Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Training
Personal Information
Timeline
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MICHAEL J. RANZ

Waterbury

Summary

QMS Specialist with 35 years of experience in aerospace quality, established a new Quality Management System at BETA Technologies. Expertise in regulatory compliance and training development led to significant quality improvements and a culture of excellence. Demonstrated success in documentation control and process auditing.

Overview

37
37
years of professional experience

Work History

QMS Specialist

BETA Technologies
08.2024 - Current
  • Accepted and exciting, diversified role in a Part 21 eVTOL startup business.
  • Utilizing my more than 35 years’ experience in aerospace quality to develop and implement a new Quality Management System.
  • Authored BETA’s Quality Manual to establish compliance to 14 CFR Part 21.137(a-o)
  • Provide training, insight and guidance on conformity as a former DAR to the production team
  • Provide in-process auditing to establish the new Quality Management System
  • Authoring the Policies, Procedures, Work Instructions, Forms and Desktop Guides as part of the new QMS
  • Collaborating with the FAA CMO to establish the QMS and gain FAA approval

Director of Quality / Chief Inspector (DQCI), Quality Manager

Waltzing Matilda Aviation
01.2022 - 01.2024
  • Selected as the Quality Manager for an exciting start-up airline to help lead through the 121 Certification Process.
  • Promoted to DQCI in March of 2022.
  • Assisting in establishing an SMS based organization in a Part 119 capacity
  • Providing expert Audit Capability both internally and externally
  • Providing a layer of Quality oversight for RTS activities and conformity checks
  • Ensuring compliance with FAA 121.373 Continuing Analysis and Surveillance (CASS) program
  • Building and maintaining a Risk Based Quality and Audit program.

Director of Quality

FEAM Maintenance & Engineering
03.2020 - 01.2022
  • Chosen as the first-ever Director of Quality for FEAM CVG at a brand new, 105,000 Sq/Ft, state-of-the-art hangar for the performance of A-Checks on Boeing 757, 767, 777 and 747 aircraft as well as maintain established Line Maintenance services.
  • As the Director of Quality, provided strategic and tactical guidance to the FEAM CVG facility from a Quality and Regulatory perspective.
  • Reporting directly to the Corporate VP of Safety and Quality, for the directing, planning, and laying out details of inspection standards, methods, and procedures used by FEAM in complying with all applicable Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs), manufacturer’s specifications and recommendations, and customer requirements and programs.
  • Establish and maintain a set of Quality Objectives to lead FEAM CVG into compliance and growth.
  • Utilizing SMS, conduct risk assessments and ensure that investigations are completed on any Quality issues with the goal of providing true preventive action plans.
  • Established an SMS based organization within the FEAM CVG facility —as the first in a new role within FEAM CVG, led a compliance-first culture within the Quality and Management Teams to mentor the CVG workforce.
  • Maintained Control during a period of exponential growth – During the Covid-19 pandemic, led FEAM CVG to record growth when many MROs were struggling to survive.
  • Provide the face of FEAM to Federal regulatory agencies and Customer Representatives – ensure that FAA inquiries are immediately addressed and maintain Customer satisfaction through prompt investigation of concerns.
  • Ensure a relatively young workforce is trained and mentored - By ensuring all required training is maintained, as well as providing experience-based mentoring, have ensured that the FEAM CVG team is quickly and efficiently seasoned.
  • Leading FEAM CVG to an independent Certified Repair Station License - In order to more effectively manage what has become the largest FEAM facility, leading the application process to establish and new CRS at CVG.

