Gregory A Willis
Oxford,MI
Summary
Obtain the position Senior Innovation Product Manager.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Engineering Manager
Piston Interior ( Irvin Automotive ) New Name
06.2020 - Current
- Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement engineering strategies aligning with organizational goals.
- Mentored junior engineers, fostering skill development and enhancing team collaboration.
- Oversaw project timelines, ensuring delivery of engineering solutions within established deadlines.
Soft Trim Engineer supervisor
Irvin Automotive
01.2010 - 06.2020
- Engineering Supervisor/Engineer
- Lead a team of Engineers and Pattern Developers
- Responsible for the development of seat trim patterns that meet customer expectations for appearance and craftsmanship
- Responsible for on-time and accurate releases of documentation in Irvin’s release system IAS
- Assign program responsibilities to team
- Hold regular meetings to track progress against program timing
- Lead the team in resolution of open issues
- Create and maintain open issues lists
- Hold team meetings to discuss issues and delegate tasks
- Review of open issues and action plans with customer, JIT and Irvin manufacturing
- Manage program quote activities
- Provided initial design input that achieved cost to target goals
- Work with Sales to provide quotes for changes including estimates using Ford’s two-pagers
- Identify cost improvement opportunities along with risk/cost analysis
- Promoted to Engineering Supervisor 04/01/2014
- As a Soft Trim Engineer was responsible for the P552, P558, D473, S197 Headrest and D472 seat trim programs.
Senior Lead Trim Engineer/ Pattern maker
Johnson Controls
01.1999 - 01.2010
- Lead trim engineer on the 2010 DS dodge ram pickup, full trim development on the front seat heat and cool seat and 202A second row crew and quad cab.
- Lead Trim pattern designer for the BMW 5 series React headrest.
- Lead engineer on the Daimler Chrysler 06 XK- Jeep commander program. Supervised five engineers on this program, three design and two release engineers.
- Re-developed the 2nd row trim for the 02 Jeep WJ- Jeep Cherokee mule 85 through the S-2 build.
- Lead engineer on the Jeep program 03 TJ- Jeep Wrangler from mule 85 through to Launched the 03 TJ program July ,15 2002
- Developed and lunch the 04 LX- Chrysler 300 2nd row cushion and back trim.
- Developed and launched the 05 WK- Grand Cherokee program 2nd row seat trim.
- Lead JIT plant support for the WK-Jeep Grand Cherokee and XK- Jeep Commander programs.
- Supervise trim technicians and trim designers assigned to the WK and XK program.
- Travel to the sew plants to assist in program deliverables.
- A3 writing to solve engineering quality issues and A3 program status report.
- Releasing all new programs using the EPIC release system.
- Work daily training trim engineering personal on computer programs from, Microsoft windows, Gerber pattern design, and EPIC release sys.
Senior Pattern Developer
LEAR Corporation
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Worked with senior engineers to launch the GMT-800 program in eight months.
- Worked with Lear to train personnel on patterns from print using the Gerber AccuMark Silhouette.
Senior Pattern Designer
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
01.1989 - 01.1998
- Designed cloth and leather patterns.
- Designed all foam and rough patterns.
- Created law labels and residential specification sheets.
- Write full description on how to build the unit you have developed (upholstery notes).
- Worked directly on training the plant personnel.
Education
Monroe High
Monroe, MI1986
Skills
- Determine program issues; recommend/execute corrective action plans Track status with proper group/personnel
- Coordinate development activities to assure milestone dates (style reviews/pattern releases/etc) are met
- Demonstrate strong interface with Internal (ex: BU Eng) and External (OEM) customers
- Ability to lead in a team environment
- Solve Plant problems (Plant Support)
- Demonstrate strong communication & writing skills to accomplish tasks in memo writing, meeting minutes, etc
- Clear and concise oral communication
Accomplishments
APQP training
DFMEA training
PPAP training
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
On-SiteRemoteTimeline
Engineering Manager
Piston Interior ( Irvin Automotive ) New Name
06.2020 - Current
Soft Trim Engineer supervisor
Irvin Automotive
01.2010 - 06.2020
Senior Lead Trim Engineer/ Pattern maker
Johnson Controls
01.1999 - 01.2010
Senior Pattern Developer
LEAR Corporation
01.1998 - 01.1999
Senior Pattern Designer
La-Z-Boy Incorporated
01.1989 - 01.1998
Monroe High
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