Derek Nicholas
Cullman
Summary
Manager and Engineer with extensive experience in the automotive manufacturing sector. Led cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with customer-specific requirements, driving operational excellence and enhancing customer satisfaction through strategic quality systems management.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Quality Field Engineer
Royal Technologies
Cullman
07.2017 - Current
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to ensure strict compliance with customer-specific requirements, driving organization-wide conformance and safeguarding key account relationships.
- Lead cross-functional teams in root-cause analysis and the implementation of permanent countermeasures to ensure rapid, definitive resolution of customer issues.
- Partnered with launch engineering teams to provide critical quality input during APQP/launch events, including conducting detailed PFMEA reviews.
- Cultivated proactive relationships with key customer stakeholders, driving continuous improvement and optimizing customer scorecard metrics.
- Acted as internal auditor for IATF 16949 certification, verifying adherence to quality systems management protocols.
- Guided and supported the controls engineering group in optimizing and developing PLC programs for complex robotic assembly equipment.
Manager - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
Cullman
10.2013 - 07.2017
- Directed the Assembly Process Engineering, Hot Stamp Engineering, and Weld Technician groups across all North American facilities.
- Led engineering and operations teams in formulating and executing strategic facility layouts and equipment plans for major capital investments, supporting seamless new model launches and capacity growth.
- Led the chief investigation and negotiation for cutting-edge technology procurement, onboarding two laser welding lines ($7M) and advanced laser cutting equipment ($2.4M).
- Collaborated with Topre Japan on new equipment builds, machine modifications, and capital investment budgeting to align strategic initiatives and enhance operational efficiency.
- Partnered with Sales and Finance to establish accurate cost-per-part pricing for assembly operations, justifying and securing profitable price points during direct customer negotiations.
- Managed departmental financial budgets and led continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, driving systematic reductions in overhead and manufacturing costs.
- Guided controls engineering group in optimizing and developing PLC programs for complex robotic assembly equipment, enhancing automation and reliability.
Assistant Manager - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
Cullman
08.2012 - 10.2013
- Led multi-disciplinary project teams through the execution of multi-million dollar engineering projects from initial scheduling to on-time, under-budget completion.
- Negotiated capital costs for robots, welding lines, and automation components while overseeing equipment development and acquisitions across North American plants.
- Relocated multiple high-volume assembly production lines to a new manufacturing facility, ensuring minimal disruption and maintaining production schedules.
- Facilitated team-based root-cause investigations and tracking matrices to drive engineering issues to 100% closure.
- Mentored and developed high-performing team of staff engineers and technicians, fostering skill enhancement and professional growth.
Process Engineer - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
Cullman
01.2007 - 08.2012
- Designed optimized manufacturing processes and plant layouts, partnering with operators to perform rigorous time studies for process verification.
- Collaborated with production floor teams using PDCA, A3 problem-solving, and 4M analysis to implement systematic, team-led kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives across high-volume lines.
- Evaluated customer design change requests (ECNs) and worked closely with the toolroom and production staff to design and integrate necessary tooling and equipment modifications.
- Coordinated with quality and production personnel to execute trial builds and compile technical feedback into status reports for executive leadership.
Systems Specialist
Intergraph Corporation SG&I Division
Huntsville
04.2005 - 01.2007
- Processed complex geospatial customer map data using GeoMedia to compile stable, usable data for computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software.
- Gathered user feedback to enhance user interface for automated map roll process, improving usability.
- Delivered advanced technical help-desk support and facilitated collaborative bug troubleshooting and peer-to-peer software training for end-users.
Process Engineer - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
Cullman
06.2004 - 04.2005
Education
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Technology
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL05-2004
Associates - Industrial Maintenance
University of West Alabama
Livingston, AL05-2003
Skills
- Quality control
- Root cause analysis
- Continuous improvement initiatives
- Project management
- Equipment procurement
- SolidWorks
- MS SQL Server
- Oracle Database
- Smartsheet
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Excel and Word
- Access and Outlook
- Problem solving
Job Related Training
- OSHA 10hr
- OSHA 40hr Hazardous Operations Management
- Toyota TPM Certification
- Toyota A3 Problem Solving Certification
- Electrical Safety NFPA 70E Certification
- Six Sigma White Belt certification
- RGJ Systematic Molding
- GD&T
Timeline
Quality Field Engineer
Royal Technologies
07.2017 - Current
Manager - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
10.2013 - 07.2017
Assistant Manager - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
08.2012 - 10.2013
Process Engineer - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
01.2007 - 08.2012
Systems Specialist
Intergraph Corporation SG&I Division
04.2005 - 01.2007
Process Engineer - Assembly Process Engineering Group
Topre America Corporation
06.2004 - 04.2005
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Technology
University of West Alabama
Associates - Industrial Maintenance
University of West Alabama