SENIOR QUALITY MANAGER / CHIEF INSPECTOR

StandardAero
04.2016 - 03.2020
  • Recruited to provide the leadership vital to designing and installing the compliant quality programs and controls to catch-up with exponential growth for one of the aerospace industry’s largest independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) providers.
  • As Chief Inspector, provided oversight of all quality inspectors and supervisors within a part 145 FAA/CAAC/ANAC/CARC/DCA and DGCA-approved engine component repair station.
  • Orchestrated the certified repair and overhaul of engine components for 100+ aerospace and land and marine engine models within a facility cycling 80K+ parts annually.
  • Promoted to develop and execute all quality systems, goals, and objectives at the site level.
  • Provide seasoned leadership and mentorship to a team of engineering, inspection, and quality specialists.
  • Directed quality engineering support of major projects and initiatives, ensuring the delivery of optimal custom solutions for business aviation, commercial aviation, military, and industrial power customers.
  • Played a key role in expanding the inspection team from 50 to 140 and doubling the facility footprint—organization has doubled to 800 team members total—to meet aggressive quality and turnaround time measures.
  • Drove operational excellence within a multi-tiered, world-class MRO facility, championing Lean initiatives including deploying ‘fast cell’ training to create a more efficient program, reducing time in training from 6 months to 30 days.
  • Restructured the inspection organization to meet emerging operational and customer demands, also critical to maintaining 5 independent registrations with the United States, Taiwan, Brazil, China, and Europe.
  • Mitigated quality issues to negligible levels for key projects and accounts, monitoring quality trends and operational metrics, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement, and engaging in process and control authoring.
  • Served as a key resource in providing direct customer support of warranty and CAPA issues, troubleshooting concerns, deploying corrective and preventive actions, and communicating with customers’ quality and technical leadership.

PRESIDENT & OWNER

MMC Aviation Services
02.2014 - 04.2016
  • Leveraged privileges of Inspection Authorization (IA) license—and explosive demand for Designated Airworthiness Representatives DAR-F (manufacturing)—to launch an independent Georgia corporation and engage in annual inspections on general aviation aircraft (aircraft, engines, propellers, and articles).
  • Executed conformity inspections on behalf of the FAA—DAR-F function codes 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22—and earned FAA approval for appointment as a DAR-T (maintenance) pending FAA need for services.

QUALITY MANAGER / CHIEF INSPECTOR

McClain International Inc., a HEICO Company
03.2011 - 02.2014
  • Held total accountability for the quality of new and repaired engine components, in addition to various aircraft structural components built under PMA, serving as Repair Station Chief Inspector for manufacturing, distribution, and repair business.
  • Maintained two distinct quality systems in a complex, small business environment, defining and ensuring the achievement of quality metrics, planning and executing quality audits, and managing supplier conformance to quality expectations.
  • Gained an incredible depth of experience by being involved in all phases of the aerospace quality lifecycle, contributing to design, developing processes and procedures, overseeing compliance, and supporting the sales and certification process.
  • Exercised FAA Designee responsibilities as an independent DAR, executing 8130-3 export certificates of airworthiness for articles shipped as distributions, articles for which McClain was not the PAH.

QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

Gulfstream, a General Dynamics Company
01.2010 - 03.2011
  • Entered Gulfstream in a Quality Engineering position with primary responsibility for Procurement Quality Assurance.
  • Performed quality system and process surveys of global vendors, reviewed and approved purchase orders and part rejections, and launched corrective action investigations of rejected supplied parts.
  • Promoted rapidly to a senior management role at the Gulfstream Completion Center Repair Station and oversaw the outfitting, testing, certification, and final delivery of Gulfstream III, IV, and V aircraft to domestic and foreign customers.
  • Initiated Lean activities to drive continuous performance improvement.
  • Transferred to assist in the creation of the Gulfstream G650 Completion Center, creating a quality program from the ground up, and working tirelessly to drive adoption of a new infrastructure with the potential to reduce build cost by 25% and cycle time by 15%+.
  • Earned an unprecedented promotion to oversee the delivery center from a quality perspective, orchestrating the efforts of 20+ inspectors in the final outfitting of Gulfstream aircraft poised for delivery to global leaders and corporations.
  • Cut cycle times by 30%+ while mitigating quality issues, optimizing customer satisfaction by managing client expectations and demands, meeting stringent global regulatory requirements, and experiencing low return rates.
  • Guaranteed conformity and certification to numerous TCs and STCs, ensuring compliance with 14 CFR part 145 Repair Station guidelines and part 21 Manufacturing, while maintaining brand’s reputation as the gold standard for business jets.
  • Built and staffed the Gulfstream G650 Completion Center from a quality perspective, establishing quality standards and objectives, deploying paperless planning and tracking system, and writing FAA-approved quality manuals.

