Zachary Thornton
Senior Designer
Portage,MI
Summary
Outstanding design experience in injection mold and blow mold plastics including Finish Panels, Instrument Panels and Consoles as well as some sheet metal experience. Less than one year experience designing suspension systems. Trained in Catia V5, Teamcenter, NX, AutoCAD, Inventor, SolidWorks, Knowledge Advisor, Mach3, KBETools and GD&T practices. Motivated, creative and highly effective at problem solving, I ensure every design is done efficiently and meets the exact specifications of customer surface/drawings to avoid issues in the future.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Senior CAD Designer
Summit Polymers Inc.
Portage, Michigan
02.2022 - 02.2025
- Built 3D models and assemblies with CATIA V5 for multiple vehicle consoles, conducting thorough quality control checks before submission, minimizing errors and confirming accuracy in final designs.
- Used TeamCenter PLM software to keep customers up-to-date on current designs.
- Managed Summits internal design database, ensuring all project data is stored properly, in an organized and easy to understand structure.
- Consistently met aggressive project timelines through effective time management skills and efficient design methodologies.
- Developed CAD drawings from hand sketches, verbal instructions, and site visits.
- Reviewed specifications to generate complex details of individual system components.
- Consulted with project managers, customer engineers and suppliers to produce and alter 3D parts/assemblies.
- Identified potential operational issues and redesigned products to improve functionality.
- Supervised and trained other drafters in company standard practices and design methods.
- Created motion studies for moving parts/assemblies to avoid crash conditions.
Senior Designer
Roush
Dearborn, Michigan
01.2012 - 11.2021
- Designed detailed drawings and 3D models of plastic injection-mold finish panels, sheet metal parts and suspension components for Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
- Patented a design feature that improves safety and appearance which Ford now uses for many of their vehicles.
- Created/maintained part and assembly files using TeamCenter.
- Worked closely with Ford engineers to determine design intent and maintain feasibility, as well as ensuring accurate GD&T data in drawings.
- Used CATIA kinematics to design motion studies for dynamic systems such as steering columns and suspensions.
- Designed and coded CATIA Power Copies which are now being used globally by Ford designers.
- Frequently made presentations using MS Office software.
- Parts designed on a per vehicle basis, taking 12-18 months for each project.
- Coordinated design with multiple departments and individual designers/engineers.
- Multiple awards received for job performance.
- Obtained approval of concepts by submitting rough drafts to management or to client.
CAD Designer
Impulse Manufacturing
Dawsonville, Georgia
01.2011 - 01.2012
- Created detailed drawings and designed 3D models of sheet metal and metal tube parts using SolidWorks.
- Parts were designed for clients ranging from independant inventors to large corporations such as Greyhound.
- Designed weld fixtures for sheet metal assemblies.
- Programmed wide variety of fabrication machines including CNC, tube laser, press brake, punch press and robotic welders.
- Submitted requests to suppliers to provide new tools for above mentioned fabrication machines, such as CNC router bits.
- High completion rate of 10+ parts with drawings each day.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Mechanical Drafting & Design
Lanier Technical College
Oakwood, GA 08.2008 - 12.2010
Skills
Catia V5
Timeline
Senior CAD Designer
Summit Polymers Inc.
02.2022 - 02.2025
Senior Designer
Roush
01.2012 - 11.2021
CAD Designer
Impulse Manufacturing
01.2011 - 01.2012
Associate of Applied Science - Mechanical Drafting & Design
Lanier Technical College
08.2008 - 12.2010
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