Robert Howard 1966 Klingensmith Dr Bloomfield Hills, M I 48302 (248) 721-7652 E-mailrh15d34ce@westpost.

net PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE Operations and Quality professional with broad International Operations, Quality and Manufacturing experience. (Locations include: United States, Mexico, Canada India, Spain, Germany Japan, and China). Career focuses on demonstrated leaders hip capabilities, revitalizing and turning around operations impacting profitabi lity. Results oriented, with Continuous Improvement focus within complex value added assembly operations. Proven record of Launching new manufacturing faciliti es and products.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE Director Global Supplier Development: Infinia Corporation, Oct 2008 to Present Established and organized a highly efficient Supplier Development team that has implemented a successful global Supplier Development strategy, developed an eff ective cost down process and aggressively optimized the complex supply chain of a solar energy as a start-up company. * Identified, assessed, selected, and developed credible global suppliers for ne w product launch. * Conducted regular risk assessments and quality assurance reviews to evaluate c ompliance with requirements and identified potential gaps in policies, procedure s and business process. * Developed strategies to drive earlier supplier involvement in the product deve lopment phase. * Created cross functional Supplier Review Board to monitor process compliance, cost targets, and timing. * Planned and directed concept competition with potential suppliers to gain manu facturing feasibility on critical components at COGS targets. * Established strong executive alliances with global supply partners and strengt hened supplier .relationships. Leading to improved manufacturing processes and f ostered a Partnership Environment. * Developed and implemented cost down initiatives with engineering and supply ch ain to obtain commodity targets. o Realized over material cost reduction with cost, quality, and DFM workshops ap proach. o Used detailed strategy as leverage to raise new venture capital. * Successfully developed three key Component Suppliers in Spain which provides f ifty percent of product content for the European market. Successful development included identification and selection of source education to Infinia's Quality s ystems requirement and validation of component.

Supplier Quality Specialist: Chrysler LLC, Feb 2005 to Oct 2008 Managed the Advance Supplier Quality Planning activities for the procurement of Seat Systems, Restraints, Seat Structures, Miscellaneous Interior Plastics, and Electrical Components * Serve as Interface between Purchasing, Engineering, Manufacturing and Product teams, to identify and lead the resolution process of Supplier related issues. * Ensure Supplier purchased parts meet Chrysler quality goals and objectives in accordance to program timing. Suppliers worked with; were; Magna, Faurecia.JCI L ear, Mitsubishi,, Autoliv.

* Perform on site Process Sign-off to confirm process capability and capacity in addition to auditing other Product/ Process items associated with the manufactu ring of component parts. * Supplier development initiative facilitator for Interior components. * Received three Vice Presidential awards for Outstanding Achievement. * Successfully Launched the Interiors of the Chrysler Sebring Dodge Avenger, and the Dodge Journey. * Graduated from Chrysler's AQP University. * Launched manager for Chrysler Mexico Interiors group (Mexico 9 months) awarded . * Directors Award for Outstanding Performance. Launch Supplier Quality Manager: General Motors Corporation, Sept 2000 to Feb 2 005 Managed 135 suppliers (Chassis and Trim) during the Launch of New vehicles. This encompassed all seven of the GMT 800 General Assembly facilities. * Responsible for APQP activity for sixty Chassis and exterior suppliers for the Platinum platform. * Issued resolution responsibility for Supplier Quality issues relating to Chass is and Trim Suppliers. * Supplier on-site visits, and audits to recommend Product and process improveme nts * Provided Daily Report to Senior and Director level management utilizing Issue resolution status and Supplier base performance. Team Members (13) on the 2004 GMT800 platform were awarded the People Make Quali ty Happen award due to the 2004 Launch being one of the most successful in GM hi story. Only one Team in North America received this award. * Developed and Qualified two new chroming sources for the GMT 800 platform * Resolved 99.5% of all outstanding Issues prior to the Start of System Fill * Participated in three consecutive vehicle launches and scheduled to participat e in the Launch of the 2006 and 900 programs for SQE this is unprecedented and i s purely based on performance. Johnson Control Incorporated: Quality Manager April 1997 to Sept 2000 su pervised twelve Hourly Associates, two supervisors, three Quality Engineers. One Trainer and an administrator. * Managed APQ.P activity for three Vehicle programs. * Developed and Implemented QS9000 program for the facility. * Facilitated the daily Quality concern resolution process. * Managed Quality education and development of Employees. * Launch three seat and Interior programs in two model years with zero Launch QR 's. * Implemented QS9000 without any major or minor concerns noted. Currently mainta ined to this date. * Trained 100% of the work force which exceeded my deliverable of 95%. * Reduced PPM by Seventy-five percent and achieved removal from Containment.list .within three months after becoming Quality Manager. * Reduced Quality staff by 30% exceeding my mandate of 10%. United Technologies Automotive: Quality Manager March 1996 to April 1997 managed seven Quality Engineers, Utaps coordinator and an S.P.C. Administrator. * Supported six Manufacturing locations in Problem-Solving, Training and Custome r Interface. * Responsible for the Implementation of Utaps (Toyota Production system approach ) for six manufacturing locations. * Led Quality Transition team after the purchase by the Lear Corporation. * Responsible for developing and implementing corporate quality reporting System . * Reduced plant and corporate Quality staff by 20% during the transition process

