Open To Work
ERIC HODGES
Sterling Heights,Michigan
Work Preference
Summary
Adaptable Manufacturing Engineer with experience dedicated to organizational streamlining. Successful at complex problem solving and training in leadership. Adept at machine maintenance and training new staff.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Manufacturing Engineer
Ford Motor Company
Sterling Heights, MI
09.2025 - Current
- Specified equipment with OEMs, reviewed quotes to ensure compliance with Ford processes and specifications for equipment purchases.
- Organized purchase of replacement machines following Ford processes to enhance capacity and minimize downtime/errors.
- Gear and Axel Manufacturing
Manufacturing Engineer
Morbark LLC
Winn, MI
04.2023 - 10.2024
- Developed and implemented process improvements that enhanced quality and minimized defects.
- Drafted proposals for purchasing updated manufacturing equipment to replace obsolete machinery, aiming to decrease production defects and mitigate risk to employees.
- Supported machine shop during high-demand periods by coordinating outsourcing of high-volume or simple parts to local manufacturers.
- Supported management initiatives to upgrade plant security by installing security cameras to monitor operations.
- High Performance Equipment Manufacturer
Manufacturing Engineering Tech
Saint Gobain Performance Plastics
Beaverton, MI
06.2021 - 02.2023
- Provided engineering support to operations during production of medical grade injection molded silicon devices in clean room.
- Resolved process issues by modifying program parameters of Engel injection molding presses, ensuring consistent quality.
- Develop production process for new tooling and or new products.
- Implemented process improvements and tooling / fixturing changes to improve quality and reduce defects.
- Supported production team and maintenance personnel to streamline processes and enhance overall production efficiency.
- Produced medical-grade injection molded silicon devices
Manufacturing Engineering Tech
TMS.
Pinconning, MI
09.2020 - 04.2021
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive PM program for the 32 active robots in use at the plant.
- Implemented process improvements and tooling / fixturing changes to improve quality and reduce defects.
- Coordinated and assisted in emergency repairs of FANUC material handling robots, minimizing downtime.
- Supported production team and maintenance personnel to meet and exceed production goals through process improvements and enhanced equipment uptime.
- Acted as liaison between plant personnel and equipment vendor, facilitating effective communication and support.
- CNC tube Bending
Manufacturing Engineer
YAPP USA.
Romulus, MI
02.2019 - 09.2020
- Installed new assembly equipment for a new product including line layout, equipment placement, initial equipment power up, debug and trial.
- Executed process improvements and tooling/fixturing changes to enhance quality and minimize defects.
- Served as liaison between plant personnel and equipment vendor to facilitate effective equipment integration.
- Developed operator work instructions for the new assembly area to ensure consistent assembly process.
- Supported production team and maintenance personnel to enhance production goals through process improvements and increased equipment uptime.
- Automotive Fuel Systems
Manufacturing Engineer
YFAI INC.
Highland Park, MI
07.2016 - 02.2019
- Designed and manufactured locating details for robotic stitch cell to improve repeatability of the stitch path reducing scrap and repairs by more than 80%.
- Implemented model changes for DS truck instrument panel and interior door panels, specifically for passenger side air bag laser etching, door assembly, and weld areas.
- Executed program adjustments to uphold quality standards for robotic stitching and injection molding processes.
- Developed daily checklists ensuring consistency of process parameters for safety-critical operations.
- Supported production team and maintenance personnel to meet and exceed production goals through process improvements and enhanced equipment uptime.
- Automotive Interior Components
Manufacturing Engineer
JCI INC.
Highland Park, MI
02.2013 - 07.2016
- Coordinated annual maintenance and preventive maintenance scheduling for 2 KUKA KR100 HA Robots, 1 ABB IRC5, and 8 Fanuc R2000 ia Robots to uphold quality standards.
- Supported production team and maintenance personnel to meet and exceed production goals through process improvements and enhanced equipment uptime.
- Implemented model changes for DS truck instrument panel and interior door panels, focusing on passenger side air bag laser etching and door assembly and weld areas.
- Completed training Corse # ccp146 fundamentals of Logix 5000 Aug of 2015.
- Contributed to the development of automotive interior components for enhanced vehicle aesthetics.
Manufacturing Engineer
UNITED MACHINING INC.
Macomb Twp, MI
07.2012 - 01.2013
- Automotive Exhaust Components
- Designed and implemented quality tracking for robotic weld operations, capturing weld defect types, first time thru data, scrap rates, and successful repair tracking to improve weld quality.
- Established document configuration procedure and log to track changes in engineering drawings, quality documents, and work instructions, enhancing traceability for customer and internal modifications.
- Reduced costs by sourcing alternate suppliers for raw materials in robotic weld operations, achieving estimated savings of $267,000 annually.
Process Engineer
BURTEK INC.
Chesterfield Twp, MI
10.2006 - 03.2012
- Serve as a liaison between engineering and the manufacturing floor to ensure that mechanical designs, component configuration and manufacturability of those designs are technically correct.
- Work with manufacturing and quality assurance department to ensure expedient resolution of any design/manufacturing problems.
