Mike Thomas

Technical Expertise

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop innovative cold chain solutions.
• Maintain detailed documentation of all tests performed, supporting traceability and thorough record-keeping practices.
• Maintain all test lab equipment and coordinate annual calibration to ensure quality standards.
• Lead the cold chain process from initial design through final validation.

Leadership

• Oversee daily operations of testing lab, ensuring compliance with industry standards and protocols.
• Manage a team of packaging test engineers, providing guidance, training, and performance evaluations for continuous improvement.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes to enhance accuracy of test results.
• Manage scheduling and allocation of equipment and personnel to optimize workflow efficiency
• Establish and maintain relationships with external vendors to ensure timely procurement of testing materials and equipment.
• Enhance test lab efficiency by implementing streamlined processes.

Customer Focus

• Work as a cold chain specialist to assist sales reps with technical expertise from project initiation to closing.
• Lead customer meetings to review test results and provide recommendations.
• Consult with customers to discover their cold chain packaging needs and deliver the optimal solutions.
• Develop relationships and communicate with clients to explain proposals, present a statement of work, and discuss project status.
• Attend sales calls to help with packaging testing needs.
• Draft customer specific test protocols and validations.

Technical Expertise

• Conducted cold chain thermal testing and provided customers in accordance to industry and customer protocols.
• Interpreted and analyzed test data and results for customers and provided recommendations.
• Executed advanced level product testing , such as HALT, damage boundary, and monitored electrodynamic vibration testing with accelerometers.
• Conducted package testing in accordance to industry standards and customer specific protocols, such as ASTM and ISTA test standards.
• Developed custom fixtures for products and test equipment.

Leadership

• Trained all levels of Test Engineers from new employee training to advanced level testing.
• Served as technical resource for production and sales departments.
• Team lead for test technicians, which included creating daily schedules and supervising tasks.
• Assisted Production Manager with job functions including scheduling for equipment and production personnel in addition to leading a daily production meeting.
• Authored and reviewed technical reports and delivered reports to customers.
• Improved and updated training documents to increase productivity and reduce errors.

Customer Focus

• Drafted customer specific test and validation protocols
• Managed multiple projects concurrently and met customer deadlines.
• Ensured quality and accuracy by following good documentation practices.
• Provided consultative services for product and package protection.

• Worked collaboratively with designers in the research, ideation, evaluation, and validation stages of projects.
• Created designs in ArtiosCAD per customer requirements and cut samples on Kongsberg table.
• Conducted board analysis and compression tests to evaluate various samples and products.
• Utilized TOPS Pro to recommend most efficient pallet pattern to customers.
• Assisted in the ordering and checking of cutting dies.