- I participate in various sports activities for physical activity, camaraderie, and personal growth
- Team Sports
- Backpacking
- Outdoor Recreation
- Playing Sports
Edwin Thompson
Lake Orion,MI
Summary
Accomplished Executive with domestic and international experience in operations, Manufacturing Efficiency, P&L oversight, Profitability, HR, Sales, Marketing, Procurement, Engineering, and Manufacturing. Results-oriented, decisive leader with proven success in manufacturing process implementation, new market identification, and strategic positioning for multimillion-dollar automation manufacturers. Track record of increasing sales and growing bottom line while spearheading operational improvements to drive productivity and reduce cost, resulting in increased profits. Excel in dynamic, demanding environments while remaining pragmatic and focused.
Results-driven executive with extensive experience in strategic leadership and operational excellence. Proven track record in driving growth, optimizing processes, and fostering team collaboration. Exceptional skills in strategic planning, financial management, and stakeholder engagement. Adaptable and reliable, consistently achieving high-impact results in dynamic environments.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President Manufacturing-Design & Build
Rhino Tool House
11.2023 - Current
- Cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, vendors, regulators, and community leaders to promote collaboration and long-term success.
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of major projects, resulting in increased efficiency and client satisfaction.
- Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals.
- Managed financial planning and budgeting processes, ensuring fiscal responsibility and maximizing return on investments.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement, fostering innovation and driving sustainable growth across the organization.
- Identified opportunities to improve business process flows and productivity.
- Enhanced company profitability by implementing strategic business plans and optimizing operational processes.
- Built high-performance teams through effective recruitment practices focused on competency alignment coupled with ongoing performance management processes.
- Spearheaded organizational restructuring initiatives, streamlining operations and reducing overhead costs.
- Cultivated company-wide culture of innovation and collaboration.
- Oversaw business-wide changes to modernize procedures and organization.
- Monitored key business risks and established risk management procedures.
- Managed operations across 2 locations, ensuring seamless manufacturing and design processes.
- Revitalized cultural performance to address and resolve underlying issues.
- Concluded 2024 with the highest single-quarter results ever recorded in the company, Lathrup $4M, Hovair $6M.
VICE-PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER
Fibro Laepple Technology (FLT)
06.2019 - 12.2023
- Increased EBITA 7% year over year
- Developed a successful sales plan for the new sales team, Sales increased from $1M to average of $8M per year in 3 years, increasing backlog to $24M
- Expanded industry focus beyond Automotive, added Aerospace & General Industry customers, diversifying business by 20%
- Participate in Monthly Global business alignment meetings with Laepple Executive Board of Directors
- Implemented ISO Quality system utilized in manufacturing, which resulted in improving efficiencies of team members and reduced engineering and manufacturing defects
- Launched new ERP system that integrated all aspects of automation manufacturing
- Lead all aspects of business in 2 international locations, the US & Windsor Ontario
- Spearheaded process for facility location, including location research and lease negotiation to combine 2 locations into one new location sized for manufacturing and growth
- Closed Canadian Operations to improve overall effectiveness and profitability
- Managed, coordinated, developed, and implemented new focused purchasing methods, procedures, and policies for continuous improvement of procurement functions
TERRITORY & CHANNEL SALES MANAGER
Rockwell Automation
09.2016 - 06.2019
- Lead team to single largest sales year in territory history, $187M-2017
- Ensured channel partners met or exceeded planning and delivery requirements
- Engaged strategically and proactively with distributors to achieve performance, ensure disciplined sales processes were in place, drive market-making business opportunities and support the removal of associated execution obstacles
- Ensure that the Detroit team had the right competency and domain expertise to efficiently maximize growth while supporting the OEM, Industry, and Channel Partners
- Recruited, retained, and developed the best talent for the territory
- Developed and executed workforce plans for Detroit territory including critical role identification, succession planning, and employee development plans
TEAM LEAD, OEM SALES
Rockwell Automation
03.2015 - 02.2016
- Responsible for leadership of OEM sales team, assisting in the development and implementation of sales strategies for OEM customers
- Established executive-level relationships with all customers, both manufacturing and purchasing management