Federal Aviation Administration Designee (ODAR)

BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, CO.
Everett
01.2001 - 01.2004
  • Launched an ODAR program, authored quality manuals, trained foreign nationals, and performed duties as a representative of the FAA Administrator per 14 CFR part 183 for Heavy Transport Category Aircraft (primarily 747, 757, 767, 777 and 7E7/787s).
  • Issued Aircraft Certificates of Airworthiness (Standard, Experimental, and Export), Special Flight Permits, and Export tags for Class I, II, and III aircraft and components.
  • Performed conformity determinations for production and prototype parts.
  • Gained experience in all aspects of new aircraft certification—from initial conformity determinations with FAA Certification Office through completion of TCs, STCs, TIRs, and STIRs—cutting cycle times to meet customer demand and quality goals.

Manager, QA Technical & Inspection Support, Space Station Program

BOEING SPACE SYSTEMS
01.1999 - 01.2001
  • Promoted to the Space Program and immediately stepped in to address 2 years of outstanding quality issues, working in collaboration with a peer to eliminate backlog within 6 months.
  • Managed Quality Engineers and Quality Assurance Inspectors involved in the fabrication of the American-built components of the Space Station, training 45+ team members to deliver all major hardware for the program.
  • Provided direction and leadership for budgeting, workforce planning, and resource allocation.
  • Oversaw a portfolio of 800+ suppliers, performing annual reviews, evaluating nonconformance, tracking and trending issues to initiate corrective actions, and supporting corporate goals during contract negotiations.
  • Served as head of the Material Review Board and Program Corrective Action Board, in addition to liaising with NASA Customer Representatives of Manned Space Flight Missions.

Inspector, Inspection Lead, Inspection Manager, Chief Inspector, Quality Manager

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
01.1988 - 01.1999
  • Entered the aviation industry in 1988 after college as an Inspector on the MD-80 program.
  • Rose through the ranks into QC/QA management at several McDonnell Douglas facilities and programs including the MD-11, Titan, and Delta Rocket Programs.
  • Established an FAA CRS in the McDonnell Douglas, Melbourne, Arkansas facility.

Education

Associate of Science (AS) - Aviation Maintenance Engineering

Parks College of St. Louis University

Leadership Boot Camp, Crucial Conversations, Business Presentations, ODA

Gulfstream University

Skills

  • Quality management and regulatory compliance
  • Training development
  • Documentation control
  • Process auditing and risk management
  • Technical communication
  • Cross-functional leadership

Affiliations

  • American Society for Quality
  • Experimental Aircraft Association Technical Counselor
  • Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
  • Germania Club of Cincinnati
  • VFW Auxiliary Life Member

Training

  • AS9100 Lead Auditor Training
  • Lean Manufacturing / Kaizen
  • Total Quality Management
  • Statistical Process Control
  • ISO9000 Lead Assessor
  • FAA Standardization
  • Event Investigations
  • CATIA v5
  • Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) Inspection
  • Handling & Usage of Explosives and Propellants
  • Chinese & Middle Eastern Cultural Training
  • Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing
  • Diversity & Cross-Cultural Effectiveness
  • Dye Penetrant Level II
  • Project Management
  • ESD Protection
  • Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Personal Information

Title: Designated Airworthiness Representative (DAR-F), Airframe & Powerplant License with Inspection Authorization

Timeline

QMS Specialist

BETA Technologies
08.2024 - Current

Director of Quality / Chief Inspector (DQCI), Quality Manager

Waltzing Matilda Aviation
01.2022 - 01.2024

Director of Quality

FEAM Maintenance & Engineering
03.2020 - 01.2022

SENIOR QUALITY MANAGER / CHIEF INSPECTOR

StandardAero
04.2016 - 03.2020

PRESIDENT & OWNER

MMC Aviation Services
02.2014 - 04.2016

QUALITY MANAGER / CHIEF INSPECTOR

McClain International Inc., a HEICO Company
03.2011 - 02.2014

QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER

Gulfstream, a General Dynamics Company
01.2010 - 03.2011

Federal Aviation Administration Designee (ODAR)

BOEING COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, CO.
01.2001 - 01.2004

Manager, QA Technical & Inspection Support, Space Station Program

BOEING SPACE SYSTEMS
01.1999 - 01.2001

Inspector, Inspection Lead, Inspection Manager, Chief Inspector, Quality Manager

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
01.1988 - 01.1999

Associate of Science (AS) - Aviation Maintenance Engineering

Parks College of St. Louis University

Leadership Boot Camp, Crucial Conversations, Business Presentations, ODA

Gulfstream University

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