, * Trained 100% of Permanent work-force in synchronous manufacturing principles a nd basic quality training. * Certified as Lead Assessor by Perry Johnson Institute * Implemented computerized Corporate Quality reporting System United Technologies Automotive: Plant Manager Feb 1992- to Mar 1996 Managed a manufacturing facility that produced major Interior components for Chr ysler, Ford, GM, Toyota and Nissan * Managed a Brownfield facility that operated utilizing a 3x8x5 build pattern Th ere was 175 Employees and staff twelve members. , * Responsible for Profit/ Loss of manufacturing facility. * Responsible for VE/VA for Wauseon location. * Wauseon location was a totally autonomous operation. * Reduced plant headcount by 30% during through Kaizan activity. * Lived in Japan Imbedded with Toyota for Nine months being educated on Toyota Production Systems. * First UTA plant to fully educate and implement UTAP (United Technologies Autom otive Production systems) or Toyota production Systems. * Successful Launch of 17 different commodities for five customers in four years . * Received the UTA Safety and (5) S award two years in a row (94 &95). * Successful reduction of Operational cost by 22% over three years. Chrysler Corporation (Acustar): Product Quality Manager Dec 1987 to Feb 1992 * Supervised seventeen hourly associates, four Quality Engineers, one SPC Coordi nator, one APQP Engineer and an Administrator. * Staff rep. for Philip Crosby's Quality Improvement Process. * Lead initiatives to Improve Manufacturing Quality performance.=AQP responsibil ities for New program launches. * Develop and Implement Quality system that met Chrysler's objective. * Achieved Quality excellence Award first year of eligibility. * Reduced scrap by 24% utilizing SPC techniques. * Launched product for three different Main assembly plants the same model year with no quality defects reported. * Established an Educational program for hourly associates directly linked to pr omotions and eligibility to in plant job opportunities. Phillips Industries: Production Manager 1983- 1988

Manufacturer of PVC and Dwv pipefittings * Supervised 250 Hourly employees on three shifts five supervisors and three Ad ministrators. * Responsible for Quality, Safety, Schedule attainment and Profit and Loss for M anufacturing. * Develop training program and Train employees on the new Hazardous Material. * Led Cost savings initiative for the plant. * Responsible for the Maintenance of all Manufacturing equipment. * Reduced cost in Manufacturing by 30% over a calendar year.. * Promoted from Manager Trainee to Production Manager in 4.5 Months. * Developed the Haz mat program and trained 100% of the Employees . * Reduced the production work force by thirty percent.. * Turned the Manufacturing process from a negative impact on the Facility to a p rofitable entity. * Implemented SPC throughout the Manufacturing process, which led to a 20% reduc tion in scrap.

EDUCATION ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY, Huntsville, Alabama 1983 Bachelor of Science, Business Administration

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