Companies

Many of the projects I have done in my career have been true turnarounds, or where there was a real operational or business crisis, many have involved other, usually very pressing objectives.

Some of my best insights into how companies operate, at a very detailed level, were gained in this work, because it allowed me to fully grasp what the business is about, and what it takes for the company to be truly sucessful.

The scales of operation of companies I've worked with have varied from fairly small to truly global operations, with the industries equally widely varying - consumer products, industrial, machinery, basic commodities, government contracting (including aerospace & defense), medical devices, food, insurance, banking and others.  Here's the list, sequenced with turnaround / crisis resolution work first.:

• Wisconsin Cheeseman - major turnaround project; recruited multiple new leaders, restructured, consolidated production into one building, facilitated/led four carefully planned RIFs to downsize company, achieve dramatic reduction in non-direct costs, implemented lean and other bests practices to eliminate millions in inventory, upgrade ERP system and other improvements. 

• Kellogg Brown & Root (Halliburton division) – led a large-scale recruiting and assistance project to enable the company to retain its $9+ Billion/year military support contract in Iraq.  It was about to fail the audit.  The project I led designed a large-scale procurement organization structure, including features such as a commodity center in Dubai, then recruited mid and senior leadership from all over the world, over 100 on-boarded, enabling the procurement & subcontracting organization to grow from 300 to over 2000 people in an 18 month period, with the spend exploding from $100 mil/year to over $8 BILLION/yr.  We examined over 3500 candidates.  KBR kept the contract after the leadership we recruited facilitated passing the audit.

• Qtron (now Plexus) - led a crisis intervention /turnaround project for the then 3-year old, $40 mil contract manufacturer with factories in San Diego and Mexicali, after shipments had been stopped for over 3 weeks. Rapid ERP system implementation and other quick actions turned the operation around, stabilized it, and enabled a transition to good profitability.

• Shipston Group – multiple projects for this global investment and holding company.  Included industry analysis and in-depth, onsite operational due diligence of in-China magnesium alloy plant, a month-long, highly detailed project that detailed how to turn it around. Preceded by a detailed study of the global magnesium alloy market and the role of recycling, transportation and currency exchange variables.

• PTC Aerospace - served as the new CEO's "right-hand" in a fast-paced crisis intervention, turnaround project for this manufacturer of airliner seating. Re-implementation of the company's ERP system, inventory accuracy, factory layout, policy and procedure development and dozens of other actions assisted the turnaround, which restored the company to stable production and profitability.

• Leading Specialty Health Insurance company - crisis intervention project, salvaging and replacing a failed software project, turning it into functioning tools for premium accounting, enrollment and claims processing.

• Alesis Corporation - multi-year relationship with several major projects, including blockbuster product launch (ADAT digital recording system that revolutionized music recording globally), designing and recruiting a complete manufacturing/material organization, and a multi-million dollar project involving design/develop/implementation of complete ERP system, with over 1,000 screens to support its unique, successful business model. Company nearly doubled in sales ($40 to $75 mil) in a little over a year.

• Raypak, Inc. - served as Vice President, Manufacturing, where Paul led a major operational turnaround/transformation of this 30 year old, marginally profitable water heating system company. Results obtained included adding nearly 10% to pretax earnings (5 to 15%), production lead time from 3+ weeks to 2days, and over 25% of all inventory was eliminated.

• Foothill Community Clinic - served as the President of the Board leading a turnaround for this non-profit free clinic for the indigent from financial failure to stable operations.  Recruited a new Board, new Executive Director, and revamped financial management to grow the operation to where it served over 2,000 patients each month, using a paid staff of 8, plus over 200 volunteers.

• Deluxe Film Labs - led development and implementation of a highly specialized application for the color timing function in this motion picture printing company. Included custom-built hardware to allow workers to operate the system in darkrooms, and with both hands occupied handling film.

• Metro Business Archives - designed a custom tracking and business system for this business records storage company, to aid in managing over 1 million cartons of records and their contents. The resulting system proved so successful that the company was sold for 3 times its gross sales - in cash to Bell and Howell!

• Columbia Showcase & Cabinet Co. – high-end wood products company, architectural plywood, cabinets and showcases - developed, implemented an ERP system business model with unique functions for dimension-able materials that eliminated almost all bill of material functions. Enabled record peak production.

• Xerox Computer Services (now Glovia) - Competitive product analyses and comparison, product re-engineering plan, new marketing and business plans for this ERP software company, which had lost $10 million the previous year;  Our team developed a go-forward strategy and business plan for the company.