- Track and record root cause information for Quality Discrepancies and use that data to recommend improvements.
- Member of the VISUAL user committee, instrumental in developing user work instructions for Process Engineering covering the creation of engineering masters, engineering change and quality discrepancy notices.
- Member of project specific APQP/IPT. Participated in team-based problem resolution based on input from all team members.
- Reviewed drawings, engineering revision levels and related documents of various components and assemblies in development of Engineering Routing Masters using Visual ERP.
- Identified Manufacturability issues, drawing errors, or similar problems prior to releasing to Manufacturing for build.
- Developed Labor estimates using established industry standards.
- Conducted manufacturing feasibility studies for Build to print orders to determine requirements for special processes, manufacturing aids, fixtures for manufacturing and quality inspection.
- Military industry/Design and Manufacturing
Maintenance Supervisor
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Detroit, MI
01.1999 - 03.2006
- Supervisor of skilled trades: Electricians, Pipe fitters, Toolmakers and Millwrights and other salaried personnel when the General Foreman was absent. Responsible for ensuring all safety and technical training, scheduled maintenance of production equipment, expedited spare parts to make repairs.
- Installed new equipment which facilitated the successful launch of the 2006 Buick Lucerne and the 2006 Cadillac DTS.
- Reduced dimensional variation for hood to fender fit by designing and implementing a Fanuc Robot back up welding process.
- Developed a build and test facility for mechanical transfer drive, eliminating the installation of faulty automation components.
- Decreased production downtime by utilizing a proactive testing procedure to determine when weld cables were failing and replacing them before failure.
- Acted as the Industrial Engineer to identify areas of production line over cycle time. Eliminated waste by reprocessing operations to other areas that had excess time available.
- Utilized standardized work and safe operating procedures in accordance with the Global Manufacturing System (General Motor's version of the Toyota Production System).
- Maintained and troubleshot breakdowns with FABA rail conveyance systems as well as three rail chain conveyors to facilitate completion of corporate scheduled production.
- Proficient with Square D weld controllers from a teach pendant program and initial installation as well as some knowledge of Warren Emhart Drawn Arc Stud Welding.
- Active in QNPM Quality Network Planned Maintenance such as the Maximo system for preventive maintenance.
- Developed downtime reports presented to Staff using Microsoft Word, and Excel.
- Process Engineer like role in maintaining the simultaneous merger of two different assembly lines into one for production flexibility.
- Global Automotive Manufacturer.
Robot Programmer
PICO TOOL
Chesterfield, MI
06.1997 - 12.1999
- Wrote, tested, edited, and installed robot work path programs and operating software for Fanuc RJ2 and ABB.
- Optimized work path to achieve designed cycle time.
- Transferred to the field service department to follow the General Motors full size truck project through installation.
- Tool and die manufacturer, tier one supplier to automotive and other manufacturers.
Machine Tool Electrician
Detroit Center Tool
Detroit, MI
10.1994 - 06.1997
- Assembled PLC and hard-wired electrical components.
- Systematized various tools such as assembly lines and small stand-alone tools supplied to the automotive industry.
- Led electrical build for Toledo Jeep Door tools. Delivered on time, zero defects.
- Trained new employees to facilitate the opening of a subsidiary company, Sharp Systems Inc., a panel wire shop. Sharp Systems is still successfully producing control panels.
- Tool and die manufacturer and tier one suppliers to the automotive industry.
Education
Coursework toward a degree - business management
Baker College
Clinton Township, MI01.2005
Skills
- Equipment purchasing
- Process improvement
- Production support
- Lean manufacturing
- Engineering liaison
- Problem solving
- Team collaboration
- Manufacturability improvements
- Cost reduction strategies
- Process development
- Workstation design
- Material selection
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Production monitoring
- Manufacturing resource planning MRP
- Manufacturing processes
- Waste reduction
Military Service
United States Air Force, 1986, 1991, E-4 Sgt. Ground Equipment Maintenance Specialist, Graduate of Air Force Aerospace ground equipment specialist school, 1988, Graduate of Air Force Security police specialist academy, 1986
Timeline
Manufacturing Engineer
Ford Motor Company
09.2025 - Current
Manufacturing Engineer
Morbark LLC
04.2023 - 10.2024
Manufacturing Engineering Tech
Saint Gobain Performance Plastics
06.2021 - 02.2023
Manufacturing Engineering Tech
TMS.
09.2020 - 04.2021
Manufacturing Engineer
YAPP USA.
02.2019 - 09.2020
Manufacturing Engineer
YFAI INC.
07.2016 - 02.2019
Manufacturing Engineer
JCI INC.
02.2013 - 07.2016
Manufacturing Engineer
UNITED MACHINING INC.
07.2012 - 01.2013
Process Engineer
BURTEK INC.
10.2006 - 03.2012
Maintenance Supervisor
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
01.1999 - 03.2006
Robot Programmer
PICO TOOL
06.1997 - 12.1999
Machine Tool Electrician
Detroit Center Tool
10.1994 - 06.1997
Coursework toward a degree - business management
Baker College