Blake Merrell Email & Phone Number

Price, Ut, Us

I oversee the daily operations of Merit3D, and lead the development of manufacturing items in large quantities, using cutting-edge additive manufacturing technology

Price, Ut, Us

I drive product improvement and implementation. I take an active role in forming the team, growing the MVP, defining specifications, and bringing additive manufacturing for mass production to life.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Foxworth-Galbraith Truss Systems provide essential protection and shelter for your family by building high quality, engineer-to-order roof trusses.It is my pleasure to lead the Prescott Valley Truss Manufacturing operation by encouraging and supporting the front line production and design team. • Flipped the operation from loss to profit-making in 2019. Generated more IFO than the prior 4 years combined.• Earned the Foxworth Galbraith Phoenix Award for being one of the locations in the company to achieve significant year-over-year IFO improvement.• Developed real-time KPI dashboards in MS Excel allowing for quick access to productivity, safety, and budget(P&L) data for the branch.• Eliminated processing waste by fully utilizing Mitek MVP and going paperless in production. Going paperless eliminated the need to use 100's of reams of paper and reduced management sorting time from 60+ min to 5 min or less.• Cross-Functional Team leader who engages at all levels of Manufacturing Operations Management absorbing roles of Truss Design Manager, Fleet Manager, and Production Manager.• Manage my P&L to budget and make changes according to sales growth.• Optimize monthly cycle counts by using Google Sheets technology. Counting issues are identified immediately while doing the count.•Installed a wall panel production line in two weeks.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

As a General Manager in Training, I had the privilege of learning everything I could to become a high performing manager. I had the opportunity to consult with every level of the company, from the CEO to the front line cashier, it is was my responsibility to learn.Once my training was complete, or when the business had a need, it was my opportunity to relocate to any location in the company to fill that management need. During my time, it is my great privilege to learn all the policies and procedures and become proficient in using all the tools. Because it is my sole duty to learn, I have found myself, during my downtime, spending all the energy I can in developing myself as a Lean Six Sigma practitioner. I am officially certified as such, but during this moment, I find great pleasure and joy in continuing to learn and master for myself all the principles of good lean management.Some of the Key learning opportunities for me have been (and are):- Opportunities to work at the front lines of the company (the Gemba)- Consulting with other operations of the business- Creating Customized Lean Training for the whole company (including 5S, 8W, VSM, Kanban, Level-loading, Flow, Pull, Kaizen, Kata, Standard Work, Gemba Walks, A3 Thinking, etc)- Customer service training- Becoming familiar with AP/AR accounting routines

Lindon, Utah, Us

After I installed and staffed and began running the new Wall Panel production line, I was assigned to manage the Truss Manufacturing operation. The Truss Manufacturing department was seasoned and it was my challenge and opportunity to help improve the automated processes already in place.Being a data-driven manager, and after learning the basics of how to manage the current state manufacturing processes, I had the opportunity to tap into some partially used truss scheduling software (MiTek MVP). The software had been installed years prior but was only partially being used. Under the direction of the plant manager, I was trained and fully implemented the paperless management MVP software. MVP enabled the shop to know instantaneously what was being produced and where a project was (virtually) in the process. Production data could then be collected in real-time empowering management with accurate real-time data to made decisions. It was also my pleasure to work with key associates in training them in Lean Six Sigma principles, with the intent to grow their capability and understanding and empowering them with tools to improve their own processes organically. The key win for me during this time was fully implementing MVP, further driving the organization's ability to make data driven decisions and tap into its full potential.

Lindon, Utah, Us

I was brought on-board with Sunroc Building Materials to implement the new Wall Panel production line. Adding this product complements the framing component offerings to the Utah building materials and framing market, with the hope to help alleviate the pain of a shrinking workforce. It was my pleasure to help install from scratch all the necessary equipment and staffing needs to get this operation up and running. As the Production Manager, I was responsible for installing the equipment, hiring and managing the production staff, and implementing standards for the assembly processes. Within 8 months my team and I had successfully installed the new production line and were producing a quality wall panel product.Some key highlights from my tenure as a Wall Panel Production Manager:- Installing the necessary equipment for the new Production Line- Running the equipment myself until i could get staff hired and trained- Fully staffed the operation by hiring part-time employees by working with local universities.- Trained staff in Lean Six Sigma manufacturing principles.- Fully implemented paperless systems (ShopNet) in the shop floor.- Utilized Microsoft Power BI to connect information databases to create real-time dashboards enabling management to make data-driven decisions.- Encouraged teamwork and creativity in setting up the new operations, giving the line workers the time and ability to improve the process and try new ideas. - Worked through obstacles by implementing the basics of Lean. - Worked with the production associates on tracking performance and developing and focusing on lead measures for production.

Irving, Texas, Us

Developed interactive computer-based training (CBT) modules, using Storyline software. Managed product upgrade for high profile customer. Coordinated weekly meetings with corporate staff and customer. Tracked progress on weekly basis. Maintained CAD drawings of new facility used for multimillion-dollar expansion project. Generated and processed justifications for capital acquisition requests (CAR). Upgraded and created ISO 9001 Standard Process and Procedure (SPP) documents. •Improved scrap metal recycling process and increased monthly earnings 369% by implementing better sorting methods.•Reduced setup times average of 28% across more than 30 machining centers by serving as facility project leader for Single Minute Exchange of Die (SMED) program and using Lean Kaizen techniques and video analysis.•Transformed unprofitable sister facility into profit-making after buyout by partnering with Six Sigma Master Black Belt team.•Created database and associated analysis tools for Assembly First Pass Yield (FPY), empowering management to make data-driven decisions in real-time and generating $102K annual productivity savings.•Authored and published On-the-Job-Training (OJT) certification books, eliminating tribal knowledge and slashing new-hire training timelines from months to weeks and attaining over $206K in annual productivity savings.•Designed and instituted assembly issue tracking SharePoint database and associated data dashboard, highlighting various RCA, NCR / CAR, and CIP opportunities and providing over $113K in annual productivity savings.•Developed Valve Packing Selection tool, enabling Assemblers to quickly reference and easily comprehend engineering instructions, satisfying pressing demands of high-profile customer, and incurring $54k annual productivity savings.•Enriched workflow efficiency 200% by rearranging Machine Shop and Final Assembly work area and implementing LEAN Manufacturing principles.

Irving, Texas, Us

Assisted Six Sigma Master Black Belt with various LEAN Manufacturing projects. Mapped inventory locations for Positioner Assembly department. Analyzed and documented assembly processes steps.•Performed Design of Experiment (DOE), analyzing failure modes of delicate titanium-ceramic shrink-fit process.•Conducted video analysis and time studies for Assembly department, providing process documentation for in Value Add Value Engineering (VAVE) projects.

Provo, Ut, Us

•Assist the Business Manager and the department Secretary. •Ensure that professors account accurately for their allotted budgets and aid the department in hiring student employees.•Help the department in conducting internal audits

Bs, Manufacturing Engineering

Aa, General Studies