- Lead team in expanding current share with OEM customers
- Assisted team members in the development and pursuit of career goals
- Responsible for largest single customer in territory while leading team
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Rockwell Automation
05.2012 - 03.2015
- Responsible for the development and implementation of sales strategies at Global End User customers including Ford Motor Company, Tower International, Magna, Gestamp, Johnson Controls, Dura Automotive, along with numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
- Active team member of the Ford Global Account team
- Established executive-level relationships with all customers, both manufacturing and purchasing management
- Expanded Rockwell’s product influence on customer manufacturing specifications
- Exceeded yearly sales goals for 2013 and 2014, both overall sales goals and focused product goals
- Reversed Ford Dearborn Paint shop's prior decision to use outside integrators for plant upgrades to use Rockwell Automations CSM and LSC services, an increase of $2.5M in sales per year
GLOBAL ACCOUNT MANAGER
Bosch Rexroth
03.2007 - 05.2012
- Member of the Global Automotive Management team based in Germany
- The automotive team is responsible for obtaining major automotive manufacturing specifications
- Responsible for multiple core products consisting of electric drives/controls to include PLC, CNC, HMI and servo's, DC Fastening tools, Production Battery tools, Weld invertors and Transformers, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, & Linear/mechanical motion systems
- Obtained Global Battery Tool contract for General Motors Vehicle Operations
- Resulting in $800K in sales in a 3-year period
- Managed the General Motors global blanket for weld transformers, with over $1 million in sales each year for 4 years
- Negotiated Preferred supplier/rebate agreement with Dana Manufacturing Corporate Purchasing and Engineering, resulting in a 60% increase in business
- Successfully obtained global single source for AC Weld invertors with Benteler Automotive
- Provided executive contact to key automotive Tier 1 and transplant customers
SR. MANUFACTURING ENGINEER
Ford Motor Company
04.2000 - 03.2007
- Lead Controls Engineer on numerous machining and assembly lines from inception to launch
- Initiated many cost savings ideas to support program cost targets
- Regularly facilitated project simultaneous engineering sessions with major equipment suppliers
- Actively worked with plant staff and machine tool installation personnel to investigate and resolve manufacturing and engineering issues
- Identified and resolved program issues thru Six Sigma techniques
- Ford Motor Company Green Belt certified
- Developed and implemented corporate standards including, Electrical, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, and Lubrication
- Contract development of single-source agreements with numerous Tier 2 suppliers
- Authored Powertrain Interlock specification
- Assigned as the Controls Department ISO representative for 3 years
SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER
Cross Huller
07.1994 - 04.2000
MACHINE TOOL ELECTRICIAN
Au-Tec/Lamb Technicon
05.1993 - 11.1994
LEAD CONTROLS TECHNICIAN
Kasper Machine
11.1994 - 07.1994
SERGEANT, 7TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
US Army
08.1987 - 04.1992
Education
Manufacturing Engineering -
The University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MISkills
- Change Management
- Resource Management
- Efficiency Improvement
- Process Improvement
- Contracts & Negotiations
- Project Planning
- Reducing Costs
- Risk Assessment
- Strategic Planning
- Adaptability
- Conflict Resolution
- Lean Six Sigma Practices
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
Accomplishments
- NA Territory Mgr of Year, Rockwell Automation, 2017
- Chairman’s Award/Maui Vacation, Bosch Rexroth, 2010
Professional Development
- MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, 08/01/15, Rockwell Automation
- LEADING CHANGE, 09/01/18, Rockwell Automation
- EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION, 02/01/09, Bosch Rexroth
- ADVANCED LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, 10/01/90, US Army
Hobbies and Interests
- Coaching Youth Hockey
- Volunteering at local shelter
- Outdoor Activities
2017 Territory Sales Manager of the Year
Single largest territory revenue year in history
Interests
Timeline
Vice President Manufacturing-Design & Build
Rhino Tool House
11.2023 - Current
VICE-PRESIDENT & GENERAL MANAGER
Fibro Laepple Technology (FLT)
06.2019 - 12.2023
TERRITORY & CHANNEL SALES MANAGER
Rockwell Automation
09.2016 - 06.2019
TEAM LEAD, OEM SALES
Rockwell Automation
03.2015 - 02.2016
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Rockwell Automation
05.2012 - 03.2015
GLOBAL ACCOUNT MANAGER
Bosch Rexroth
03.2007 - 05.2012
SR. MANUFACTURING ENGINEER
Ford Motor Company
04.2000 - 03.2007
LEAD CONTROLS TECHNICIAN
Kasper Machine
11.1994 - 07.1994
SENIOR CONTROLS ENGINEER
Cross Huller
07.1994 - 04.2000
MACHINE TOOL ELECTRICIAN
Au-Tec/Lamb Technicon
05.1993 - 11.1994
SERGEANT, 7TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP
US Army
08.1987 - 04.1992
Manufacturing Engineering -
The University of Detroit Mercy
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