John Willems
Sturgeon Bay,WI
Summary
Innovative and highly accomplished with broad-based, functional expertise in EAM / Asset Reliability/Continuous Improvement. Senior Leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in leadership, management and senior operations roles who possesses strong leadership, business process improvement expertise and experience in strengthening bottom-line profitability. Motivator of employees to drive effective utilization of resources. In addition, a very successful, hands-on, management experience in Maintenance, Engineering, Facilities operations. Highly skilled in Project Management with over 34 Greenfield and Brownfield projects in various roles of responsibility from assisting to complete project lead. Multiple years of Food, CPG and Automotive experience
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager Maintenance & Reliability / Engineering
ND Paper
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
08.2023 - Current
- Identify and implement continuous improvements within the maintenance processes
- Drive reliability through use of Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing tools( TPM, RCM, Kaizen, BPR, 3Ps, ….)
- Manage, develop, and sustain proper processes and procedures for preventative and repair service, equipment installations, tool and consumables ordering, issue to and return from employees, equipment inspections and repair service contractor activities
- Assess skill levels for Maintenance personnel and define training plans to close the gaps, as well as monitor training execution and effectiveness
- Create and manager competence building plan for the Maintenance & Reliability team
- Manage and maintain MRO inventory supplies of spare parts as well as other supplies.
Vice President Of Maintenance and Facilities
Ashley Furniture Industries Corporate Office
Arcadia, WI
08.2021 - 08.2023
- Collaborate with stakeholders to achieve mutual goals
- Form and lead internal teams, providing training and mentorship as needed
- Directly and indirectly manage staff with the goal of enhancing professional development and personal growth
- Manage relationships with key clients
- Manage, monitor and maintain all plant, equipment’s at optimum performance and be alert of any abnormal functioning or damages
- Oversee all locations equipment and facilities globally including D.C and retail outlets
- Control and manage Capital projects
- Used problem-solving skills to quickly resolve issues within the organization
Director Global CoC Reliability Maintenance & Facilities
Cooper-Standard Automotive
Northville, MI
01.2019 - 08.2021
- Analyzed the final results to determine quality levels and isolate the root causes of any flaws that were discovered
- Was in charge of overseeing daily maintenance operations in over 30 locations globally, which included employee performance, preventative maintenance, and safety
- Kept track of priorities and communicated with the maintenance team and management, strategically delegating tasks to ensure that they were completed on time
- Evaluated operating conditions and made adjustments to improve performance and extend the life of the equipment
SENIOR MANAGER TRIM & CHASSIS MAINTENANCE/ENGINEERING
Nissan USA
Jackson, MS
01.2017 - 01.2019
- Lead teams of Managers and Engineers for the maintenance and up keep of all plant and machinery
- Plan and ensure implementation of Preventive & Predictive maintenance schedules
- Annual budgeting, & resource planning for maintenance including working out equipment & facilities maintenance costs, plans of critical spares, MTBF, plant availability & utilization
- Conduct root cause analysis of breakdowns, review downtime reports, initiate remedial action, build a knowledge base and take necessary steps to avoid recurrence
- Monitor the health of equipment, plan & prepare spares for plant and machinery and ensure minimum downtime
- Manage and Authorize Annual Maintenance Contracts
- Comply with statutory requirement pertaining to Boiler, Furnace, and Electrical etc
- Responsible to initiate efforts for conservation of energy and cost reduction initiatives
- Actively involve and participate in Installation and commissioning of new equipment / expansions / new projects.
DIRECTOR ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE
Jeyes Holding Company
New Albany, OH
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Overall management of the Engineering and Maintenance teams, and related projects
- Fully responsible for project execution including maintaining timelines and spending and adhering to federal and state, as well as quality regulations
- Implement and lead Continuous Improvement efforts
Plant Engineering Manager and Reliability
Johnsonville, LLC
Sheboygan Falls, WI
04.2013 - 01.2015
GLOBAL MANAGER - GLOBAL MAINTENANCE PROCESSES RELIABILITY
Kohler Co
Kohler, WI
01.1994 - 04.2013
- Responsible for managing the Maintenance Reliability Engineering team globally for all Kohler Facilities
- Manage Reliability Engineering associates in North America, Asia and Europe
- Help to implement the facility wide risk management philosophy and strategy that included inspection, risk ranking and prioritization of equipment with single failure points, as well as a repair strategy to mitigate risk
Education
Reliability Maintenance - Certified Reliability Leader -
Sologic Root Cause Analysis
01.2010
Reliability - Master Level -
Lakeland University (Main Campus)
01.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Marketing
Lakeland College
Plymouth, WI01-2000
Business Administration - Bachelor of Arts -
Lakeland University (Main Campus)
01-1998
Skills
- Six Sigma Green and Yellow Belt certified with several cost savings projects over the past several years
- Global TPM / RCM Champion across the entire corporation
- Active member of SMRP society and practitioner of the "Best Practices" within the area of Maintenance and Reliability
- Budgets
- Risk management processes and analysis
- Data analysis
- Staff development
- General Studies - Associate of Arts
Certification
- Project Management - Neil Whitten Certification, Online, WI, USA
- Advanced and Professional Management, Management Leadership, Kohler, WI, USA, 2006
- Project Management, Kohler, WI, USA, 2005
- TPM/RCM, Raleigh, NC, USA, 2004
- Global TPM/RCM Global Champion, Total Productive Maintenance/Manufacturing, Certified
- Certified Trainer, Kohler, WI, USA, 2007
- Yellow and Green Belt Six Sigma Certification, Six Sigma / Lean / Problem Solving
- Root Cause Analysis, Seattle, WA, USA, 2012
- Master Certified
- Root Cause Analysis, 2010
- Maintenance Engineering and Processes, Madison, WI, USA, 2004
- AMP Association of Asset Management Professional, 2016
- The Certified Reliability Leader, Las Vegas , NV, 2016
Timeline
Senior Manager Maintenance & Reliability / Engineering
ND Paper
08.2023 - Current
Vice President Of Maintenance and Facilities
Ashley Furniture Industries Corporate Office
08.2021 - 08.2023
Director Global CoC Reliability Maintenance & Facilities
Cooper-Standard Automotive
01.2019 - 08.2021
SENIOR MANAGER TRIM & CHASSIS MAINTENANCE/ENGINEERING
Nissan USA
01.2017 - 01.2019
DIRECTOR ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE
Jeyes Holding Company
01.2015 - 01.2017
Plant Engineering Manager and Reliability
Johnsonville, LLC
04.2013 - 01.2015
GLOBAL MANAGER - GLOBAL MAINTENANCE PROCESSES RELIABILITY
Kohler Co
01.1994 - 04.2013
Reliability Maintenance - Certified Reliability Leader -
Sologic Root Cause Analysis
Reliability - Master Level -
Lakeland University (Main Campus)
Bachelor of Arts - Marketing
Lakeland College
Business Administration - Bachelor of Arts -
Lakeland University (Main Campus)