• SportsCoach of America - RV manufacturer; complete material flow analyses through factory; created about 50 mini-projects for them to create specific improvements; company has been merged into another RV company.

• Pharmavite Corporation - served as interim Material Manager, plus design assistance in developing new software functions for their ERP system, plus in-depth analysis for a streamlined package-to-order system for this leading private-brand vitamin manufacturer.

• Hussman Corporation - performed a detailed feasibility and impact analysis of a proposed major upgrade to their MAPICS ERP system, including major changes to their product ordering, for this manufacturer of refrigerated store display units.

• HPM, Inc. - performed ERP software definition requirements and other assistance, including ERP software selection for this manufacturer of specialized, large-scale plastic injection molding machinery.

• IBM - Two projects involving competitive product analyses, feature/function comparisons, product positioning for the corporations ERP software business units.

• Stadco, Inc.- ERP software selection project for this specialty aerospace machining company, including fit/function integration analysis for their finite capacity scheduling software.  Led initial requirements definition process.

• Cifial Brass Works, USA - developed, implemented an ERP system variant using the Assemble To Order business model, enabling extremely high assemble/pack/ship productivity with concurrent very high product availability.

• AG Associates - led a synchronized work flow and ERP re-implementation project to collapse lead time and dramatically simplify scheduling of production for this manufacturer of highly specialized "ovens" for manufacturing semiconductors, having over 50 major complex subassemblies in each unit.

• ITT Avionics - created a 20 course education and training curriculum as part of a large MRP II implementation project; 1,000 visuals, over 1,500 people attended one or more courses. This 2,500 person division made electronic warfare systems for the Air Force and other products.

• ITT Gilfillan - cost module development project and an executive material management education and analysis project. This 1,500 employee division engineered and manufactured large, powerful radar systems, typically for the Navy.

• Cedarapids, Inc - division of Raytheon (now Terex)- project to develop modified ERP software for a custom business model with functions not found in any standard system. The company is a leading producer of highway paving machines and asphalt plants.

• Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) - designed, developed, implemented a leading-edge actual part costing system for its contract-oriented business, for 2 divisions, that resolved serious government audit issues that had threatened the entire corporation. The 2,000 employee division engineered and manufactured sophisticated infrared sensing devices and imaging satellites.

• Datron Advanced Technologies, Inc. – manufacturer of fixed site and mobile antennas for a variety of applications.  Led requirements definition, and ERP system selection projects.

• M2 Automotive - designed, developed, implemented a unique module integrating the accounts payable processes from the company's 26 collision repair centers into the corporate financial system, and collaborated on several web site projects.

• Topaz Systems, Inc. – small manufacturer of electronic signature pads and tablets.  Led ERP software selection requirements definition and selection.

• ISR, Inc. – engineering and manufacturing company of liquid cooling systems for electronics products.  Led a complex requirements definition and rigorous ERP system selection project.

• Pharmacia Opthalmics - MRP system implementation preparation and planning, software analysis for "meshing" with the company's unique intra-ocular lens manufacturing business.

• Hydraulic Units, Inc - designed procedures to implement Master Production Scheduling and improved work in process management for this manufacturer of hydraulic aircraft actuators. Highly complex individual component parts had production lead times in exceess of one year, greatly complicating meeting production. The new MPS process improved visibility, prioritization and on-time deliveries of these critical assemblies, used in production aircraft.

• Hydril Company - As senior systems analyst, led a 15 person programming team in updating, maintaining, enhancement, design and development of new manufacturing applications for this 4,000 employee, 5 factory, 26 warehouse oil tool manufacturer. Led a project to design a distributed information processing and reporting network.

• Varco Oil Tools - led a series of projects, including quality organization leadership, position/person fit analysis, IT alternative feasibility studies, and design, development and implementation of a work in process management/costing system for their heat treating division of this 1,000 employee oil tool manufacturer.

• MDM Incorporated - Led a project to define requirements for and select a new ERP system for this medium-sized manufacturer of antenna systems.

• G&H Technology - created a long-term information systems plan, including hardware requirements, purchased systems, and planned benefits to this company which engineered and manufactured sophisticated connectors for complex electronic equipment for military and civilian applications.

• North American Interconnect, Inc. – US owned, Mexican manufacturer of cables, connection harnesses for computer and other applications.  Several projects, including trouble-shooting inventory accounting and material control systems, and initiation of sales & operation planning process.

• Pharmaseal Laboratories (now Baxter) - team member in a major MRP system implementation at the corporation's 1,000 employee disposable syringe and surgery kit production facility, which produced about 13 million syringes a year.

