MATTHEW WHITTAKER
Sarasota,FL
Summary
Quality management professional with a proven background in problem solving, driving process improvements and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Strong focus on team collaboration and achieving results, consistently adapting to changing needs. Skilled in lean six sigma, risk management, and operational excellence. Known for reliability, leadership, and strategic vision.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Quality and Sustainability
Schindler Elevator Corporation
01.2023 - Current
- Led successful implementation and integration of three separate ISO management systems in 3 years while reinforcing a culture of compliance, sustainability, and operational discipline.
- Responsible for governance and improvement of the product development process, ensuring that all required deliverables exceed customer and regulatory expectations on time and within budget.
- Developed and implemented a service and maintenance product reliability upgrade program that resulted in a 43% decrease in service calls and a 23-point improvement in NPS score.
- Achieved an 80% reduction in overdue product field actions and a 60% drop in installation non-conformances by enhancing inspection protocols and deploying proactive quality controls.
- Designed and launched a digital document management system to enforce policy adherence, enable version control, and support regulatory audit readiness across departments.
- Implemented a formal Crisis Management and Business Continuity strategy based on potential high-risk scenarios and developed formal response and continuity plans to mitigate business risk.
Director of Quality
Carrier – Fire & Security Division
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Championed product and process quality initiatives across nine global manufacturing sites, aligning operations with corporate quality standards and driving systemic improvements.
- Facilitated over 70 Kaizen events that minimized production scrap, reduced inventory levels and expanded capacity while generating $8M in cost savings by leveraging lean six sigma methodologies.
- Instituted subject matter expert (SME) reviews within NPD phase gates to ensure zero-defect product launches, mitigating risk and enhancing launch readiness.
- Optimized supplier performance by deploying 8D problem-solving tools and implementing scorecard systems, leading to a 10% reduction supplier defects and 20% improvement in On-Time Delivery.
Quality Manager
United Technologies Corporation – Fire & Security Division
01.2015 - 01.2020
- Directed and executed quality strategy for a $300M commercial fire safety business, overseeing multi-site operations and ensuring alignment with global standards and business objectives.
- Reduced warranty claims by 45% by leading cross-functional quality initiatives focused on eliminating design flaws and enhancing manufacturing process control and capability.
- Improved First Pass Yield (FPY) from 88% to 98% and lowered scrap and rework costs by 34% through robust root cause analysis, preventative measures, and process optimization.
- Co-led the successful transition of a major manufacturing facility, maintaining delivery performance and minimizing disruption through meticulous planning and stakeholder coordination.
Quality & CI Manager
United Technologies Corporation – Fire Safety Solutions
01.2010 - 01.2015
- Spearheaded the deployment of Lean and Six Sigma frameworks across 30 global facilities, delivering hands-on training to over 2,000 employees and establishing a performance-driven culture rooted in data and process discipline.
- Increased inventory turns by 40% and improved customer on-time delivery from 82% to 97% by identifying inefficiencies, streamlining workflows, and implementing inventory control best practices.
- Directed cross-functional lean logistics and value stream mapping initiatives, aligning engineering and operations to eliminate waste, reduce cycle times, and enhance end-to-end productivity.
- Partnered with executive leadership to embed continuous improvement into core business strategy, delivering sustainable operational gains and fostering long-term process ownership across departments.
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
GE Security
01.2007 - 01.2010
- Achieved a $3M reduction in Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) by identifying and eliminating high-impact quality failures through advanced statistical analysis and Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
- Led Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), mistake-proofing (poka-yoke), and setup reduction initiatives across multiple global manufacturing sites, enhancing equipment reliability and process efficiency.
- Developed and implemented a customer return data analytics system that enabled root cause identification, trend tracking, and closed-loop corrective actions to improve product reliability.
- Served as a global CI advisor and mentor to plant-level Black Belts and Green Belts, driving sustainable process improvements and aligning local initiatives with corporate quality goals.
Materials Manager | Six Sigma BB
GE Aviation
01.2004 - 01.2007
Operations Supply Chain Manager
GE Aviation
2000 - 2004
Education
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OHBachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FLSkills
- QUALITY & COMPLIANCE: AS9100, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, Integrated Management Systems (IMS), APQP, PPAP, FMEA, Control Plans, Design of Experiments, Field Quality, Reliability
- LEAN & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: Lean Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, 8D, DMAIC, APQP, PPAP, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen Leadership, MFG Cell Design, Material Flow Optimization
Certification
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt | Certified Quality Manager | ISO lead auditor
Timeline
Director of Quality and Sustainability
Schindler Elevator Corporation
01.2023 - Current
Director of Quality
Carrier – Fire & Security Division
01.2020 - 01.2023
Quality Manager
United Technologies Corporation – Fire & Security Division
01.2015 - 01.2020
Quality & CI Manager
United Technologies Corporation – Fire Safety Solutions
01.2010 - 01.2015
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
GE Security
01.2007 - 01.2010
Materials Manager | Six Sigma BB
GE Aviation
01.2004 - 01.2007
Operations Supply Chain Manager
GE Aviation
2000 - 2004
Master of Science - Mechanical Engineering
University of Cincinnati
Bachelor of Science - Aerospace Engineering
University of Florida