Maria Meeks
Tracy City,TN
Summary
Continuous Improvement Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the food production industry. Skilled in Process Improvement, Communication and Lean Six Sigma. Strong operations professional with a BS in Agricultural Business, PCQI certification and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Training.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Thompson Machinery
01.2024 - Current
- Documentation & Work Instruction creation for sales processes.
- Design and creation of digital hyperlinked handbooks and assisted in the implementation for sales reps and coordinators.
- Assisted in the implementation of dashcams across a fleet of 400+ service trucks and rental cars.
- Worked with human resources to create an introduction to continuous improvement presentation for all new hires.
- Designed a Continuous Improvement training class to add to the Learning & Development class schedule.
- Conducted a time study to calculate takt time in the hose shop for an expansion project.
- Conducted a customer service time study to ensure proper staffing and scheduling.
Farm Manager
Happy Hooves Farm
08.2014 - Current
- Managing expenses, budgeting, and financial reports for owners.
- Oversee buying and selling of animals, farm equipment and hay.
- Ensuring property remains safe for all animals.
- Maintaining healthy animals including disease prevention.
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Black Rifle Coffee
06.2022 - 09.2023
- Executed continuous improvement programs and employed lean tools and methodologies.
- Implemented 5s and lean practices across plant.
- Restructured procedures through coordination with quality manager and production team to create and execute process improvements including but not limited to, the planning and implementation of an improved GMP process.
- Recommended sustainability improvements based on tracking and analysis of operational data for each department.
- Managed plant wide training documentation and spreadsheets.
- Created handbooks to give operators access to standard operating procedures, work instructions and quality assurance guidelines.
- Partnered with safety to design and implement plant wide pedestrian pathway.
Packaging Operator
Black Rifle Coffee
08.2021 - 06.2022
- Observed machine operations to verify quality and conformity of packaged products, stepping in to resolve issues promptly and avoid costly production errors.
- Inspected products by running quality checks before packaging to prevent shipping defective and damaged goods to customers.
- Operated tape machines, scales and label printers to package items correctly.
- Worked with and guided my team in production to maintain product flow and quality.
- Performed general and problem solving maintenance as needed.
Assistant Barn Manager
The University of the South
09.2019 - 04.2021
- Assisted barn manager with barn maintenance and cleaning.
- Ensured my team knew their daily duties and kept them on track.
- Assisted visitors and directed them to where they needed to be.
- Managed work study students and documented their attendance and progress.
- Ensured the safety of my team and work study students while working with equipment and horses.
- Helped with daily barn chores such as, feed/water, horse turnout, baths, medications and general barn tidiness.
- Completed any projects the director or barn manager gave me in a timely manner.
- Redesigned blanket collection, documentation and necessary repairs for 40+ horses.
- Digitalized and maintained all records for 40+ horses.
- Performed nightly checks to ensure horse safety and health.
Case Packer
Great Lakes Cheese
07.2018 - 09.2019
- Documentation & Work Instruction creation for sales processes.
- Design and creation of digital hyperlinked handbooks and assisted in the implementation for sales reps and coordinators.
- Assisted in the implementation of dashcams across a fleet of 400+ service trucks and rental cars.
- Worked with human resources to create an introduction to continuous improvement presentation for all new hires.
- Designed a Continuous Improvement training class to add to the Learning & Development class schedule.
- Conducted a time study to calculate takt time in the hose shop for an expansion project.
- Conducted a customer service time study to ensure proper staffing and scheduling.
Education
Bachelor's - Agricultural Business
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN 12-2018
High School Diploma -
Saint Stephen's Episcopal School
Bradenton, FL 12-2014
Skills
- Lean Manufacturing
- Process Improvement
- Interpersonal and Cross Departmental Communication
- Problem Solving
- Project Management & Implementation
- Food Safety & Quality
Custom Section
- Advanced knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office 365 products and applications.
- Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies with Green Belt training for driving process improvements.
- Proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to anticipate needs, find alternative solutions, and proactively achieve desired outcomes.
- Self-motivated, self-directed, and resourceful.
- Experience in supporting multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills for handling sensitive and confidential situations with poise, tact, and diplomacy.
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
- Focused and result-driven.
Timeline
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Thompson Machinery
01.2024 - Current
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Black Rifle Coffee
06.2022 - 09.2023
Packaging Operator
Black Rifle Coffee
08.2021 - 06.2022
Assistant Barn Manager
The University of the South
09.2019 - 04.2021
Case Packer
Great Lakes Cheese
07.2018 - 09.2019
Farm Manager
Happy Hooves Farm
08.2014 - Current
Bachelor's - Agricultural Business
Austin Peay State University
High School Diploma -
Saint Stephen's Episcopal School
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