Kenneth Abbott
Eagle,MI
Summary
Global Engineering/IT Systems Leader/Management Professional with expertise in Product Lifecycle Management Implementations/Configuration/Support, Business Process Improvement, Project Management and Engineering Systems Management. Proven ability to learn the intricacies of diverse organizations to make immediate departmental/global impacts and improvements to processes, reporting, systems, leadership and personnel. Adept at optimizing global resources, generating significant cost savings and promoting innovative solutions to complex environments by utilizing leadership from personal expertise and knowledge.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Global Engineering Systems
Generac Power Systems
09.2019 - 03.2024
- Increased company revenue by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Implemented innovative solutions to solve complex problems, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined operations.
- Optimized staff performance by designing comprehensive training programs tailored to individual needs.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors for reduced costs and improved service quality.
- Secured key partnerships that contributed to the company''s overall growth strategy and market reach.
- Established a culture of continuous improvement by fostering open communication channels and empowering employees to voice their ideas.
- Managed budgets effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Proactively identified potential risks and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize negative impacts on projects or business operations.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration for improved decision-making processes within the organization.
- Evaluated employee performance objectively using established metrics, leading to fair compensation adjustments based on meritocracy principles.
- Cultivated a positive work environment that fostered employee engagement, increased retention rates, and boosted overall team morale.
- Established departmental performance goals and provided feedback for underperforming areas.
- Monitored and coordinated workflows to optimize resources.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Mitigated business risks by working closely with staff members and assessing performance.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
Global MBE Systems Leader
Baker Hughes, a GE Company
01.2013 - 08.2019
- Model Based Enterprise technology leadership and implementation including CAD/PLM strategic roadmap development and execution across product platforms of BHGE
- Manage PTC products and contact with PTC corporate
- Provided mentorship/training and new technology/techniques implementations
- Manage and develop engineering systems standards
- Partner with IT resources/counterparts for alignment and execution of new and existing platforms for engineering
- Developed the strategic CAD roadmaps (Creo, SolidWorks, AutoCAD) with executed and planned upgrades for an 8 – 10% increase in productivity equaling an annual $1.5M engineering reduction in effort directly related to OTD and an overall single product line savings of $6.9M
- To support the GE MBE initiative; developed and executed standards and productivity tools for MBD models resulting in an overall product development savings of $1.15M (MBE – MBM)
- To increase productivity; defined and managed the development of customized apps within Creo and provided Productivity Training to the Creo Community (1100 users) resulting in an 8% productivity gain
- Defined and managed three Global Creo Upgrades of Creo and 1 Global Upgrade for SolidWorks for over 3600 users including all integrations (PLM and Analysis)
- Developed internal direct reports and Global Team members as Superusers regionally located (North American, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia)
- Defined and Managed Global Budgets year over year for Engineering Systems.
Engineering Systems Manager
Nypro Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Provide strategic leadership for enterprise-wide engineering systems including CAD, PLM and Knowledge Management platforms
- Provide leadership to users, departments, and management to achieve efficient and effective business processes
- Working as the central resource and collectively with Business Units and Strategic Companies to resolve business issues and optimize existing and future organizational needs through improved engineering systems architecture
- To reduce overall operating expenses for Engineering Systems; “right sized” systems to match organizational needs reducing $330k annually
- To provide a stable environment and a validated state; developed core systems stabilization and change process allowing for an FDA validated state
- To increase communications amongst engineering teams and strategic business; developed and introduced a Knowledge Management platform reducing redundant information tasks by 30%.
IT Manager – Global Engineering
Invensys Controls
01.2005 - 01.2010
- Managed Engineering Software (PLM/MCAD/ECAD/Firmware, etc.) for five global design centers and 25 manufacturing sites supporting over 1000 users
- Directed and managed local and international support staff
- Developed/delivered application end user training for all sites for PLM/MCAD systems
- Managed the implementation and adoption process for a Global PLM including Supplier Management, Manufacturing Process Management, Document/CAD Management and Change Management reducing our annual maintenance costs by $240k and allowing for Global Engineering Teaming to be formed
- To establish a “One Process” organization, managed and implemented a Standard Global ECN Process and Standard NPI Process by consolidating five US disparate processes and multiple international process from Brazil, China, USA, Mexico, Germany, France, Slovakia, UK, Czech Republic and Italy
- Managed the Migrations of four PDM/PLM systems to a single PLM system reducing duplicate systems annual costs by $187k
- To reduce site costs and duplication of licensing, managed, negotiated and consolidated to Global Licensing for all Global Engineering Tools (MCAD, ECAD, Firmware) for USA, Mexico, Brazil, UK, France, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, India, China (PTC, SolidWorks, Autodesk, Mentor Graphics, Oracle PLM) for an annual maintenance savings of $172k
- Managed and developed a Web Based Helpdesk System which included issue tracking/escalation and Service Level Agreements, which became the foundation for the Global Helpdesk system
- To further increase the PLM usage, managed and defined the development of our BOM Configuration Management connectivity to our ERP Systems (BPCS, QAD).
