Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Rodney Michels

Ellery,IL

Summary

RESULT DRIVEN MANUFACTURING ENGINEER Boasting long standing, proven experience across mechanical applications and plant management. Thorough understanding of safety standards, project management, maintenance, and tooling aspects. Dedicated to and actively involved in corporate vision and operations goals. Superb balance of technical know-how with work force management and collaborative abilities. Earned reputation as a hard charging leader with distinct ability to train and lead efficient, goal focused teams. Develop Manufacturing Processes Equipment & Tooling Maintenance New Product Development Materials Development Mold Die Build & Repairs Project Management Training and Development Vendor Communications Regulatory Compliance Quality Control Planning & Improvement Cost Analysis & Budgeting

Work History

Manufacturing Engineering

Champion Laboratories
Albion, Illinois
06.2014 - Current
  • Developed and implemented high speed automated two or four band cabin air filter, in the Illinois facility
  • Developed the adhesive material, process, and equipment to manufacture the Finer-Flow filtration product line for the Illinois facility
  • United States patent No
  • 11,117,079 B2 Developed the non-traditional diagonal panel air filter pleating process for the Illinois facility
  • Developed and implemented automated x-metal support blanking and loading process on all panel air filter production lines in the Illinois facility Developed and implemented automated panel air filter demolding process on all panel air filter production lines in the Illinois facility
  • Manufactures fuel, oil, air, and cabin air filtration for the OEM & aftermarket automotive and heavy-duty markets, a division of First Brands Group LLC, $4.3B in annual sales.
  • Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.
  • Participated in continuous improvement by generating suggestions, engaging in problem-solving activities to support teamwork.
  • Led projects and analyzed data to identify opportunities for improvement.

Engineering Manager

Toyota-Boshoku, LLC
Lawrenceville, IL
04.2014 - 06.2014
  • Automotive component manufacturer a division of Toyota Boshoku Corporation, $13.5 B in annual sales
  • Led the Manufacturing, Electrical and Industrial Engineering functions involving door panel, seat, and headliner assembly
  • Implemented 5 second cycle time reduction on the door panel and seat assembly lines to match TMMI mandated assembly line time
  • Reduction assembly changes including planning, building, support equipment, production performance and equipment, tooling, maintenance scheduling, spare parts inventory and coordinate special events
  • Oversaw multiple capital projects from conception to implementation.

Technical Services Manager

Champion Laboratories
Albion, IL
03.2013 - 04.2014
  • Led the Illinois facility maintenance including planning, building, support equipment, production performance and equipment, tooling, maintenance scheduling, spare parts inventory and coordinate special events
  • Managed multiple capital projects from conception to implementation
  • Project led on the spin-on oil filter twenty-four stations Borden high speed auto tester rebuild project
  • Implemented maintenance actions to increase the existing Borden testers OEE from 55% to 85%
  • Centralized Tool Room and CNC support for the manufacturing locations in Illinois
  • Team member negotiating maintenance repair operation (MRO) vendors to leverage annual cost savings objectives supervised installation of hot melt extruders
  • Repaired 300 ton can line tooling repair in 8 hours after operator error
  • Managed, planned, and led high the speed Massman filter assembly rebuild
  • Managed, planned, and led high speed Massman element assembly rebuilds
  • Managed, planned, and led high speed Serpa horizontal auto boxer rebuilds.

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Albion , IL
06.2011 - 02.2013
  • The Champion Laboratories / Fram air filter production consolidation at the Albion facility in the following areas
  • Evaluated Fram air filter production equipment to determine opportunities to improve Champion Laboratories processes
  • Relocated the Fram high speed panel air filter line from Stratford, Ontario Canada to Albion, Illinois in fifty days
  • Generated prelaunch Process Flow and PFMEA for the Fram high speed panel air filter line
  • Assisted Quality and Production departments with PPAP submission on the panel and radial air filters once built by Fram
  • Expanded the existing air filter production lines to include orange color capability
  • Revised facility layout to improve material and process flow while preparing the necessary utilities to support the high-speed panel air filter line
  • PPAP three OE radial seal air filter constructions from Stratford, Ontario Canada to existing production line in Albion, Illinois.

Manufacturing Engineer

Champion Laboratories
Albion , IL
12.1996 - 02.2013

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Wujiang , China
11.2010 - 08.2011
  • The Briggs & Stratton W16 air filter program start up at the Champion Wujiang China facility
  • The project required current production equipment to be evaluated, with recommendations made to modify existing equipment to build the small engine air filter
  • Generated the equipment specification requirements, negotiated with vendors, and initiated procurement activities for the air filter equipment modifications
  • Supervised and qualified the equipment modification on Champion Wujiang China floor prior to production launch
  • Assisted with the Quality and Production with PPAP submission.

