James Butterworth
Transactional Engineering Manager
Mount Clemens,MI
Summary
Qualified Continuous Improvement Manager with solid track record in managing engineering teams and delivering complex projects on time. Successfully led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and contribute to organizational goals. Demonstrated expertise in leadership and strategic planning, fostering innovation and continuous improvement.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Engineering Group Manager
General Motors Co
01.2025 - Current
- Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of engineering solutions into larger organizational goals.
- Established a strong network of industry contacts, enabling the company to secure advantageous partnerships and strategic alliances.
- Effectively balanced competing priorities and resources to ensure all projects were completed on time, within scope and budget constraints.
- Reduced overall production costs through continuous process improvement and cost-saving initiatives.
- Mentored junior engineers on best practices within their discipline, promoting continued learning throughout the organization.
- Spearheaded the development of innovative new products and services, resulting in expanded market share and increased revenues.
- Managed complex engineering projects from conception through completion, ensuring all milestones were met on time and within budget constraints resulting in compressed timing of 500% to typical vehicle development process timing.
- Championed cutting-edge research initiatives that led to significant advancements in technological capabilities for the organization.
Lead Manufacturing Innovation & Strategy Engineer
General Motors Co
11.2022 - 12.2024
- Introduced cutting-edge technologies to GM, including Invisible AI, T-MATE and Detect-it
- Deployed Invisible AI at the Ramos CSS and Assembly (Chassis) plant, resulting in $80K savings in warranty costs.
- Developed Total Manufacturing AI Tool for Efficiency, successfully piloting the vision and strategy using AI agents to assist Manufacturing Operations
- Submitted 11 inventions resulting in 2 trade secrets and 9 patents
- Established strong working relationships with clients through exceptional communication skills, fostering trust and collaboration.
- Achieved successful project outcomes by maintaining accurate documentation and meeting strict deadlines.
- Presented technical findings to stakeholders, ensuring clear understanding of project status and goals.
General Assembly Continuous Improvement Lead
General Motors Co
01.2020 - 01.2022
- Implemented pace management in trim, focusing on waste elimination of non-value added work, resulting in 2 JPH increase and 17% reduction in NSOT.
- Achieved goal of 35 SAT throughput on leg 2 in Trim by driving BPD and TIP processes
- Completed GM OpEx Blackbelt certification in December 2020
- Led a team of 40 hourly employees as a Group Leader in Chassis and Trim, consistently making schedule.
- EMIT TIP Assignment – Implemented improvements in weld cell, leak test and material flow bottleneck improvements, resulting in a 20+ tray per week improvement.
- BBAP TIP assignment – Led Pack Main Line throughput improvement resulting in a 120% per day increase in Battery tray production.
Continuous Improvement Manager
Manufacturing Excellence CAR/SUV CI Team
03.2019 - 12.2019
- Served as single point of contact for the Orion Assembly Plant.
- Conducted waste elimination and productivity workshop, reducing top bottlenecks in trim and eliminating one SOS in headliner cell
- Championed HCC for the sector, onboarding all plants to HCC and introducing the individual performance tracker.
- Conducted Waste elimination workshops in Arlington and Spring Hill with a focus on TIP
- Deployed the CI structure to all GMNA
Continuous Improvement Mgr – Body Shop
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant
04.2016 - 01.2019
- Led the Pilot of the Continuous Improvement structure
- Ensured SFMEA / ERGO compliance and achieved a year over year improvement of $200k in LWDC
- Managed a team of 7 salaried employees, closing 3 OpEx projects resulting in 3 productivity improvements
- Reduced Body Shop GCA Factor 10’s by 55% across all 4 models (Impala, Lacrosse, Volt, CT6).
- Led productivity initiatives, resulting in $1.9 million in savings.
- Ensured compliance with annual weld and torque audits.
- Served as the GMS – BIQ champion for Body Shop
Dimensional Engineer
Stellantis
01.2002 - 01.2016
- Prioritize customer dimensional issues on the internal Dimensional Quality Matrix, based on Customer Protection Audit findings, thereby generating Kaizen workshops for improvement.
- Calibration Specialist/Internal ISO 9001 Internal Auditor
- Maintaining calibration of 500 gages annually, ensuring compliance with ISO standards and OEM tolerances.
- Performed internal audits required for ISO/OSHA 9001/14001/18001/50001 certifications.
- Quality Engineer/Liaison – Sterling Heights / Windsor / Belvidere / Warren Truck Assembly
- Analyzed warranty feedback from the Customer Satisfaction Team (CST) and developing Kaizen workshops attacking identified issues, resulting in savings of $39k.
- Performed Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis(PFEMA) for new models.
- Quality Engineer / Liaison – Warren Truck Assembly Plant
- Engineered new sealer application/hem flange process to eliminate hood e-coat boil out condition, resulting in warranty cost avoidance of $500k.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Management
University of Phoenix
Phoenix, TX 05.2001 -
Skills
Cross-Functional Leadership & Project Management
Customer Centric Conceptualization
Facilitating and Action upon Customer & peer Empathy Research
Holder of 9 Patents submissions & 2 Trade Secrets
OpEx Black Belt - 2021
Customer focus
Innovation management
Mentoring and coaching
Certification
OpEx Black Belt
Timeline
Engineering Group Manager
General Motors Co
01.2025 - Current
Lead Manufacturing Innovation & Strategy Engineer
General Motors Co
11.2022 - 12.2024
OpEx Black Belt
12-2020
General Assembly Continuous Improvement Lead
General Motors Co
01.2020 - 01.2022
Continuous Improvement Manager
Manufacturing Excellence CAR/SUV CI Team
03.2019 - 12.2019
Continuous Improvement Mgr – Body Shop
Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant
04.2016 - 01.2019
Dimensional Engineer
Stellantis
01.2002 - 01.2016
Bachelor of Science - Management
University of Phoenix
05.2001 -