DAVID WATERS
Beaufort,SC
Summary
With over 28 years of manufacturing and management experience, an Operations Manager excelling in providing focused leadership for both start-ups and established companies seeking transformation and corporate renewal. Successfully implemented strategic and tactical models of business-development campaigns in Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Proven track record demonstrating ability to drive growth and achieve operational excellence. Expertise in streamlining processes, optimizing efficiency, and delivering exceptional results for any organization.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
Work History
General Manager Operations
SPECIALITY VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS MEXICO
12.2012 - 10.2024
- Took business revenue to four million dollars within 24 months during significant down term in economy
- Managed production environment, engineering center, regulatory needs, purchasing group, financial team including outsourcing and safety and security compliance needs
- Developed and brought to market over 50 new designs for new products during 10 years of operations
- Set up over 5 different market reps to represent the company in adverse markets throughout the country improving sales 25%
- Reduced cost of sales from start-up by over 20% through negotiations, price reductions, alternative materials and suppliers and labor/production efficiencies
Vice President Operations
CENTIGON/BAE-(FORMALLY O'GARA HESS & EISEN)
10.2004 - 07.2006
- Transitioned the business from custom-based manufacturing to a production-line process, and outsourced assistance to reduce costs and enhance market potential for products
- Improved profitability and developed new products during a period of significant market downturn, reduced sales and a market transition towards low-cost manufacturing
- Improved EBITDA by $1 million (17% increase) in CY2005, despite suffering a 20% reduction in total revenue
- Reengineered production line processes, improving the gross margin on the company's principal product by 23% and generating a $3.8 million increase in EBITDA
- Opened 2 previously inaccessible international markets, generating $11+ million in annual revenue during this period
General Manager Operations
O´GARA HESS & EISENHARDT ARMORING COMPANY OF MEXICO
03.2003 - 12.2004
- Accountable for strategic/operational planning, finance, manufacturing, marketing, sales, QA, technology/engineering, IT, customer service and HR
- Managed up to 88 employees with $17.8 million in annual P&L responsibility
- Spearheaded a turnaround for a division that had not been profitable for 16 consecutive months – including a $344,000 loss in CY2003 – and delivered $3.6 million in EBITDA for CY2004
- Trimmed $400,000+ in costs by negotiating better terms and reducing labor and general operating expenses
Plant Manager Operations
NAKANO FOODS
01.2001 - 03.2003
- Acted as the General Manager of this $19 million operation in the absence of local management: reporting directly to the Vice President of Operations in Chicago, IL
- Charged with revitalizing this revenue growing – yet income stagnant operation – while managing the engineering, maintenance, production, quality, laboratory, logistics, customer service, HR and back-office administration functions
- Improved operating income by $1.7 million in CY2002, with virtually no reductions in manpower and a total increase in gross revenue of only $2.6 million
- Reduced the cost per bottled product by as much as 38%, while increasing production line efficiencies by an average of 25% across 3 bottling lines
- Slashed fixed distribution costs $400,000 by working with suppliers, eliminating overhead and better managing inventories (raw material and finished good)
General Manager
FALCON FOAM CORPORATION
05.1998 - 01.2000
- Held full P&L responsibility for the world's largest expandable polystyrene plastics plant with $38.6 million in revenue, 255,000 sq
- Of production space, and up to 250 employees
- Served as a first-tier supplier to the recreational vehicle, garage door, construction, packaging and automotive parts markets
- Managed all planning and operating initiatives within the marketing and sales, engineering, production, quality, maintenance, accounting and HR functions
- Improved product yield 5% – with raw materials representing 51% of cost of sales – through improvements in production processes and preventative maintenance and by instituting stringent inventory control procedures
Director of Operations
OGARA HESS & EISENHARDT ARMORING OF MEXICO
07.1996 - 04.1998
- Held full P&L responsibility – except for sales – for this privately owned, start-up operation
- Transitioned the company from a kit supplied manufacturer to a sustainable independent business, generating annualized sales of $10.5 million within an 18-month period
Maintenance Manager and Plant Manager
FALCON MANUFACTURING
04.1994 - 07.1996
- Led all plant operations – including production and maintenance – for this $21 million business with up to 170 reports
Petty Officer 2nd Class
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.1985 - 06.1994
- Served as a boiler technician (boilers/turbines, compressors, pumps, pneumatics, hydraulics and power plant operations) aboard an aircraft carrier and 2 Adams-class destroyers stationed at San Diego, CA
- Water and Fuels laboratory technician and flame spray and electrostatic powder coating technician
Education
Bachelor of science - Mechanical Engineering/US Navy
San Diego City College
San Diego, CASkills
- Strategic Planning
- Detailed production
- Capex management
- High volume production
- Lean Manufacturing
- Kaizen
- TQM
- EHS
- PSM
- SCM
- TPM
- Preventative maintenance
- Transformational management
- JD Edwards
- SAP ERP systems
- Operational efficiency
- Risk management
- Quality control
- Conflict resolution
Timeline
General Manager Operations
SPECIALITY VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS MEXICO
12.2012 - 10.2024
Vice President Operations
CENTIGON/BAE-(FORMALLY O'GARA HESS & EISEN)
10.2004 - 07.2006
General Manager Operations
O´GARA HESS & EISENHARDT ARMORING COMPANY OF MEXICO
03.2003 - 12.2004
Plant Manager Operations
NAKANO FOODS
01.2001 - 03.2003
General Manager
FALCON FOAM CORPORATION
05.1998 - 01.2000
Director of Operations
OGARA HESS & EISENHARDT ARMORING OF MEXICO
07.1996 - 04.1998
Maintenance Manager and Plant Manager
FALCON MANUFACTURING
04.1994 - 07.1996
Petty Officer 2nd Class
UNITED STATES NAVY
01.1985 - 06.1994
Bachelor of science - Mechanical Engineering/US Navy
San Diego City College
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