NEIL VICKSTROM

2044 Southeast 61st Place * Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

MANAGEMENT: Quality Assurance, Quality Engineering
Quality management professional with 20 years of experience implementing operati
onal excellence procedures designed to improve processes, enhance productivity a
nd increase profitability while meeting company standards and compliance regulat
ions. Strategic leader known for reducing operational expenditures through proce
ss improvements and contract negotiations. Successful team builder skilled in ef
fectively communicating with contractors, customers and employees at all levels.
Confident problem solver utilizing quality tools to analyze root causes and for
mulate solutions.

Areas of Expertise
Operational Analysis * Quality Assurance (QA) * Team Leadership, Development & M
otivation
Problem Resolution * Process & Policy Development / Implementation * Customer In
teraction
Cross-Functional Collaboration * Project Management * Regulatory Compliance * In
ternal Audits
Inspections & Evaluations * Cost-Saving Initiatives * Strategic Planning * Proce
ss Reengineering

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
COBHAM AVIONICS (dba Artex Aircraft Supplies, Inc.), Aurora, Oregon * 2003-2010
Division of a United Kingdom-based company in the defense and aerospace fields.
The Aurora site of 100+ employees manufactures a device that aids search and res
cue in locating downed aircraft.
Director of Quality (2008-2010)
Led a team of 12 quality engineers and inspectors in addressing regulatory or cu
stomer issues. Ensured systems met quality registration to AS9100 and ISO 9000 s
tandards. Incorporated quality strategy into the company's overall plan as an in
tegral member of the management team. Maintained performance metrics. Prepared q
uality procedures and documents. Advised kaizen team on performance issues.
Key Achievements:
* Outsourced 90% of subassemblies and 70% of component accessories in 9 months.
* Established strong relationships with government regulatory agencies, original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aviation distribution companies.
* Managed quality team projects that reduced paper by 50% by creating an electro
nic test record for subassemblies and cut the amount of shelf-life chemicals dis
carded by 38% through a kanban system at the supplier level.
* Maintained quality system effectiveness during a 50% annualized growth.
Senior Quality Engineer / Quality Supervisor (2003-2008)
Directed the activities of 5-8 quality inspectors. Regularly interacted with the
customer base. Oversaw the quality performance of 50% of the suppliers and 33%
of the quality management system / documentation.
Key Achievements:
* Formulated a matrix that cross-trained employees 2-3 deep during a major growt
h period.
* Initiated in-house calibration through a single supplier, resulting in a turna
round for out-of-house items of less than one day and a 15% cost savings.
* Significantly bettering relations with suppliers and customers by enhancing qu
ality and delivery, including improving one supplier's quality acceptance rating
from 75% to 97% in 6 months.
* Reduced the overall MRB dollar value by 28% through the use of quality improve
ments.
* Created airworthiness tags for product shipments while serving as a designated
manufacturing inspection representative (DMIR) for the Federal Aviation Adminis
tration (FAA).
NEIL VICKSTROM * Page 2 * nvedc2b0@westpost.net

CREDENCE SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Hillsboro, Oregon * 1995-2002

Manufacturer of test equipment in the global semiconductor industry.
Corporate Quality Engineer
Coordinated International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliance, pro
cess mapping / management, corrective action and internal audits. Tested all qua
lity module links to business modules during an SAP Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) application implementation. Arranged for on-site customer audits and foll
ow-up reports. Trained company personnel in statistical process control (SPC), p
roblem solving, internal audits, ISO awareness and quality system guidelines.
Key Achievements:
* Standardized the quality system across multiple sites through continuous and c
onsistent communication and cross-functional / cross-site meetings.
* Saved $100,000 in implementation costs by performing SAP Quality Management (Q
M) configuration, integration testing.
* Developed / implemented 35% of the QA Manual and Standard Operating System pro
cedures.
* Improved calibration system compliance levels from 30% to 95% during a period
of 50% annualized growth.
* Negotiated with a new subcontractor to reduce the cost of calibration by 33%,
ELECTRONIC CONTROLS DESIGN, INC., Mulino, Oregon * 1993-1995
Leading United States producer of thermal profiling equipment and software.
Quality Assurance Manager / Quality Assurance Engineer / Quality Control Technic
ian
Performed process, product and supplier audits. Reviewed the performance of 7 Qu
ality Assurance and Electrical Test Technicians. Maintained all Underwriters Lab
oratories (UL), military specifications (Mil-Spec) and IPC certifications. Perfo
rmed an ISO 9002 implementation and gap analysis. Managed the calibration and me
tallurgical lab processes.
Key Achievements:
* Implemented a Mil-Spec process which improved sales retention for military job
orders by 2.5%.
* Enhanced throughput 33% by altering the nonconforming reporting process.
* Reduced nonconforming costs by $12,000 as the facilitator of four defect resea
rch teams.
NABISCO, INC., Portland, Oregon * 1990-1993
A major manufacturer of cookies, crackers and other food products.
Production Coordinator / Quality Assurance Technician
Supervised 63 production employees on 3 shifts. Developed and implemented a Stat
istical Process Control (SPC) training program for Quality Technicians.
Key Achievements:
* Reduced waste by 1.5% through the implementation of SPC on a product line.
* Collaborated with packaging subcontractors to resolve defects and create ergon
omic work cells for line personnel.
* Initiated a product audit process which saved 3% of products "on hold."

NEIL VICKSTROM * Page 3 * nvedc2b0@westpost.net

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
CLACKAMAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Oregon City, Oregon * 1994-2000
Instructor, Quality Science (Engineering Department)
Taught classes in Statistical Process Control I and II, Statistics for Quality P
rofessionals, Sampling and Inspection Techniques, and Reliability Principles and
Applications.

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Certified Quality Manager / Quality Engineer / Quality Auditor, American Society
for Quality (ASQ)
AS9100:2001 40-Hour Lead Auditor Certification, AQS Management Systems, Inc.
Executive Forum Leadership Lab / Executive Forum
Project Management / Common Sense Computing
Applications in the Management of Quality Certificate, Oregon Institute of Techn
ology
Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative, Federal Aviation Administrat
ion
Oregon Quality Award Examiner
Supply Line Management Certification, Saddle Island Institute
Lead Leader 40-Hour Certification, Lean Enterprise Training
Six Sigma Problem Solving Tools, ASQ
Ford's Global 8D Problem Solving, Timmons and Associates
Process Mapping, Pepperdine University
Statistical Process Control (SPC) Train the Trainer, Clackamas Community College
Metrology / Calibration and Data Analysis, Clackamas Community College
New Product Development Process, Economic and Workforce Development Division
Engineering Software Quality, OGI Center for Professional Development

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Society for Quality (ASQ) Senior Member

COMPUTER SKILLS
Microsoft Office Professional, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Project
SAP, MAS90, ManMan, Minitab, Northwest Analytical