Michael Pillich
Davenport,FL
Summary
Accomplished Technical, Production, and Quality Management Executive with over 30 years of precision manufacturing experience driving and leading operational excellence, continuous improvement, and robust quality control systems. Proven expert in leading 4+ shift teams, executing scalable continuous improvement processes, and closing 5+ corrective actions per month while maintaining Quality Management Systems (QMS) and authoring 50+ documents, control plans, and work instructions compliant with AS9100D, ISO 9001, and IATF 16949 standards. A servant leader with a deep commitment to a collaborative, family-oriented culture focused on coaching, mentoring, and personnel development to foster accountability and excellence. Expert in metrology, root cause investigations, and technical blueprint analysis within highly regulated, mission-critical environments.
Overview
36
36
years of professional experience
Work History
LEAN Technical / Quality Control and Process Manager
Ballistic Advantage, LLC
Ocoee, FL
06.2021 - Current
- Complete 90-100% of scheduled internal audits per quarter to support QMS compliance and readiness.
- Guide personnel across four shifts, establishing a clear vision for operational excellence, mentoring personnel, and executing robust training plans to build long-term succession pathways.
- Develop and continuously optimize the corporate QMS, including flow diagrams, process descriptions, control plans, detailed work instructions, and skills matrices.
- Championed advanced root cause investigations and corrective actions (8D, 5D, and RMA processes), leveraging 5-Why and Fishbone frameworks to dramatically lower escape rates, mitigate risk, and support corporate growth.
- Develop, authorize, and verify first article inspections, PPAP, and FMEA documentation, serving as the primary quality subject matter expert for precision product compliance.
- Engineer data-driven continuous improvement workflows by collecting and analyzing quality inspection data, scrap and rework rates, run rates, changeover cycles, and material flow to optimize plant-wide OEE.
- Prepare and present high-impact KPI performance briefings to executive leadership, translating complex data analytics into actionable operational strategies during weekly and monthly peer cross-functional reviews.
- Cultivate an open-door policy and collaborative environment, standardizing team communication protocols and shift-change documentation to embed culture, safety, and accountability into daily operations.
- Build training plans that strengthen operator capability, onboarding consistency, and succession readiness.
- Coach team members on quality expectations, escalation paths, and documentation standards.
- Coordinate production scheduling inputs with quality priorities to protect output and inspection flow.
- Support supplier quality management by reviewing documentation and addressing incoming material concerns.
- Refine standard work documentation to improve consistency across inspection, reporting, and escalation steps.
- Coordinate cross-functional communication to resolve quality concerns, production issues, and customer expectations.
- Presented KPI results to leadership in weekly and monthly reviews with clear follow-up priorities.
- Monitored quality trends and material flow to identify process bottlenecks and support continuous improvement.
Production Supervisor / Maintenance Coordinator
ClosetMaid
Ocala, FL
08.2020 - 06.2021
- Managed 15-20 monthly preventive maintenance cycles to keep equipment available for production demands.
- Directed 5-10 weekly production schedules to balance floor coverage and shifting operational needs.
- Oversaw daily floor operations to maintain workflow continuity and address production issues promptly.
- Coordinated maintenance priorities with production demands to reduce downtime during the transition contract.
- Supported a transitional leadership assignment after relocating to Florida, adapting quickly to site expectations.
Production Supervisor
ept inc.
South Chesterfield, VA
01.2009 - 04.2020
- Co-led the strategic layout planning, engineering, and equipment scale-up of a high-precision US manufacturing facility, successfully managing the transfer of critical production departments from corporate headquarters in Germany.
- Designed scalable production floor layouts for Assembly, Injection Molding, and High-Speed Metal Stamping departments to maximize operational efficiency and workflow optimization.
- Directed external certification and customer audits and maintained readiness across quality documentation, shop floor practices, and corrective actions in compliance with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 regulations.
- Interpreted blueprints and technical specifications to define critical dimensions and inspection requirements to eliminate waste.
- Built internal audit routines using daily Gemba walks and follow-up actions to support consistent shop floor discipline.
- Coordinated capital planning discussions around equipment upgrades, safety needs, and production risk considerations.
- Coached team leads on accountability, escalation paths, and consistent application of work instructions.
- Documented corrective and preventive actions to address recurring process issues and improve follow-through.
- Supported onboarding programs for new production staff by explaining station procedures and documentation standards.
- Trained coworkers on quality expectations, inspection steps, and safe work practices.
- Collaborated with engineering and quality teams on inspection plans, control points, and risk-based production adjustments.
- Monitored KPI dashboards to share production status, quality trends, and open action items.
- Reviewed production equipment availability to support capacity planning for changing demand.
- Developed standard work documentation to support repeatable production methods and clearer operator expectations.
Production Operator
ept GmbH
Peiting, Germany
07.2004 - 12.2008
- Verified component measurements and kept output within required quality tolerances throughout each shift.
- Tracked production conditions and flagged irregular machine behavior for timely intervention.
- Maintained a clean, organized work area to support safe and efficient daily operations.
Production Operator
Elektro Doellgast
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
02.1991 - 06.2004
- Maintained specialized electromechanical systems, managed technical component setups, and met strict daily quality delivery goals.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
Staatliche Berufsschule Garmisch-Partenkirchen
GAP, BY, Germany04-1991
High School Diploma - undefined
Oberammergau High School
Oberammergau, BY, Germany07-1987
Skills
- QMS architecture
- Supplier quality management
- AS9100D
- ISO 9001
- IATF 16949
- Operations leadership
- Continuous improvement
- Corrective action management
- Plant performance reporting
- Capacity planning
- Internal audit management
- Manufacturing risk assessment
- Process flow mapping
- Control plan development
- Corrective and preventive action
- Root cause analysis
- Production scheduling
- KPI dashboard reporting
- Team training development
- Training program development
- Onboarding programs
- Cross-functional training
- Quality management systems
- Coaching and mentoring
- Employee development planning
- Standard work documentation
- Leadership development
- Cross-functional leadership
Timeline
LEAN Technical / Quality Control and Process Manager
Ballistic Advantage, LLC
06.2021 - Current
Production Supervisor / Maintenance Coordinator
ClosetMaid
08.2020 - 06.2021
Production Supervisor
ept inc.
01.2009 - 04.2020
Production Operator
ept GmbH
07.2004 - 12.2008
Production Operator
Elektro Doellgast
02.1991 - 06.2004
High School Diploma - undefined
Oberammergau High School
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering
Staatliche Berufsschule Garmisch-Partenkirchen