Valerin Hernandez Mendoza
Chicago,IL
Summary
Dynamic manufacturing and process engineer with a proven track record driving 90% downtime reduction through Lean Six Sigma initiatives. Skilled in project management and cross-functional collaboration, I excel in optimizing assembly processes and enhancing equipment reliability, delivering significant cost savings and operational improvements.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Manufacturing/Process Engineering
Skolnik Industries
01.2026 - Current
- Led process improvements for steel drum manufacturing at Skolnik Industries.
- Led continuous improvement and capital projects targeting ergonomics, equipment reliability, and cost optimization, including implementation of vertical drum lift and maintenance of Carando welder.
- Developed standard work instructions for filling, welding, and finishing operations.
- Reviewed production layouts to support safer material flow across Skolnik Industries.
- Developed AutoCAD drawings for new products and sales-driven prototypes; built and tested prototypes to validate performance and ensure compliance with UN certification requirements.
Sr. Reliability Analyst Engineering
Whirlpool Corporation
Racine, Wisconsin
07.2025 - 12.2026
- Lead process mapping and PFMEA development for critical assembly systems, mitigating risk and improving operational reliability.
- Closed critical gaps in planned maintenance strategy, which increased uptime and extended equipment life.
- Partnered with vendor to launch installed base evaluation system for tracking spare part obsolescence; streamlined spare parts tracking process to enhance launch readiness.
Analyst Engineering, Process Transformation
Whirlpool Corporation
Tulsa, Ok
07.2024 - 07.2025
- Achieved 90% downtime reduction in packaging area via EEM and Lean Six Sigma projects, delivering $150K annual savings.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams for vertical startup of new equipment, enhancing first-time quality and reducing lifecycle costs.
- Project Lead for $2M capital automation initiative, transitioning manual processes to robotic automation, reducing headcount by 50%, boosting labor productivity, and lowering operating costs.
Assembly, Supervisor
Whirlpool Corporation
Cleveland, TN
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Redesigned line layout and material flow using WCM/Lean, increasing assembly yield by 11% and saving $62K annually.
- Directed assembly line operations for new product launch, achieving quality, throughput, and safety targets.
- Led Early Production Containment activities, ensuring successful defect-free product launch.
Process Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
Cleveland, TN
07.2023 - 01.2024
- Performed SMED analysis to cut press line changeover time by 55%, increasing throughput.
- Managed capital project for installing common end-of-arm tooling, achieving $82K annual savings and enhancing process flexibility.
- Collaborated with QA to complete PPAP for new model equipment, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
Fall River, MA
01.2023 - 07.2023
- Reconfigured welding department layout, reducing non-value-added activity by 50% and achieving annual savings of $334K.
- Improved Whirlpool appliance assembly processes using lean manufacturing principles and standard work.
- Developed manufacturing layouts for new Whirlpool production lines and equipment launches.
- Designed ergonomic welding jigs to enhance safety and minimize ergonomic risk.
- Analyzed process data to support root cause investigations and corrective actions.
Quality Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
Fall River, MA
07.2022 - 01.2023
- Facilitated DFMEA and PFMEA workshops for mechanical and process systems, identifying and mitigating design risks to enhance product reliability.
- Installed advanced electrical-mechanical testing equipment, achieving zero-defect compliance prior to launch.
- Led quality inspections across Whirlpool appliance production lines and finished goods.
- Reviewed process data using SPC charts and control plans.
- Investigated defects through root cause analysis and corrective action tracking.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Michigan Technological University
Houghton, MISkills
- Lean Six Sigma certification
- Cross-functional collaboration methodologies
- Project management
- Process improvement
- Value stream mapping
- SMED
- Digital tools: Power BI, PowerApps, Power Automation techniques
- Operational Analytics
- Statistical process management
- Quality management systems
- Quality Control Techniques
- Experimental design
- Process developments
- Manufacturing engineering
- Industrial engineering
- Equipment reliability strategies
- Capacity planning and optimization
- Capacity planning
- Assembly line optimization
- Capacity planning
- Value stream mapping
- Minitab
- Quality management systems
- 5S methodology
- Work instructions
- Process improvement
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Facility design
- Facility design
- Minitab
- Design for Manufacturability
Timeline
Manufacturing/Process Engineering
Skolnik Industries
01.2026 - Current
Sr. Reliability Analyst Engineering
Whirlpool Corporation
07.2025 - 12.2026
Analyst Engineering, Process Transformation
Whirlpool Corporation
07.2024 - 07.2025
Assembly, Supervisor
Whirlpool Corporation
01.2024 - 07.2024
Process Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
07.2023 - 01.2024
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
01.2023 - 07.2023
Quality Engineer
Whirlpool Corporation
07.2022 - 01.2023
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering
Michigan Technological University