Project Engineer/Engineering Systems Management
Minuteman International, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Managed and created New Product Designs for the Consumer Products Industry (floor cleaning equipment)
- Managed and implemented Engineering Systems (PDM, MCAD)
- To establish consistency and utilization of technologies, managed, integrated, installed and trained Engineering Tools and PDM Systems for two design centers
- Project managed, designed and developed two new designs for the automatic scrubber decks, including a plastic system reducing machine weight and increasing scrubber functionality by 75%.
Global Engineering Systems Administrator
Dana Corporation- CVTC
01.1998 - 01.2003
- Managed and implemented the Engineering Systems for 15 facilities including PDM/MCAD and Change Management systems
- Coordinated and negotiated a $5.5M VPA for global technologies which included all software and services to support 15 Global facilities
- To consolidate multiple change processes and procedures, managed, realized and centralized global technologies for entire division including manufacturing process and the development of a new centralized Change/Inquiry Process for 15 Global Facilities in eight countries including USA, Canada, Spain, Mexico, England, Australia, India and Argentina
- Managed all implementations regarding training, consulting and integration of technologies for all global design centers including the overseeing, scheduling and managing of 15 consultants
- Managed the integration of engineering technologies from Eaton Axle and Brake Division and Dana Heavy Axle and Brake Division into a single engineering entity of Dana Commercial Vehicle Systems Division.
CAE Technology Admin
EATON Corporation- TCOA
01.1994 - 01.1998
- Managed and implemented the Engineering Systems including PDM/MCAD and Change Management systems
- Managed engineering systems acquisition from Dana Corporation Spicer Heavy Axle
- Supported MCAD applications for the entire Galesburg campus
- Conceptually designed and analyzed New Braking Systems
- Developed, authored, and trained custom MCAD training courses to include “Best Practices” and TCOA standards
- Managed, consolidated, installed, verified, and implemented MCAD and PDM Systems.
Global Design Engineer
Beef Products, Inc.
01.1993 - 01.1994
- All disciplines related to the Design and Fabrication of food processing equipment inclusive of custom conveyor systems, large drum freezing equipment and custom bone stripping equipment.
CADD Systems Engineer
Special-Lite, Inc.
01.1988 - 01.1993
- All disciplines related to the Design and Fabrication of custom production machinery including mold presses, multi positional gang drilling machines, multi-angle cut-off tools for the fabrication of entrance systems
- Introduced their first CAD system of CADKEY and migrated into PTC’s Pro/Engineer in 1991.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Design Drafting
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Kalamazoo, MI05.1989
Skills
- Digital Transformation (Concept through Service)
- Right-Sizing Tools
- Workflow Optimization
- Global Implementation/Execution Excellence
Managed Systems Experience
- PTC Windchill
- PDMLInk
- Oracle Agile PLM
- CMSPro
- TeamCenter
- SAP PLM
- ArborText
- PTC Creo
- Pro/Engineer
- Mechanica
- AutoCAD
- SolidEDGE
- SolidWorks
- IAR
- Mentor Graphics
- Zuken
- Ansys
- SAP Integrations
Professional Development
- Nominee Recipient 2017 Customer Focus GE Oil & Gas (one of eight recipients of 60,000 employees)
- GE Becoming an Effective Leader Training Completion (GE Crotonville Training Center – World Renowned)
- PMI PMP Certification Courses
- PTC/User Technical Committee Member (1995 – Present)
- PTC/User Technical Committee Chairman (1999-2001)
Community Service
- STEM CAD Program Developer for Houston Independent School District (Developed and Pioneered HISD’s first dedicated CAD to 3D Printing Middle School Course)
- FIRST Team Leader – Clinton Massachusetts
- Children’s Church Program Leader
Timeline
Director, Global Engineering Systems
Generac Power Systems
09.2019 - 03.2024
Global MBE Systems Leader
Baker Hughes, a GE Company
01.2013 - 08.2019
Engineering Systems Manager
Nypro Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2013
IT Manager – Global Engineering
Invensys Controls
01.2005 - 01.2010
Project Engineer/Engineering Systems Management
Minuteman International, Inc.
01.2004 - 01.2005
Global Engineering Systems Administrator
Dana Corporation- CVTC
01.1998 - 01.2003
CAE Technology Admin
EATON Corporation- TCOA
01.1994 - 01.1998
Global Design Engineer
Beef Products, Inc.
01.1993 - 01.1994
CADD Systems Engineer
Special-Lite, Inc.
01.1988 - 01.1993
Associate of Applied Science - Design Drafting
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Similar Profiles
Mathias GonzalesMathias Gonzales
Student Apprentice at Generac Power Systems IncStudent Apprentice at Generac Power Systems Inc
Matthew D. DiJulioMatthew D. DiJulio
Advanced Manufacturing Controls Engineer at Generac Power SystemsAdvanced Manufacturing Controls Engineer at Generac Power Systems
Todd BrozovichTodd Brozovich
Government Sales Executive at Generac Power SystemsGovernment Sales Executive at Generac Power Systems
Matthew DostMatthew Dost
Assembler at Generac Power SystemsAssembler at Generac Power Systems
Edward HillEdward Hill
Laborer at Eagle Enterprise of MichiganLaborer at Eagle Enterprise of Michigan