James Conn
Moore,SC
Summary
Dynamic Tooling Engineer with proven expertise in leadership, design management, and continuous improvement. Experienced in driving tooling enhancements, managing complex projects, and fostering collaboration across teams to achieve operational excellence.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Die Tooling Engineer
Gestamp Class A BIW
06.2017 - Current
- Developing and implementing production tooling and process equipment necessary to produce quality product in the manufacturing environment while meeting cost and timing goals;
- Coordination of design quotations, tryout, production start up and manufacturing improvements of progressive and transfer dies;
- Continual improvements to existing tooling and equipment methods;
- Review of product, tooling and equipment design for compliance with engineering principles, Company standards and customer contract requirements;
- Coordination of activities with vendors and other internal departments concerning tooling and equipment procurement or modification;
- Working with Quality Assurance in resolving defect and test problems
- Evaluating and approving design changes, specifications and drawing releases;
- Help troubleshoot difficult tooling die and press line equipment to improve quality road blocks and overall OEE.
- Scrap and waste reduction
- Report directly to Plant Operations MGR
- Volvo and BMW Tier 1 JIT - confidential
Process Engineer
Lydall Thermal/Accoustical
04.2016 - 06.2017
- Developing and implementing production tooling and process equipment necessary to produce quality product in the manufacturing environment while meeting cost and timing goals;
- Coordination of design quotations, tryout, production start up and manufacturing improvements of progressive and transfer dies;
- Continual improvements to existing tooling and equipment methods;
- Review of product, tooling and equipment design for compliance with engineering principles, Company standards and customer contract requirements;
- Coordination of activities with vendors and other internal departments concerning tooling and equipment procurement or modification;
- Working with Quality Assurance in resolving defect and test problems
- Evaluating and approving design changes, specifications and drawing releases;
- Help troubleshoot difficult tooling die and press line equipment to improve quality road blocks and overall OEE.
- Scrap and waste reduction
- Report directly to Engineering MGR
- Tier 1 and 2
Tooling Manager
Mubea Tailor Rolled Blanks
Florence, USA
05.2014 - 03.2016
- Provide area management of daily Tool and Die preventative maintenance and repair.
- Supervise Journeyman and Apprentice Tool and Die makers.
- Build Tool and Die Maintenance shop to support Press Stamping Dept. in production of Tailor Rolled Blanks using Ultra High Tensile Steel materials.
- Contributed to new designs of Automotive part/tooling projects as a knowledge based asset.
- Tier 1 and 2
Automation/Maintenance
JM SMUCKER INC. /Jif Peanut Butter Plant
Lexington, USA
11.2009 - 05.2014
- This was during the automotive recession. I worked in area/equipment maintenance ownership and production improvements on a wide range of automation.
- Report directly to Production MGR/Operations MGR Charles Traylor
Advanced Tooling Engineer
Martinrea International
Springfield, USA
09.2007 - 04.2009
- Developing and implementing production tooling and process equipment necessary to produce quality product in the manufacturing environment while meeting cost and timing goals;
- Coordination of design quotations, tryout, production start up and ongoing manufacturing improvements of progressive and transfer dies;
- Continual improvements to existing tooling and equipment methods;
- Review of product, tooling and equipment design for compliance with engineering principles, Company standards and customer contract requirements;
- Coordination of activities with vendors and other internal departments concerning tooling and equipment procurement or modification;
- Working with customer and Quality Assurance in resolving APQP design and test problems;
- Evaluating and approving design changes, specifications and drawing releases;
- Help troubleshoot difficult tooling, equipment and quality issues.
- Report directly to Craig Koehler-Engineering MGR
- Tier 1 JIT to Nissan
Tooling Engineer
Johnson Controls Inc. Automotive Seating Group
Cadiz, USA
02.2006 - 09.2007
- Create accurate and timely tool designs for transfer and progressive dies, gages, fixtures, and general tooling components to customer print; focus on maximizing material utilization and manufacturing efficiency to yield the lowest cost part at the highest quality;
- Focus on maximizing material utilization and manufacturing efficiency; check design work of team members.
