Steve Collins
Arkadelphia,AR
Summary
Operations Leader with extensive transformational leadership experience in continuous improvement initiatives that positively impact the P&L. Recognized for coaching and mentoring skills that contribute to high performing teams and operational excellence. Eight years of college level teaching experience for operational and continuous improvement topics. Served in numerous elected positions and advisory boards.
Professional Continuous Improvement Manager offering 35 years of experience managing improvement process programs. Successful in identifying problems to develop targeted solutions and implement employee training using lean principles. Focused on developing value stream mapping to analyze production and improve workflow processes. Expert in identifying risks and developing solutions that reduce chances of potential issues.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Divisional Continuous Improvement Manager (Multi plant)
All Weather Insulated Panels
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Established & launched a Lean Six Sigma program (Yellow, Green, & Black Belts)
- Developed over 200 hours of instructional materials for Lean Six Sigma
Operational Excellence Director, Harvel Group (Multi plant)
Georg Fischer Industrial Piping – Americas
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Championed the introduction of Hoshin Kanri / A3's for business transformation.
- Implemented an IR System for real time notification of quality defects.
Operational Excellence Manager (CI, Safety, Maintenance, Mfg Engineering)
Southern Aluminum
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Introduced Production “Hour by Hour” Boards - 17% output improvement
- Redesigned the flow through the Finishing Department - 22% output improvement
- Introduced vender-controlled management to MRO supplies - $17,000 cost reduction
Senior Manager of Production & Planning for Igniters, Warheads, & Case Reclamation
AEROJET ROCKETDYNE
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Reduced quality turn backs by 20% through the introduction of focused Gemba Walks
- Improved processes that allowed for a 30% increase in Standard Missile reclamation
Director of Manufacturing (Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, Purchasing, & HR)
STARK MANUFACTURING
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Developed training plans to ensure a standard skill set across the plant.
- Developed Standard Work Playbooks to serve as a “How To” for backups on critical jobs
- Established a Maintenance Work Order system to levelized workload and track costs
Value Stream Manager of the Condensing Unit Value Stream
DANFOSS COMMERCIAL COMPRESSORS
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Balanced flow which reduced FTE from 49 to 24 (49%) and increased output from 31 units to 45 units per day (42%)
- Reduced Customer Line Rejects from 2,800 ppm to 400 ppm
- Improved 1st Pass Yield from 50% to 95% by improving the quality of the brazing operation.
Divisional Master Black Belt (Multi plant)
FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Reduced MTTC of Six Sigma Green Belt projects from 15 months to 4 months
- Lead the Autonomous Maintenance rollout - Reduced downtime 75% on critical equipment
- Implemented Hour by Hour Production Boards - Improve productivity by an average of 12%
District Operations Manager (AR, TX, LA, MS, AL, OK, MO)
SEARS HOME REPAIR SERVICES
01.2009 - 01.2011
- 30% reduction in variable insurance costs through better training of Techs
- Eliminated $875,000 inventory backlog by applying Standard Work & 5S
- 25% reduction in support staff by implementing Lean Methodologies throughout the district
Business Unit Manager of Blower / Trimmer Group
HUSQVARNA OUTDOOR PRODUCTS
01.2006 - 01.2009
- Reduced recordable injuries 50% by holding individual accountable and adherence to PPE
- Improved labor utilization 58% through line balancing; 37% improvement in 1st Pass Yield
- Implemented dock auditing and saw a 20% reduction in units that failed to start in the field
Engineering Manager / Assistant Plant Manager (Maintenance, IT, Quality)
ITT INDUSTRIES
01.1990 - 01.2005
- Lead 75 Kaizen Events that improved plant operations across all functional areas
- Implemented Kanban systems to improved inventory turns from 12 to 33
- Improved OTD from 95% to 99% & decreased DPPM rate from 250 to 6 through TPM
Education
MBA -
Webster University
BS Industrial Technology -
UCA
Skills
- P&L
- Budget Management
- 5S / Visual Management
- OSHA VPP
- Standard Work
- ISO 9001:2008
- ISO 14001:2015
- IATF 16949:2016
- TPM
- Kaizen
- Lean Manufacturing
- Value Stream Mapping
- Six Sigma
- Baldrige Criteria
- RCA
- FMEA
- Training
- Curriculum Development
- Coaching/Mentoring
- Team Building
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Project
- Minitab
Certifications
- ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt
- AQI Master Six Sigma Black Belt
- ASQ Certified Quality Manager (CQM)
- Ford’s LRC Certified Lean Leader
Timeline
Divisional Continuous Improvement Manager (Multi plant)
All Weather Insulated Panels
01.2024 - 01.2025
Operational Excellence Director, Harvel Group (Multi plant)
Georg Fischer Industrial Piping – Americas
01.2022 - 01.2024
Operational Excellence Manager (CI, Safety, Maintenance, Mfg Engineering)
Southern Aluminum
01.2021 - 01.2022
Senior Manager of Production & Planning for Igniters, Warheads, & Case Reclamation
AEROJET ROCKETDYNE
01.2019 - 01.2021
Director of Manufacturing (Maintenance, Quality, Logistics, Purchasing, & HR)
STARK MANUFACTURING
01.2018 - 01.2019
Value Stream Manager of the Condensing Unit Value Stream
DANFOSS COMMERCIAL COMPRESSORS
01.2017 - 01.2018
Divisional Master Black Belt (Multi plant)
FIRESTONE BUILDING PRODUCTS
01.2012 - 01.2017
District Operations Manager (AR, TX, LA, MS, AL, OK, MO)
SEARS HOME REPAIR SERVICES
01.2009 - 01.2011
Business Unit Manager of Blower / Trimmer Group
HUSQVARNA OUTDOOR PRODUCTS
01.2006 - 01.2009
Engineering Manager / Assistant Plant Manager (Maintenance, IT, Quality)
ITT INDUSTRIES
01.1990 - 01.2005
BS Industrial Technology -
UCA
MBA -
Webster University
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