I'm passionate about mechanical engineering design and development. My most recent work involves bearing selection, test and development.
I bring experience covering a broad range of sectors.
Aug 2019 - Jun 2020
Design and development for off-highway transmissions ranging between 500 to 2800 HP used in construction, mining and oil fracking applications. Provided system and component test requirements and verified application suitability and performance. Supported the application and service engineering teams to satisfy a variety of customer needs. Closely collaborated with purchasing and supplier quality teams to minimize costs across the product line.
Mar 2017 - May 2019
Evaluate friction management products for on-highway light vehicle driveline technology applications globally. Closely work with friction management product supply base globally towards optimal application of their product to meet and exceed EPA regulations for fuel mileage targets. Research methods to enhance efficiency of driveline components. Work closely with independent third party bearing testing facilities to evaluate supplier capabilities and product performance. Determine test criteria and parameters for A to B testing of bearing fatigue life. Support bearing commodity team towards a global strategy for light vehicle bearing purchases.
Aug 2010 - Feb 2017
Sustainment engineering for legacy electro-hydraulic valves and actuators. Lead product portfolio management initiatives towards legacy parts availability. Collaborating with the Industrial Engineering Department at Bradley University to implement improved forecasting tools for legacy support needs.
Conduct supplier performance analysis on products supplied to Caterpillar by vendors. Prepared financial reports to identify cost reduction opportunities and negotiated terms with suppliers to reduce product cost. Performed concurrent product and process development (CPPD) studies to create proposals for authorization of resourcing projects. Assessed supplier metrics in quality, cost, financial performance and delivery.
-Saved $1M+ in supplier costs after successfully negotiating contracts with vendors. Projects involved developing supplier fact packs including financial data, should cost estimates and competitor quotes.
-Performed should cost comparison on twelve drivetrain components yielding $1M in savings.
-Identified warranty data on mining truck wheels to uncover $250K in payable warranties.
-Provided means for benchmarking bearing performance and for A to B comparison between product from various bearing suppliers. Utilized Minitab and ROMAX designer to establish roller bearing test parameters.
Sep 2004 - Jul 2010
Analyzed and designed friction management and power transmission solutions for the global industrial machinery segment, employing proprietary analysis, design and development tools. Partnered with global market managers to prioritize projects and provided effective design solutions exceeding customer expectations.
-Lowered maintenance cost of bearings product line with the conversion of oil lubricated spherical roller bearings to grease lubrication solutions. Patented design for sealed spherical roller bearings which contributed to $30M in sales. Visited customer site in Aachen, Germany and Timken Romania to ensure the seamless production and implementation of the new design.
-Delivered a presentation on Bearing Maintenance and Application for an aggregate and cement equipment manufacturer, providing them with the tools needed to service and maintain bearings and reducing future warranty claims.
-Bearing system analysis for gearboxes and pulverizer wheels used in coal/cement pulverizing applications.
-Interpreted technical papers on new wind turbine bearing technologies and presented them in customer focused marketing literature.
Sep 1996 - Mar 2003
Project Manager for continuous improvement projects in vehicle design and development. Developed a strategic policy for the Product Development function within Harley-Davidson and facilitated a team based strategic plan for the Harley-Davidson Corporate Resident Engineering function.
-Pioneered and established a Product Issues Resolution Team, focused on product concerns impacting customer satisfaction.
-Headed corporate special project initiatives towards warranty cost reduction valued at over $1M per year accompanied by improved manufacturing efficiencies.
-Led supplier consolidation efforts by conducting a $2M supplier migration effort.
-Project manager for a Information Systems initiative that delivered a functional organizational decision support system allowing for product issue verification and prioritization.
Nov 1991 - May 1996
Engineering responsibility for design and development of heavy truck systems.
-Worked on implementation of new ABS systems for 40 ton truck axle.
-Reconfigured pneumatic lines and valves for new braking systems.
-Standardized chassis components between various vehicles.
-Configured exhaust system routing for different truck models.
Sep 1984 - Jul 1989