Derron crossfield
New Bedford,MA
Summary
Results-driven manufacturing leader with over 7 years of progressive experience across production management, continuous improvement, and engineering roles in the food, bakery, and building materials industries. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, implement Lean and TPM strategies, and deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, and operational efficiency. Skilled in driving plant culture transformation, developing frontline leadership, and executing capital and process improvement projects. Recognized for reducing costs, optimizing headcount, increasing OEE, and fostering people-centric, safety-first environments that exceed operational goals.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Plant Production Manger
Marzetti
07.2024 - Current
- Led daily operations across processing and packaging for a high-volume food manufacturing facility, overseeing 200+ full-time employees and 30 temporary workers across multiple shifts.
- Improved overall plant culture score by 6%, driving a more engaged workforce through people-first leadership, targeted coaching, and development of frontline supervisors.
- Reduced OSHA recordable incidents by 55% within one year by leading a plant-wide safety culture transformation, executing proactive safety strategies, and reinforcing accountability.
- Developed and executed frontline leadership training, improving shop floor ownership and aligning team performance with safety, quality, and productivity goals.
- Delivered $250K in annual productivity and cost savings by redesigning processing lines to reduce manual labor, optimize headcount, and repurpose existing employees, directly lowering conversion costs.
- Increased OEE and equipment reliability by 5% year-over-year, supporting a 10% volume increase over plan through reinforcement of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) systems and enhanced preventive maintenance execution.
- Partnered closely with QA, Maintenance, and Supply Chain to maintain food safety compliance (HACCP, GMP) and ensure production continuity during high-demand periods.
Production Manager
Oldcastle
08.2023 - 07.2024
- Led day-to-day operations in production and packaging for a fast-paced building materials manufacturing plant, managing a team of 50 full-time employees and 10 temporary workers across multiple shifts.
- Implemented key performance indicators (KPIs) to improve operational visibility, reduce unplanned downtime, and align team performance with safety, quality, and throughput goals.
- Reduced downtime and waste by leading Lean workshops, including Kaizen events and cross-functional problem-solving projects focused on process efficiency and waste elimination.
- Drove $190K in annual cost savings by implementing a regrind material recovery process, successfully reintroducing waste material back into the raw material stream without compromising product quality.
- Improved plant safety culture, reducing incidents and improving compliance by reinforcing daily safety talks, visual management, and frontline engagement.
- Enhanced team performance and accountability through structured daily Gemba walks, shift handoff improvements, and continuous coaching of frontline leaders.
- Partnered with Engineering, Maintenance, and Quality teams to support equipment reliability, material flow optimization, and on-time delivery to customers.
Maintenance Technician
US Army
03.2022 - 08.2023
- Conducted routine inspections of equipment and systems to ensure optimal functionality.
- Performed preventive maintenance on HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems to minimize downtime.
- Diagnosed mechanical issues and executed repairs efficiently to restore operational capabilities.
- Collaborated with team members to streamline maintenance processes and improve workflow efficiency.
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Whirlpool
10.2021 - 02.2022
- Led and facilitated Kaizen events across production and maintenance teams, identifying and eliminating process bottlenecks that improved line efficiency by 8%.
- Developed and implemented visual management tools (SQDC boards, standard work visuals), enhancing operator engagement and real-time performance tracking.
- Standardized key processes and work instructions, increasing compliance and reducing variation across shifts, supporting ISO and internal quality audits.
- Performed root cause analysis (RCA) and 5-Why investigations on recurring downtime and scrap issues, resulting in targeted corrective actions and improved yield.
- Trained frontline staff and supervisors on Lean tools and methodologies, building continuous improvement capability across all levels of the organization.
Production Supervisor
Gold Medal Bakery
09.2019 - 09.2021
- Supervised daily operations across baking, packaging, and sanitation, leading a team of 25+ employees in a high-speed, food-grade production environment.
- Drove a culture of accountability and high performance, improving labor efficiency by 12% through coaching, daily shift huddles, and performance recognition programs.
- Implemented best practices in GMP compliance, allergen control, and sanitation, consistently passing internal and third-party food safety audits with zero critical findings.
- Reduced product waste through standardized work procedures, improved oven loading techniques, and tighter process controls during mixing and proofing stages.
- Mentored and developed frontline team leads, creating a strong internal pipeline of future supervisors and improving shift coverage flexibility without increasing headcount.
Project Engineer
Denn Dock and Company
05.2018 - 10.2019
- Led capital improvement and equipment installation projects from concept to execution, managing timelines, budgets, contractors, and commissioning processes.
- Executed facility and line layout modifications to support increased capacity and workflow efficiency, reducing material handling time by 20%.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams including maintenance, production, and safety to ensure seamless integration of new machinery and systems.
- Managed vendor relationships and oversaw procurement of equipment, ensuring technical specs, compliance, and cost targets were met.
- Applied root cause analysis and FMEA tools during design and post-implementation reviews to continuously improve project outcomes and system reliability.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Western Governors University
Salt Lake City, UT02-2026
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Caribbean Maritime University
Kingstion Jamaica 07-2018
Skills
- Manufacturing processes
- Six sigma methodologies
- Cost reduction strategies
- Production line optimization
- Operations management
- Scheduling
- Continuous improvement
- Project management
- Lean manufacturing principles
Certification
Lean Six Sigma green Belt
PMI
Timeline
Plant Production Manger
Marzetti
07.2024 - Current
Production Manager
Oldcastle
08.2023 - 07.2024
Maintenance Technician
US Army
03.2022 - 08.2023
Continuous Improvement Engineer
Whirlpool
10.2021 - 02.2022
Production Supervisor
Gold Medal Bakery
09.2019 - 09.2021
Project Engineer
Denn Dock and Company
05.2018 - 10.2019
MBA - Business Administration
Western Governors University
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Engineering
Caribbean Maritime University
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