: from concept and specification development through supplier coordination, installation, testing, and post-implementation support.
- Performed similar responsibilities as in Paper Automation role, including financial justification, FAT/SAT execution, troubleshooting, PM schedule creation, spare parts planning, and documentation.
Mechanical Design Engineer / Project Roles
Whirlpool Corporation – Technology Center
01.2006 - 01.2014
- Supported Laundry, Cleaning, and Kitchen Appliance Divisions by designing components, assemblies, and systems in a high-volume manufacturing environment.
- Utilized Pro/Engineer for 3D modeling, multi-part assemblies, GD&T application, tolerance stack-up analysis, datum selection, and production drawing release.
- Conducted DFMEA and risk assessments to improve product reliability and manufacturability.
- Collaborated with diverse teams to prototype, test, and transition designs to production, contributing to successful product launches and continuous improvement initiatives.
Education
M.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Bucknell University
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Bucknell University
Skills
- Project Management & Capital Planning (ROI, NPV, Scheduling)
- Automation & Process Improvement (Paper/Lid/Conveyor Systems)
- Mechanical Design (Pro/Engineer, Multi-Part Assemblies, GD&T, Datum Selection, Tolerance Stacks)
- DFMEA, Risk Assessment & Mitigation
- Factory & Site Acceptance Testing (FAT/SAT/PAT)
- Supplier & Cross-Functional Coordination
- Preventive Maintenance (PM) & Spare Parts Programs
- Technical Documentation & Training
- Tools: Pro/Engineer (Creo), SAP, Microsoft Project, Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
Invio Automation
11.2025 - Current
Industrial Sales – Material Handling Equipment
Material Handling Inc.
08.2025 - Current
Project Engineer – Paper Automation
Dart Container Corporation
01.2019 - 11.2024
Project Engineer – Lid Automation
Dart Container Corporation
01.2015 - 01.2018
Mechanical Design Engineer / Project Roles
Whirlpool Corporation – Technology Center
01.2006 - 01.2014
B.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Bucknell University
M.S. - Mechanical Engineering
Bucknell University