Jared Fulford

Engineering Project Management & Leadership

• Led Stamping engineering activities for Nissan Rogue SUV new model launches, achieving zero Stamping-related defects throughout Plant Trial production.
• Coordinated critical design and process improvements with suppliers, engineering teams, and manufacturing stakeholders to improve vehicle quality and production readiness.
• Provided accurate budget forecasting, expense tracking, and financial reporting to support new model program execution and cost control objectives.
• Accelerated team capability development through knowledge transfer, fostering accountability, autonomy, coaching through mentorship, daily engagement, and sharing of engineering best practices.
• Built strong cross-functional relationships with Manufacturing, Finance, Purchasing, Design, and Japanese counterparts through collaboration, transparency, and problem resolution.
• Developed future project leaders by providing technical guidance, career development planning, and exposure to cross-functional project responsibilities.

Supply Chain & Customer Focus

• Partnered with die tooling suppliers and internal customers (Body, Paint, and Trim) to ensure stamping tooling met Nissan specifications and production requirements.
• Accelerated engineering changes to eliminate vehicle assembly issues and improve vehicle safety.
• Initiated corrosion prevention improvements by driving design updates and burr-height controls for several steel panels.
• Supported critical production continuity during aluminum shortages by coordinating daily meetings with Purchasing and Manufacturing teams to track alternate material availability and provide executive-level status updates.
• Partnered with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of aluminum materials supporting die development and vehicle milestones.
• Expedited procurement and shipment of aluminum materials to overseas die makers, reducing risk to vehicle development and launch schedules.

Problem Solving & Root Cause Analysis

• Utilized panel data analysis to quickly evaluate and address potential Stamping-related vehicle quality concerns during trial vehicle builds.
• Led corrective actions that improved Back Door finisher installation by optimizing panel locating and hole position accuracy.
• Collaborated with Tool & Die department to investigate panel deformation concerns, identifying damaged die components, and eliminated recurring quality issues.

Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Reduced non-value-added meetings by emphasizing real-time communication and cross-functional collaboration, increasing engineering efficiency and responsiveness.
• Generated a record number of quality feedback and improvement actions during Nissan Rogue development, driving continuous improvement for future vehicle launches.
• Led manufacturability study for multiple vehicle platforms, driving part commonization efforts that reduced part complexity within the manufacturing plant.
• Conducted multiple TdC studies evaluating conversion of aluminum panels to steel, identifying significant cost-per-unit savings opportunities for current and future vehicle programs.
• Developed and implemented a travel optimization strategy for vehicle launch activities, that reduced project spending while maintaining critical quality verification checks.

Agility & Risk Management

• Led a critical supply chain recovery effort by identifying and qualifying an alternate steel supplier for sunroof panels when original material deliveries threatened trial phase timing.
• Collaborated with Purchasing and senior leadership to implement a non-standard but successful material sourcing strategy, preventing launch delays and ensuring on-time production.

Relationship Building & Employee Development

• Built a highly engaged engineering team through open communication, trust-based leadership, and strong support for work-life balance.
• Provided frequent coaching, feedback, and recognition to improve team performance and accelerate development of less experienced engineers.
• Established a culture of transparency and accountability by openly addressing challenges, recognizing accomplishments, and maintaining strong employee trust.

Key Accomplishments

• Managed what was recognized as the most successful new model launch in Nissan North America plant history (2025 Nissan Rogue).
• Achieved the highest Nissan Global Employee Survey score for managers at the Smyrna manufacturing facility, reflecting strong employee engagement, trust, and team culture.
• Protected new model launch timing during industry-wide aluminum material shortages through proactive supplier coordination and material planning.
• Led the development of the Nissan Rogue SUV during a 2-year assignment in Japan, where I managed vehicle development from digital concept to physical production, all while achieving Nissan’s Key Performance Indicators in preparation for launch.