Brian Harder Email & Phone Number

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ca

Leading Sales and Operations.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ca

Leading Sales Execution - Sales support, customer and field service and aftermarket parts

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ca

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ca

General Manager AGI/MFS

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Agriculture Equipment

NA Leader for an international core kitting company serving the leading wind turbine blade manufacturers.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Provide tactical and strategic leadership for multiple plants that support Grain storage and conditioing products.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

Given the opportunity to lead a 700+ employee, 1,000,000 sq ft plant specializing in all forms of metal fabrication, limited assembly and packaging. The plant at this point was in need of a consistent direction. First and foremost, the focus was on safety improvement. The first step was making it clear that this was our number one priority in everything we do. We also utilized all assets and methods at our disposal to improve process and behaviors. This led to being part of a true safety transformation. We saw a reduction in all safety metrics by over 70% in less than three years. We recieved AGCo's "Most Improved Plant" Safety award for 2014.At the same time to drive a “Manage in the Moment” operations mentality, we launched the AGCO Production System with a strong focus on Lean Daily Management, Leader Stand Work, 5S and TPM tools. Our launch resulted in initial scores near the top of all AGCO facilities as well as tangible business improvements. With people being our key resource, we began leadership development, both formal and informal, for all levels of plant leadership. To drive stability in the plant operational inputs we worked with other parts of the organization to integrate a SIOP process into the plant revenue, budgeting, supply chain, and capacity planning processes. Several major activities also occurred over this time - 2 existing product lines transferred into the plant, 3 new line startups as part of 3 new product launches.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

I was given the opportunity to basically build up a fragmented Quality organization. The initial step was to create a of comprehensive, clear and consistent quality scorecard. I was fortunate that my leadership team supported a staffing plan to build up the quality structures at both the plants and shared services level. We then challenged the organization to support the development of an ISO based Quality Management System. We focused on the key elements that would be clearly seen as providing ROI to the organization. At this time I also led two very successful strategic initiatives utilizing Six Sigma methodology which leveraged many parts of the Organization.

Duluth, Georgia, Us

I was initially brought into GSI to restart the Operation’s Six Sigma program. I provided Green Belt training and project mentoring to several key and potential operations leaders. I led several Black Belt projects focused on cost savings, scrap reduction and operational efficiency improvements. I also provided Quality, Lean and Six Sigma guidance as requested for individuals or groups across the entire organization. This provided me a great opportunity to learn about and establish relationships in entire organization. This became the foundation of my future success at GSI.

Kolding, Dk

My real first exposure to the international business world. I was brought in to develop a center of excellence for Lean Six Sigma Training for a worldwide manufacturing of wind turbine blades. This included the creation Lean Six Sigma material and implementation of Executive, Sponsor and Green Belt training groups. The 4 green belt groups successfully attacked several critical issues in the North America business unit. I also was part of a cross functional group that addressed a major global warranty issue. Unfortunately with changes in Leadership structure the center of excellence concept never developed and the travel became too much for my family.

Roseville, Mn, Us

I came to Horton as a quality specialist to help with their QS-9000 certification. I was the directly responsible for Calibration, Metrology, SPC and Continuous Improvement. As it was a small group we wore many hats and I had a hand in several other quality functions. With my prior training I was part of the “Document Review Board” to ensure GDT principles were correctly applied. An issue with our Assembly torque processes allowed me the opportunity to become the torque/tightening expert for the company. As part of a supplier development program with PACCAR I was nominated to attend their Lean Six Sigma Black Belt training. My project was given the class “Tiger” award and I was part of their annual Lean Six Sigma Showcase. Horton then decided to pursue implementation of a Lean Six Sigma program and I was fortunate enough to be chosen to lead this. We leveraged VIP Group to assist us in the initial program development as well as guiding me to the Master Black Belt role. From there we executed several Green and Black Belt training groups with great success across all parts of the business.

Us

At this time I was self-employed and looking to supplement my income (and insurance). By accident I came across one of the best manufacturing learning opportunities of my career. The United Defense plant was a pilot plant for FMC to develop self-directed work teams. It was also greenfield plant that was built with the true lean principles instilled into the very core of the plant. During this time I became a certified welder, weld inspector and weld robot programmer. I also become a 2nd level machinist as well as rotated through the various leadership roles required by the employee engagement driven culture. This plant was the purest form of a lean enterprise as I have ever seen. The fact that it really didn’t use many of the terms but was driven by the philosophy was a powerful lesson to me. I also saw firsthand the power that can be unleashed when employees are engaged and empowered.It was featured in the lean management book "Rebirth of American Industry" See the link review for a review of the book that mentions United Defense.

Hutchinson, Mn, Us

The beginning of my professional development. I was very fortunate on several fronts. This was a greenfield plant for which I was one of the initial hires. This company was also built on a Deming philosophy and had a true learning culture. They had world class internal training programs which gave me all of my technical Six Sigma and Lean training before those terms were really being used. Those philoshopies and methods were engrained in how the Business opperatedHTI also provided me an excellent education in Quality and Operations Management as well as Leadership skills development. I left this organization to pursue self employement opportunities. The learning and experience I gained here continues to guide me to this day.