Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Spencer G. Hintzman

Jeffersonville

Summary

Driven packaging professional who is committed to improving the operation and efficiency of manufacturing lines and packaging materials while reducing cost and waste. Attentive project manager with a keen eye for timelines and reducing risk throughout the process. Collaborative and engaged, working with internal colleagues and suppliers alike.

Overview

10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Packaging Engineer Manager

Sazerac Company
02.2024 - Current
  • Lead a team of three Packaging Engineers reporting through the New Business Development organization, resulting in 74% on-time project delivery against 700+ active projects.
  • Implement company wide FMEA based risk assessment aimed at derisking projects at ideation stage. Feedback from Procurement, Operations, and QA teams considered. Risk assessment drives feedback to Marketing on “what needs to be true” to hit COGs and targeted ship date.
  • Manage acquisition and upload for all BuzzBallz packaging specifications into Intellapac. Assume responsibility for all new material development. Successfully launched “Biggies” club store tray pack, resulting in 500k cases sold through to distributors in FY24.
  • Oversee $250k CapEx plan intended to elevate Sazerac Packaging Lab to “best in class”. Identified critical and cutting edge packaging technologies/equipment that decrease Non Conformance Report findings and lead time on new material development by up to 50%.
  • Support Fireball bottling facility through development, acquisition, line trialing, and implementation of lightweight 50mL Flask container. Reduction in gram weight from 11.2g to 8.1g resulted in $3M annual cost savings.
  • Developed dieline consolidation strategy at Fireball bottling facility, reducing active 50mL x 120 dielines from ten to one.
  • Reduced/eliminated changeover time between products, independent of brand.
  • Collaborate with Procurement and PET supplier to develop, line trial, and implement 50mL tethered closure to comply with upcoming EU regulations, unlocking global distribution ahead of competition.

Senior Packaging Engineer

Heaven Hill
01.2022 - 02.2024
  • Supported all Heaven Hill bottling facilities with a concentration on cost savings, material improvement, and new material qualification. Coordinated line trial testing at plant level and communicate results internally and with suppliers.
  • Managed all technical aspects for NPD projects. Developed accurate timelines and identified critical path items to ensure an on-time product launch.
  • Identified opportunities for sustainability projects aimed at reducing company material usage.
  • Identified packaging technology that is either new to market or required to adhere to domestic/international regulations.
  • Attended glass supplier runs for unit samplings/first production runs and new supplier qualification.
  • Supported QA Manager with RCCA reports and follow ups with suppliers. Attended regular QBRs and root cause failure studies at supplier level.

Packaging Engineer II

Brown-Forman
09.2019 - 01.2022
  • Supported on site Brown-Forman bottling facility, Old Forester Distillery, Chambord production facility, and Slane production facility.
  • Developed ship cases, labels, shrink bands, closures, gift cartons, thermoforms, and premium items with suppliers. Principal Packaging Engineer for Jack Daniel’s black label gift program resulting in 200+ SKU launches.
  • Executed testing in packaging lab for newly developed or first production materials.
  • Wrote, reviewed, and approved specifications for all newly developed materials. Stored by part number and ensured accurate and up to date specifications were maintained in EtQ.
  • Ensured consistent material performance at each plant and root caused nonconforming lots/batches.
  • Performed FMEA for all new products at early stage of project. Identified risk and developed action plans to best mitigate potential failures.
  • Worked cross functionally with Production, Business Processes, Quality Assurance, Design, and Brand team.

Packaging Engineer

Dallas Group of America, Inc.
08.2016 - 08.2019
  • Qualified/audited new and current suppliers for GMP compliance purposes.
  • Managed the acquisition, testing, and implementation of new packaging materials.
  • Supported multiple new equipment purchases from initial scope work to SAT stage.
  • Managed Food Service Equipment division. Set production schedules, negotiated raw material pricing, and set Kanban inventory levels with integral suppliers. Reduced on hand inventory by over $37,000.
  • Responsible for over $350,000 in cost savings since 08/2016.

Packaging Engineer

KTM Industries, Inc.
05.2015 - 07.2016
  • Conducted ISTA distribution testing that included drop tests and thermal tests aimed at maximizing performance for protective/display and shipping cooler packaging, respectively.
  • Lead ArtiosCAD design of parts and cutting dies for prototyping and full production runs.

Education

B.S. - Packaging

Michigan State University
05.2015

Skills

  • Project Management
  • Risk Analysis
  • Material Testing
  • Material Specification
  • Quality Assurance
  • GMP
  • CAPE/Tops
  • Smartsheet/MS Project
  • SQF
  • Kaizen
  • Prototyping
  • Supplier Relations
  • Supply Chain/Distribution
  • Data Analysis
  • Sustainability
  • SAP

Certification

  • Kaizen Institute of America - Kaizen Green Belt (2018-09)
  • SQF Institute - Implementing SQF Systems Exam: Manufacturing (2018-07)
  • International Safe Transit Association - Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional (CPLP), Technician (07/2016 – 07/2019)

Timeline

Packaging Engineer Manager

Sazerac Company
02.2024 - Current

Senior Packaging Engineer

Heaven Hill
01.2022 - 02.2024

Packaging Engineer II

Brown-Forman
09.2019 - 01.2022

Packaging Engineer

Dallas Group of America, Inc.
08.2016 - 08.2019

Packaging Engineer

KTM Industries, Inc.
05.2015 - 07.2016

B.S. - Packaging

Michigan State University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Spencer G. Hintzman