Charles Gunner Warren
Vancouver,WA
Summary
Results-driven executive with extensive experience in strategic leadership and operational excellence. Proven track record in driving growth, optimizing processes and fostering team collaboration. Accomplished leader who has in depth knowledge of operations management, critical thinking and complex problem-solving. Experienced working with distressed businesses across a variety of urgent and high impact situations. Provided Leadership and has spearheaded numerous improvements in under-performing areas in Operations, Quality, Maintenance and Engineering. Excels in team leadership, fostering a culture of efficiency and innovation across multiple sites and difference business units. Adaptable and reliable, consistently achieving high-impact results in any dynamic environment.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
2
2
Certificate
Work History
Vice President of Technical Services and CI
Bright Innovation Labs
01.2024 - Current
- Responsible for overseeing Quality, Maintenance, Engineering and Continuous Improvement for 3 different locations within the Bright Innovation Labs organization. Business focus on Contract Manufacturing of Personal Care / Cosmetic products.
- Cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders at each location, including customers, vendors and regulators to promote collaboration and long-term success and viability of the organization.
- Led cross-functional teams for the successful completion of all major projects. Main focus in 2024 was to drive a successful shutdown of 1 of the locations and relocate equipment and technology to the New Albany, OH site. Led all efforts from the Technical transfers, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality and Customer requirements with ontime completion of all asset relocation.
- Demonstrated proficient leadership skills to motivate employees and build competent teams. Reorganized and structured the Quality, Maintenance and Engineering teams to ensure continued productivity and alignment with the business.
- Collaborated with senior management to develop strategic initiatives and long term goals for the business.
Vice President of Manufacturing Operations and CI
Bright Innovation Labs
08.2022 - 12.2023
- Championed Continuous Improvement initiatives within the organization, fostering efficiency and Lean practices throughout the manufacturing processes. Provided senior leadership ample opportunities for improved processes and cost reductions with potentials exceeding $1M in EBTIDA in the first 6 months with minimal capital investments.
- Cultivated a culture of continuous learning among team members by providing ongoing training opportunities and resources. Provided guidance to operation teams to use best in class processes, including Lean Six Sigma and Change Management methodologies.
- Drove innovation in the manufacturing process with the integration of automation technologies and equipment upgrades. Process improvements in compounding batch improvements, cycle times, reducing losses in pumping, piping, filling equipment speed improvements.
- Directed the successful implementation of CMMS systems across multiple facilities, streamlining maintenance data management processes for improved visibility of work orders, spares parts, critical spares ordering, and preventative maintenance.
Head of Global Operations Improvement
Lanxess
09.2021 - 08.2022
- Responsible for the Global Pperations Improvement team for the newly established F&F Business Unit for Lanxess. Business Unit comprised of the 3 existing Legacy Emerald Kalama Chemical sites and 2 existing Lanxess sites in 5 different countries. (US, UK, Netherlands, Germany and India)
- Establish new contacts and organizational setup with the Lanxess global functional groups. Provided support for the transition to Lanxess with technology exchanges and best practices to be shared within the Business Unit.
- Responsible for driving the Continuous Improvement Culture within the organization. Provided leadership to the manufacturing sites for the implementation of process improvements, debottlenecking, energy reductions and technical support.
- Responsible for establishing a new CO2 Roadmap for the Business Unit. CO2 reductions and new sustainability directives to work in conjunction with Lanxess Corporate to reduce CO2 by 50% by 2030 and Carbon Neutral by 2040.
Director of Continuous Improvement
Emerald Kalama Chemical, LLC
10.2017 - 09.2021
- Responsible for developing and leading a new continuous improvement team of 4 highly skilled chemical engineers utilizing the best methodologies available. Directives for the methodologies included Lean Six Sigma and Change Management philosophies for project management. Successfully implemented and developed resources to manage all major continuous improvement activities for 4 chemical manufacturing sites worldwide.
- Responsible for driving the Continuous Improvement Culture within the organization. Provided leadership to the manufacturing sites for the implementation of process improvements, technical support and training.
- Established key performance indicators to measure progress toward goals, driving accountability and results across multiple sites.
- Within 2 years, 29 completed projects in debottlenecking, operational efficiencies, yields, energy reductions and cost reductions valued over $25M. Majority of projects completed with minimal Capital investments. Ratio of Value to CapEx, 10:1.
- Kalama Facility, Interim Site Director for 8 months to support management transition, negotiate and resolve issues with the Chemical Workers Union and to lead a major plant turnaround in 2018.
Manufacturing Manager
Emerald Kalama Chemical, LLC
11.2012 - 10.2017
- Managed the manufacturing of Intermediates and Plasticizers in a large-scale continuous reaction and distillation facility in Kalama Washington. Responsible for the department budget and cost control.
- Responsible for maintaining departmental asset utilization and first time prime targets. Supervised production team, keeping production schedules on track to meet tight deadlines.
- Led all process improvements to improve yields and operational efficiencies. Improved process yields by 15%, resulting in a raw material cost savings of >$10M/yr. Conducted root cause analysis investigations to identify areas for improvement in manufacturing processes across multiple facilities, leading to increased efficiency and fewer defects.
- Crisis Lead across 4 different business units. Led multiple investigations and startup of various production units that had major production implications and/or HSE issues for the business.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR01-1998
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR01-1994
Skills
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
- Operations management
- Process improvement
- Data analysis
- Complex Problem-solving
Certification
- Lean Six Sigma Certification, Master Black Belt
- Change Management Certification (Prosci)
Timeline
Vice President of Technical Services and CI
Bright Innovation Labs
01.2024 - Current
Vice President of Manufacturing Operations and CI
Bright Innovation Labs
08.2022 - 12.2023
Head of Global Operations Improvement
Lanxess
09.2021 - 08.2022
Director of Continuous Improvement
Emerald Kalama Chemical, LLC
10.2017 - 09.2021
Manufacturing Manager
Emerald Kalama Chemical, LLC
11.2012 - 10.2017
- Lean Six Sigma Certification, Master Black Belt
- Change Management Certification (Prosci)
Bachelor of Science - Chemical Engineering
Oregon State University
Bachelor of Science - Chemistry
University of Oregon
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