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Albion, IL
12.2010 - 06.2011
  • The Toledo Mold LFX/LTG/LCV air filter production start up at the Champion Laboratories Albion facility
  • Evaluated the onsite production equipment to confirm the LFX/LTG/LCV air filters manufacturing capability
  • Generated the tooling requirements and initiated procurement and manufacturing activities for the air filter tooling
  • Generated prelaunch Process Flow and PFMEA for the LFX/LTG/LCV air filter program
  • Assisted with the Quality and Production with PPAP submission.

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Wujiang, China
06.2009 - 01.2011
  • The hard-plastic panel air filter program start up at Champion Wujiang China facility
  • Evaluated and approved Asia equipment, tooling, and raw material vendors
  • Generated the equipment specifications requirements, negotiated with vendors, and initiated procurement activities for the production and support equipment for the hard-plastic panel air filter program
  • Supervised the Engineering, Quality and Operations staff during launch.

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Wujiang, China
02.2007 - 03.2009
  • Panel air filter manufacturing
  • Evaluated and approved the Asia equipment, tooling, and material vendors for polyurethane air filter program
  • Wrote equipment specifications, negotiated with vendors, and initiated procurement activities for production and support equipment
  • Supervised the production equipment layout and departmental decoration for the leased facility
  • Supervised the Engineering, Quality and Operations staff while launching the polyurethane air filter program for the first year of production
  • Led the Wujiang Production team to achieve corporate production and scrap goals for the China operations
  • Implemented 6’s

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
Albion, Illinois
08.2004 - 07.2005
  • The Saltillo, Mexico air filter manufacturing operations to the Champion Laboratories Albion, Illinois facility
  • Led the disassembling and relocation of two air filter production lines and PPAP submittal upon production start-up at Albion, Illinois facility
  • Assisted the Spin-on business group disassemble of the spin on and cartridge oil filter assembly lines and fabrication equipment for relocation to Albion, Illinois facility.

Project Leader

Champion Laboratories
Albion, IL
12.1996 - 06.2003
  • Developed, evaluated, and approved equipment vendors
  • Generated automation equipment specification to manufacture radial seal, conical and panel polyurethane air filters for the Albion,
  • Illinois and Saltillo, Mexico production facilities
  • Initiated the procurement activities for production and support equipment to produce heavy duty and automotive air filters for the Albion,
  • Illinois and Saltillo, Mexico production facilities.

Industrial Engineer

Roadmaster Corporation, Inc
Olney, Illinois
05.1994 - 12.1996
  • Developed manufacturing processes for current and new bicycle equipment
  • Managed engineering aspects of specifying, purchasing, and implementing equipment requirements for machinery
  • Determined the best economical approach to manufacturing processes with emphasis on plant layout, assembly line balancing and material handling concepts to achieve optimal return on investments.

Education

M.S - Management

Oakland City University
2001

B.S - Industrial Technology

Southern Illinois University of Carbondale
1994

A.S - Tool & Manufacturing Technology

Southern Illinois University of Carbondale
1993

Skills

  • Conveying Information
  • Workspace and Equipment Layout
  • Sustainable Product Manufacturing
  • Process Requirements Validation
  • Quality Evaluation
  • Process Improvement Design
  • Engineering Design and Installation
  • Administrative Staff Collaboration
  • Process Planning
  • Machine Tool Technologies
  • Continuous Improvement Methods
  • Cycle Time Improvement

Affiliations

Champion Laboratories Dale Carnegie Course “How to Win Friends and Influence People Lean Manufacturing: OEE, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Poka Yoke, Kanban, PFMEA Software System GD Edwards, Kronos, AutoCAD, Microsoft: Project, Power Point, Word, Excel Publication “MANAGING IN THE DIGITAL ERA” a group project completed by the graduating class of Master of Science in Management from the Evansville Section of Oakland City College, 2001

Timeline

Manufacturing Engineering

Champion Laboratories
06.2014 - Current

Engineering Manager

Toyota-Boshoku, LLC
04.2014 - 06.2014

Technical Services Manager

Champion Laboratories
03.2013 - 04.2014

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
06.2011 - 02.2013

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
12.2010 - 06.2011

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
11.2010 - 08.2011

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
06.2009 - 01.2011

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
02.2007 - 03.2009

Project Manager

Champion Laboratories
08.2004 - 07.2005

Manufacturing Engineer

Champion Laboratories
12.1996 - 02.2013

Project Leader

Champion Laboratories
12.1996 - 06.2003

Industrial Engineer

Roadmaster Corporation, Inc
05.1994 - 12.1996

M.S - Management

Oakland City University

B.S - Industrial Technology

Southern Illinois University of Carbondale

A.S - Tool & Manufacturing Technology

Southern Illinois University of Carbondale

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Rodney Michels