Jay Austin Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Business Optimization │ P&L Ownership │ Performance Improvement │ Mentor and Coach Automotive Manufacturing (Account Director) - Lead Account team comprised of Environmental, Health & Safety, Operations, Finance, Business Intelligence, Procurement, and Human Resources. Responsible to deliver safe and effective service to client properties and manufacturing operations across North America. Amazon ATS - Led team of 5 Regional Facilities Managers, 30 Operations Managers and 350 technicians, engineers and CMMS leads across Amazon (ATS) distribution network in North America, representing multi-million dollar annual operating budget. Deployed superior equipment and engineering techniques, including high-speed conveyance, automation, robotics, controls and integrated material handling applications. Personally identified, mentored and coached strong performers into higher leadership positions. Distribution ExpansionEffectively launched 12 new distribution centers in 2017, 5 new site launches in 2018, and 12 major building/asset expansions in 2019.Process ImprovementAchieved 28% YOY growth in 2017 and 30% in 2018, while sustaining 99.8% or better uptime and capturing over $2MM in yearly operational improvements after deploying proven processes for product commissioning and commercialization.Key PartnershipsPartnered with JLL team to administer rapid response solutions to Amazon, including resource allocation and labor/capital scalability to drive explosive growth in 2017, 2018, 2019 and beyond. Conducted Life Science / Food & Beverage engagements across multiple accounts to drive performance, Equipment Reliability, and client relations. StartupDirected rapid operational assessment and due diligence effort to navigate effective new site launches. Regularly performed root cause analysis to proactively resolve complex problems.

Chicago, Il, Us

Cross-functional Team Management │ Facility Oversight │ P&L │ Revenue and Profit GrowthImplemented full array of operating processes and enhanced supply chain synergy to meet investor expectations. Led two Senior Logistics Operations Managers, six 3PL General Managers in close partnership with five regional Plant Materials and Distribution Managers in handling supply chain functions across six dedicated mixing centers, five plant distribution centers and seven raw and packaging material storage buffers. Controlled regional P&L to ensure targeted profitability for multibillion-dollar in annual revenue.Business ConsolidationSmoothly navigated rapid consolidation of two companies, Kraft and Heinz, while deploying expertise in building vendor base, executing major contracts and generating $15MM in cost savings.Budget ManagementSafeguarded delivery of $150MM AOP budget after instituting monthly/quarterly reviews to track all KPIs and financial performance per each site’s operating budget.Supply Chain OptimizationReached 98.5% Customer Fill Rate (CFR) by developing and updating standard work and KPI dashboards; also guided customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders in optimizing end-to-end supply chain and earning lowest landed transportation and distribution costs.

Chicago, Il, Us

Supply Chain Expert │ Cost Control │ Key Relationship Development │ Integration SolutionsUtilized supply chain expertise in increasing productivity, reducing costs and build key relationships with suppliers after merger with Heinz. Led nine professionals in cultivating long-term business relationships for North American distribution category, including warehousing, reusable containers, pooled pallets and spot and shuttle. Continued to optimize supply chain footprint post-merger.Business StrategiesExceeded 2016 productivity targets and delivered after pioneering new sourcing strategies that leveraged merger synergies and improved all KPI category performance.Productivity EnhancementSucceeded in netting $12MM in annual productivity for FY 2015 with three-year average of $8MM in ongoing yearly productivity implementing monthly productivity meetings with stakeholders and associated Productivity Tracker which also generated more reliable quarterly financial forecasting

Chicago, Il, Us

P&L │ Capital Planning │ Productivity Enhancement │ New Product Launch │ R&D │ Finance Played crucial operational role during rapid growth period as company expanded. Oversaw seven-person team in administering multimillion-dollar annual capital plan to support brand unit and three network plants in delivering multimillion-dollar new network productivity each year. Closely governed all P&L, manufacturing operations and new product commercialization. Coordinated packaging design, consumer promotions, new product launches and interaction with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Finance, Quality and Procurement groups.Thought LeadershipRecognized as crucial trailblazer in driving business growth, brand value and productivity across four major Cheese and Dairy product categories, including Philadelphia Cream Cheese.Product DevelopmentResearched and gained approval for $86MM appropriation to design and introduce leading-edge cream cheese “Product/Process of the Future” in 2009.CollaborationsCollaborated with key plant leaders in executing Lean/Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement initiatives that met $5.5MM conversion productivity goal.

Chicago, Il, Us

Market Fluctuation Strategies │ Team Management │ Budgets │ Resource AllocationLed high-performing team in instituting new KPIs, enhancing production efficiencies and addressing seasonal market dynamics. Directed one Business Unit Leader, three Operations Supervisors, one Continuous Improvement Engineer and 180 hourly employees at multimillion-dollar location in Beaver Dam, WI. Accountable for multimillion-dollar operating budget encompassing plant labor/benefits, direct materials and supplies.Integration Strategies Piloted plant closing and asset integration of one of four cream cheese production facilities, representing multimillion-dollar manufacturing and distribution savings to the business unit.Profit GrowthRealized $3.5MM in yearly productivity costs through continuous improvement and aggressive execution of profit increasing projects.

Chicago, Il, Us

Resource Management │ Strategic Vision │ Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) │ KPIs Standardized processes, promoted team collaboration and maintain clear communications at company’s largest production plant in North America. Smoothly utilized plant resources to harmonize strategic vision with new product commercialization. Oversaw daily meetings to track Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and other KPIs to enhance instituted comprehensive staff training and development and performance (MAP) review programs.Team LeaderAs Launch Team Leader, supervised cross-functional teams in setting up and operating highly efficient $5.1MM packaging line with new milestones and deliverables.Productivity EnhancementExpanded conversion productivity by $4.7MM and improved safety, quality and efficiencies through excellent relationships at staff and management levels.

Chicago, Il, Us

Production, Maintenance and Sanitation Oversight │ Safety, Quality and ProductivityTook over and revitalized third-shift operations and ensured facility sanitation requirements. Supervised 60 staff in all aspects of production, maintenance and sanitation functions for fourteen salad dressing lines for company’s largest business unit, representing 250 million pounds. Also greatly assisted cross-functional teams with safety, quality and productivity initiatives.Key PartnershipsPartnered with Spoonables business team and consolidated $1.8MM capital project to install and commission two new “Squeeze” Mayo/Miracle Whip packaging lines.