• Teledyne Systems Company (now Northrop) - wrote and revised hundreds of procedures for implementing computer-based inventory, purchasing and production scheduling systems at 2 plants, as well as dozens of other business processes for this A&D manufacturer of inertial guidance systems and microelectronic products.

• Pacific Piano Supply - defined requirements for, selected and implemented a computer-based inventory, order entry and invoicing system for this small, family-owned distributor of piano parts, sold to piano technicians throughout the US.

• United Education and Software - Analyzed a proprietary, internally developed management system for this multi-site, publicly-traded vocational school company, and created complete user guide documentation. Included over 1,000 pages of material in total.

• Industrial Medical Center - defined requirement for a new computer-based medical billing system; selecting best supplier and negotiating an attractive, competitive transaction, for this busy, downtown LA industrial medical center.

• Medical Billing Service - defined requirements for a new computer-based medical billing system, selected the best supplier and negotiated a attractive, competitive transaction for this medical billing service company.

• Desiccare, Inc – Leading supplier of dessicant products - Implemented a new ERP system for this 2 plant supplier of product desiccants (moisture absorbing products).

• Penta Laboratories – manufacturer and distributor of vacuum tubes to broadcast, medical, scientific, audio and military equipment companies throughout the world, as well as other sectors; designed, implemented a new ERP system, with a unique sales quotation module that retrieves all history data spanning nearly 20 years, for a given product family/group, summarizes it for quotation, and drill-down in a 2 second response time, to support competitive phone sales, upon which the company depends.

• DoctorDiscount.Com (startup) - designed, developed and demonstrated a unique web-based data base and system, integrating usage of medical products, with automatic perpetual inventory and replenishment ordering from multiple product suppliers, all integrated into an advanced distribution/supply system operating at multiple distribution sites.

• Penn Central - specialty project performed on a confidential basis, analyzing and reporting on the suitability and effectiveness of the quality organization of a wholly-owned subsidiary.

• Cecil Saydah Company - led ERP software selection project, defined detailed requirements with management team, led software demonstrations, site visits, evaluations, and contract negotiations to select a new ERP software package for this manufacturer of fashion kitchen accessories. Unusual aspects included an RF-based warehouse management system as an integral part of the old and new ERP systems.

• Security Pacific Bank (Now Bank of America) - served as Operations Manager of a branch bank, an early career position, responsible for a team of tellers and clerks, asset conservation, internal audits and other areas.

• Silent Radio - ERP software selection project and manufacturing management support/consultation over a 2 year period for this small manufacturer of specialty moving LED displays.

• Charles Drew Post Graduate Medical School - wrote the school's first manual Human Resources Handbook, and an Employee Handbook.

• Camlan, Incorporated - provided specialized software design consultation and sales support for this specialty software company.

• Pyrostars - Great Plains Dynamics implementation and support for this specialty startup company manufacturing company. Production floor layout and other support.

• Classified Cosmetics - Great Plains Dynamics implementation and support for this specialty cosmetics manufacturing company, support/assistance in selection of outsourced order fulfillment vendor.

• Vanguard Pacific - requirements definition and software selection project for this specialty distributor of metal plating products.

• McConnell Cabinets - business and manufacturing software analysis and implementation support for this leading supplier of tract-home kitchen cabinets.

• Architectural Products Company - supported this distributor of high-end specialty architectural products in the company's startup, including distribution warehouse setup, development of management procedures including SKU identification, pricing, order processing and others for the company's thousands of products.

• CalComp - Planning analysis and feasibility study for a proposed just-in-time inventory system implementation project for this then-leading computer plotter company.

• Prestolite Wire - inventory accuracy project to account for over $2 million in apparently missing inventory that this leading vertically integrated wire and cable manufacturer could not identify in its 450,000 sq ft plant.

• Western Data Systems - performed several competitive product analyses for this leading supplier of ERP software for the A&D industry.

• Mini-Med Technologies - served as interim Material Director for this manufacturer of insulin pumps and related products, during a period of major financial direction and other challenges, including a failed major new product launch.

• Hydro-Mill, Inc.- served as interim Executive Vice President of this troubled aerospace machining company, during a period of challenge, leadership and financial crisis. Led rapid, successful implementation of ERP system, assisted in renegotiating $15 mil bank credit line and other actions.

• Pharmaseal Laboratories (Now Baxter) - Key role on one of the first large-scale MRP implementation projects at this 1,000 employee plant producing disposable medical products, including over 13 million syringes/year. Wrote hundreds of procedures, trained managers, staff analysts, buyers, and others to assist in creating a very successful project. Detailed re-engineering of various work flows and processes to take best advantage of the new system in warehouse, receiving, production, purchasing and other areas.