- Work closely with Component Group and Tool Room to ensure tool designs are efficient;
- Work with Process Engineering, Manufacturing, and Tool Room personnel to review current and future projects;
- Stay involved with tooling from beginning of tool design until production approval;
- Review tool design and build successes after tool is built and debugged for Lesson’s Learned.
- Report directly to Mike Putinta- Asst. Plant MGR
- Tier 1
Die Maker to Advanced Tooling Engineer
Metalforming Technologies, Inc.
Lexington, USA
06.1997 - 02.2006
- Manage new stamping die and robotic assembly build projects from conception/kickoff to SOP.
- Interact with Johnson Controls to improve the manufacturing process and the quality of parts through tooling technologies and continuous improvement.
- Work with customer to reduce tooling costs by use of foreign Die Shop development.
- Rebuild, repair and improvement of existing tooling as needed.
- Implementation of design, processes, programming, tooling and materials applied to the special projects assigned.
- Maintained extensive troubleshooting and design changes of stamping dies.
- Research and develop tool room and sheet metal stamping processes.
- Responsible for all reverse engineering activities utilizing CMM with scanning probes.
- Supervision of personnel using UGNX, I-DEASNX, Virtual Gibbs.
- Provided training of new personnel for CNC/CAM machinist positions.
- Report directly to Tooling MGR.
- Tier 1 and 2
DIE MAKER
CREST Products
Lexington, USA
06.1995 - 06.1997
- Research and Development support.
- CNC and EDM machine tool processes on three shifts including programs, tooling and materials used in the stamping dies production program.
- Die production, research and planning.
- High-speed precision progressive stamping dies utilizing carbide and ceramic tooling for Automotive OEM’s.
- Report directly to Tooling V.P.
- Tier 1
DIE MAKER Apprentice
CMS Richmond
Richmond, USA
01.1990 - 06.1995
- Responsible for all stamping die details produced on the second shift using CNC and EDM machine tools with conventional programming languages.
- PMA sponsored Stamping Die Apprenticeship (sheet metal).
- Building and maintaining of medium sized progressive dies for automotive industry.
- Report directly to Tooling Supervisor.
Education
Manufacturing Technology - CAD/CAM + Metallurgical Science
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, Kentucky, KYTool and Die Apprentice Program -
PMA
Skills
- Leadership as a Tool and Die Maker, Die Project Leader, Die Tooling Engineer, Automotive Product Quality Planning
- Design Management
- Design Reviews of Parts/Dies/Tools/Check Fixtures
- Customer technical interaction and vendor guidance
- Experience driving continuous improvement, sustainability
- Responsible for large Capital Projects
- SMED
Training
- Some College with Manufacturing Technology Certificate, EKU
- 5 year Tool and Die Apprentice Program, PMA Certified
- AutoCAD training
- SDRC CAMAND/CAMAX 5 axis CNC programming
- SDRC IDEAS NX9: Part Design, Surfacing Design, Assembly Design, Design Best Practices, Generative machining
- UGNX transitional training - transition from IDEAS
- Brown and Sharp CMM with PCDMIS
- Brown and Sharpe Advanced Analog/Laser Scanning/Surfacing
- Brown and Sharpe DATAPAGE/DATAVEIW
- MasterCam X Level 3 Design and Mfg
Timeline
Die Tooling Engineer
Gestamp Class A BIW
06.2017 - Current
Process Engineer
Lydall Thermal/Accoustical
04.2016 - 06.2017
Tooling Manager
Mubea Tailor Rolled Blanks
05.2014 - 03.2016
Automation/Maintenance
JM SMUCKER INC. /Jif Peanut Butter Plant
11.2009 - 05.2014
Advanced Tooling Engineer
Martinrea International
09.2007 - 04.2009
Tooling Engineer
Johnson Controls Inc. Automotive Seating Group
02.2006 - 09.2007
Die Maker to Advanced Tooling Engineer
Metalforming Technologies, Inc.
06.1997 - 02.2006
DIE MAKER
CREST Products
06.1995 - 06.1997
DIE MAKER Apprentice
CMS Richmond
01.1990 - 06.1995
Manufacturing Technology - CAD/CAM + Metallurgical Science
Eastern Kentucky University
Tool and Die Apprentice Program -
PMA