519 South Market Street

Shakopee Minnesota 55379

Phone (952)496 3213

Thomas A. Zager
Objective
A progressive position that will make optimum application of my extensive
manufacturing and supervisory background.

Qualification
Profile Results driven and relationship-based Manager with exceptional
communication skills and demonstrated track record for building and
maintaining collaborative professional partnerships. Hands-on motivator with
a solid reputation for developing autonomous work teams, implementing
process improvements, reducing waste while improving efficiencies and
productivity.
Creative troubleshooter and problem solver recognized for identifying key
projects to meet our customer needs. This creates a win/win company and
customer relationship.
Work experience
INTERMET MINNEAPOLIS, New Hope, Minnesota, 1995 - Feb 2009
Quality Manager 2006 – Feb. 2009
• Responsible for the overall effectiveness of the Quality department
• Supervise and mentor 12 direct reports ranging from Quality Engineers to
production floor Inspectors.
• Responsible for maintaining our ISO/9001:2000 Quality System
• Responsible for tracking key budgetary items such as scrap, rework and
customer concerns.
• Responsible for identifying and implementing training for continuous
improvement needs associated to the quality of our products on the
production floor.
• Oversee customer related concerns to insure that the corrective actions have
been implemented and are proven effective.
• Champion of a Six Sigma Green Belt project to reduce scrap and improve
throughput. Results:
1. Overall Scrap reduction of $ 144,000.00 annually.
2. Improved product flow by increasing our first time through from 78%
To 88%.

• Operation Manager 2002 - 2006

• Managed the production activities for our aluminum diecast department
that generates sales of $29 million annually.
• Interacted with senior management to implement effective manufacturing
solutions to achieve targeted goals, objectives and budgetary items.
• Supervised and prioritized the daily activity within the department to insure
labor was being utilized effectively.
• Responsible for the overall performance of the aluminum casting
department focusing on efficiencies, labor, waste and spending.
• Supervised and mentored 7 direct reports ( 5 Supervisors and 2 Process
 Engineers ) and 110 shop floor employees.
• Responsible for implementing continuous improvement activities such as:
1. Cycle time reduction – 20% improvement over 2005 = $90,000
savings
2. Die lube reduction – 50% improvement over 2005 = $50,000 savings
3. Metal loss recovery = $240,000 savings in 2006

• Responsible for implementing improvements on the production floor to

reduce scrap and increase equipment uptime.
1. Increased FTT by 15% from 68% in 2005 to 78% in 2006
2. Increased equipment uptime by 10% through peripheral equipment
rebuild program.
• Developed and implemented quick change tool carts to substantially
reduce set up times.
1. Reduced set up times 20% ( 6 hours to 4 hours )
• Responsible for implementing 5’s housekeeping programs throughout the
department
• Responsible for introducing and implementing Lean Manufacturing
principles into our primary and secondary operations.

Quality Engineer 1999 - 2002

Performed Quality system audits on suppliers
Assisted suppliers in developing Quality plans
Assisted Engineering with pre-launch activities for new customers
Developed work instructions and control plans
Evaluated and disposition non-conforming product
• Worked directly with the customer to establish visual quality criteria for the
samples provided to the shop floor.
• Direct contact with the customers on quality related items.
• Responsible for converting our quality systems from QS9000 to
IS0 9001:2000

Shift Supervisor 1995 - 1999

Responsible for achieving departmental goals on 1st shift
• Wrote and developed Standard Operating Procedures to facilitate QS9000
qualification processes.
• Monitored and facilitated project and their completion. Orchestrated the
development and implementation of new automated industrial processes.
• Trained, mentored and supervised 33 employees and managed multiple
projects
• Evaluated and responded to employee performances and training needs
• Developed productive customer partnerships to improve production
processes and minimized defective products.
• Assisted with recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and training of prospective
manufacturing and management personnel.
• Collaborated with Human Resource Manager to develop and implement Stop
for Safety and Ergonomics.
• Active member on the plant safety committee
 MERCURY MARINE, Fond du lac, Wisconsin, 1993 – 1995
Area II Supervisor, Second Shift

Supervision of twenty-six employees

Coordinated the work schedule of our primary and secondary operations
across all three shifts.
• Worked directly with the Fabrication Manager on meeting our budget and
projected goals.
• Responsible for documentation and implementation of employee training
programs.
• Worked directly with the Die Cast Operators, one on one, training to
ensure quality and productivity objectives were maintained.
• Worked with inventory levels (FIFO) to improve our overall inventory turns

Education
• Hennepin Technical Center, Eden Prairie, Minnesota
One Year Degree – Automated Packaging
• Shakopee Senior High School, Shakopee, Minnesota

Additional Training

• Six Sigma
• Core Value
• Safety ( S.T.O.P. Program)
• SPC Classes
• Basic Computer Courses
• QES Training(Quality Education System)
• Supervision 1 & 2 Courses
• Lean Flow Manufacturing Course
• Basic Blue Print Reading
• QS9000 Quality System Training
• Time Management Training
• Dale Carnegie Leadership Training

REFERENCES Available upon request.