Bob Cronk Email & Phone Number

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Francisco Bay Area

San Francisco Bay Area

Clean Wave Technologies develops and manufactures advanced electric drive systems for electric and hybrid electric vehicles. • Successfully developed and managed all aspects of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality / Reliability operations.• Scaled the company’s advanced electric drive systems from prototype to high volume manufacturing capacity (15,000 systems / year) within 12 months.• Built the operations team from the ground up including Manufacturing Technicians, Quality Technicians, Manufacturing Engineering, and Supply Chain Management.• Managed the selection and implementation of a companywide (manufacturing centered) ERP system.• Trained staff and cross functional teams in the application of Lean Six Sigma tools including the DMAIC methodology, 8D corrective action process, process capability analysis, line balancing, waste reduction, and 5S.• Developed Quality Management System foundation, including quality performance metrics and product traceability process, in preparation for implementation of TS16949 (Automotive QMS)• Efficiently resolved customer satisfaction issues and drove continuous improvement initiatives as the appointed Management Representative for the Quality Management System.

Newark, Ca

• Handpicked to improve manufacturing efficiencies and help position the company for acquisition. • Increased productivity more than 200% in 10 months. • Successfully enhanced product quality improvements, allowing us to drop down to a single shift from a three-shift operation while consistently meeting Takt time requirements. • Stabilized and improved manufacturing yield from 95% to greater than 98%. • Stepped in, turned around, and reduced field returns by 50% compared to the previous year. • Achieved manufacturing improvements through application of the DMAIC principle utilizing a focused multi-disciplinary team approach and application of other Lean principles such as work cell development, 5S, and standardized work practices. • Directed manufacturing stabilization and improvements resulting in a successful multi-million dollar company sale.

Barre, Vt

• Oversee the management and monitoring of the engineering team in the design, construction, and start-up of a high volume, state of the art, capacitor manufacturing facility. • Expertly designed facility using Lean manufacturing principles to level the product flow throughout the process, and minimize product travel time. • Utilized Design of Experiments in optimizing processes prior to final product verification and validation. • Scaled the company’s new Power Ring® capacitors from prototype to high volume manufacturing capacity (200,000 units annually) in less than 2 years. This $18.2 million dollar project was completed on timeand within budget. • Appointed team leader to manage the implementation of an automotive Quality Management System, TS 16949 that uses ISO9001 as its foundation.• Trained in Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), which is a key element of TS 16949. Core tools used in the application of APQP are; SPC, FMEA (Failure Mode Effects Analysis), MSA (Measurement System Analysis), and PPAP (Production Part Approval Process).

Watsonville, Ca

As Senior R&D Engineer 2005 to 2008• Successfully developed manufacturing process for metal matrix composite wafers. • Utilized controlled expansion wafers to reduce unit device packaging costs by integrating high power devices and heat sink at the wafer level. • Engineered manufacturing process for a Micro Channel Cooler device made of controlled expansion material and used to cool high power laser diode stacks. • Established characterization metrics, and evaluation techniques, in support of joint, Army funded, Kinetic Energy Penetration (KEP) program. Program was successful in achieving performance goals. As Applications Engineer 2000 to 2005• Provided engineering guidance to customers in meeting their technical requirements relative to integration of metal matrix composite heat sinks, and sub-mounts, into their high power device packages. • Assisted customers in defining mechanical form, and metallization specifications to meet their product application requirements.• Actively supported marketing activities via trade show presentations, technical product bulletins creation, website design, and lead follow up.• Fostered close communications with customers regarding their new product development activities and potential requirements for controlled expansion heat sink materials. Information was used to define product and process development activities.As Project Engineer 1994 to 2000• Designed closed loop automatic control systems for high temperature furnaces used in manufacturing porous refractory metal materials. • Served as Project Manager, and Engineer in Charge, for new Lean facility layout. • Directed a project encompassing repositioning of process equipment for improved flow, facilities reconstruction to accommodate equipment, and design/installation of class 100 clean room. Successful implementation of project led to increased process capacity, efficiency, and yield.

Santa Clara, Ca

High volume manufacturer of audio, video and digital audio tape marketed under the Memorex and Radio Shack name brands.

Sunnyvale, Ca

World’s largest manufacturer of microfilm.

Sunnyvale, Ca

World’s largest manufacturer of floppy disks marketed under several OEM name brands.

Bs, Chemical Engineering

Lean/Six Sigma Blackbelt, Lean/Six Sigma