Richard Fischer
R&S Cutterhead Mfg. Co., Inc.
Richmond,Illinois
40
Years of experience
2
years of post-secondary education
Operations leader with manufacturing oversight experience in process improvement, quality management, and production planning. Builds high-performing teams through coaching, training, and performance management. Streamlines daily operations and strengthens vendor relationships to support growth.
Work History
President and Owner
10 Years 6 Months- Directed cutterhead manufacturing operations for a custom industrial tooling company.
- Set production and machining priorities for machining and fabrication teams.
- Reviewed customer orders, sales needs, and plant priorities.
- Coordinated engineering, purchasing, and shop-floor schedules.
- Monitored quality standards for cutterhead fabrication work.
- Worked with staff to support efficient daily operations.
- Ensured accurate payroll processing while overseeing accounts payable and receivable operations.
- Resolved staff conflicts through attentive listening and constructive feedback.
- Started projects to improve customer service standards across departments.
- Implemented new technologies to enhance organizational efficiency.
- Guided development and launch of new products and services.
- Identified new business opportunities through market research.
- Tracked market trends and adjusted strategies accordingly.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors, suppliers, and other partners.
- Hired, trained, and mentored staff to improve productivity.
- Directed technology improvements to streamline operations and eliminate production bottlenecks.
- Oversaw customer orders, specifications, and production priorities
- Coordinated machine maintenance and shop workflow
- Managed material purchasing and inventory controls
- Reviewed quality standards for cutterhead assemblies
- Communicated with vendors, customers, and shop staff
- Improved production methods for custom cutterhead work
- Managed daily operations of business, including hiring and training staff.
- Identified new growth opportunities through market analysis and strategic planning.
- Provided direction and guidance to employees.
- Developed and implemented strategies to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Monitored inventory levels and placed new orders for merchandise to keep supply well-stocked.
- Directed or coordinated financial or budget activities to fund operations and maximize investments.
Chief Operating Officer
8 Years 2 Months- Directed daily operations across multiple departments throughout the organization.
- Coordinated production planning, scheduling, and material flow across fabrication teams.
- Oversaw quality control standards for precision cutting equipment manufacturing, ensuring compliance with industry regulations.
- Directed manufacturing operations for cutterhead production and shop floor workflow.
- Handled purchasing, inventory, and vendor relationships for industrial components.
- Supervised department managers and assisted with daily operational decisions.
- Built plans to improve productivity, operational performance, staff retention, and satisfaction.
- Monitored performance metrics to ensure adherence to quality standards and drive operational improvements
- Followed safety protocols, industry standards, and legal requirements.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers for goods or services.
- Set key performance indicators for measuring success.
- Analyzed financial data and identified cost-saving opportunities.
- Managed production activities from design through delivery of products or services.
- Identified new business opportunities through market research analysis.
- Improved profits by reducing expenditures and evaluating prices.
- Coordinated major project initiatives from planning through execution for timely completion.
- Drove performance measures for operation with focus on continuous improvement.
- Directed technological improvements that reduced waste and removed business bottlenecks.
- Optimized supply chain to lower materials costs and improve distribution.
Production Coordinator
12 Years 4 Months- Coordinated daily production activities to support efficient operations.
- Tracked work orders and routing details to ensure timely completion of manufacturing operations.
- Supported cutterhead production scheduling across shop floor and machining teams.
- Communicated with purchasing, shipping, and production staff on order priorities.
- Checked material availability for cutterhead fabrication and assembly needs.
- Prepared production documents, travelers, and job packets for daily manufacturing runs.
- Monitored interdepartmental workflow to enhance coordination and maintain smooth plant operations.
- Updated inventory records for raw materials, parts, and finished cutterheads.
- Worked with supervisor to assign work and meet on-time production and quality goals.
- Reviewed daily workload distribution to prioritize and assign job tasks.
- Managed day-to-day tasks from production manager and director and met deadlines consistently.
- Resolved production process issues and equipment malfunctions quickly and efficiently.
- Worked with production lines to build schedules that matched promised delivery dates.
- Inspected quality control standards for incoming materials, in-process work, and final output.
- Developed standard operating procedures for production personnel.
- Proposed manufacturing methods to streamline processes and optimize production flow.
- Organized order information to prepare products for production.
- Applied quality assurance standards throughout the production process.
- Maintained relationships with external supply chain partners, including freight carriers and customs brokers.
- Negotiated with suppliers to secure cost-effective resources.
- Managed production calendar, scheduling tasks and deadlines.
- Assisted in hiring and training new production staff.
- Addressed production-related problems to ensure smooth workflow and minimize delays.
- Coordinated logistics for raw materials and finished goods.
Machinist
9 Years 5 Months- Set up lathes, mills, and grinders for cutterhead production.
- Read blueprints and shop drawings to complete accurate machining work.
- Measured parts with calipers, micrometers, and gauges.
- Inspected finished cutterheads for quality and dimensional accuracy.
- Followed safety rules and shop procedures in metalworking areas.
- Supported production flow through careful setup and part changeovers.
- Performed routine maintenance on machinery, including lubrication, cleaning.
- Maintained optimal machining performance by replacing worn cutting tools during operation.
- Adjusted machine feed, speed, and cutting tools to restore functionality during programming faults or malfunctions.
- Follow written instructions to set up and operate manual equipment and computer-controlled production machines.
- Set up and operated various machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments.
- Fabricated tools, jigs and fixtures to meet manufacturing and engineering needs.
- Operated forklift to place finished products on skids and transport to warehouse.
- Observed machine operations to detect malfunctions or out-of-tolerance machining and adjust machines accordingly.
- Selected appropriate speeds and feeds according to metal type and finish specifications.
- Used grinding equipment for finishing surfaces and sharpening cutting edges on machined parts.
- Assembled machined parts into mechanical units using hand tools and power tools.
- Gauged and maintained tolerances on grinding diameters, depths, squareness and parallelism.
- Supervised other workers engaged in operating machines and making repairs on machinery.
- Implemented preventive and corrective maintenance processes to extend equipment lifespan and reliability.
- Inspected material after completion for accurate measurement of dimensions.
- Ensured correct alignment and secure attachment of fixtures and tools for effective operation., cutting tools and attachments onto machines.
Education
Associate of Science - Engineering
- Participated in WSM Student Radio Station, DJ and remote broadcast engineer, 1984-1985
- College Prep/High School Diploma
Skills
Operations management
Production scheduling
Supply chain management
Vendor and payroll management
Business development
Staff training and development
Cost reduction
New product strategies
Process improvement
Strategic market planning
Competitor research
Corporate representation
Staff training and development
Staff training
Conflict resolution
New product strategies
Timeline
President and Owner
R&S Cutterhead Mfg. Co., Inc.
12.2015 - 06.2026Read More
Chief Operating Officer
R&S CUTTERHEAD MFG. CO., INC.
10.2007 - 12.2015Read More
Production Coordinator
R&S Cutterhead Mfg. Co., Inc.
06.1995 - 10.2007Read More
Machinist
R&S Cutterhead Mfg. Co., Inc.
01.1986 - 06.1995Read More
Lake Forest Academy
from College Prep/High School Diploma
08.1982 - 05.1984Read More
University of Hartford
Associate of Science from Engineering
Read More