Bob Ragon Email & Phone Number

United States

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

• Led cross functional teams from different company workstreams to launch new composite wind turbine blades at TPI facilities in India and Mexico.• Developed project plans and goals to ensure stakeholder key deliverables for safety, quality and productivity are achieved by specified milestones. • Established, tracked and drove launch metrics to milestones from award of business through 90 days after launch. • Led regular cross functional project team meetings to verify and document project status to the plan, identify and mitigate risks, plus facilitate team collaboration to achieve project deliverables. • With the support of team members, prepared and led gateway presentations to review project status against required deliverables with upper management for approval at each phase of the launch process. • Developed procedures to define and document the TPI Composites Project Management system to comply with APQP4Wind requirements.

Dyersburg, Tennessee, United States

• Led multiple cross functional teams from different company locations in new model launches of automotive electric power steering columns, manual steering columns and steering linkage systems with focus on in-house manufacturing equipment, tooling, and processes. • Developed internal project plans and goals to ensure customer and stakeholder key deliverables for safety, quality and productivity are achieved by specified milestones. • Established, tracked and drove launch metrics to milestones from award of business through 90 days after customer launch. • Led regular cross functional project team meetings to verify and document project status to the plan, identify and mitigate risks, plus facilitate team collaboration to achieve project deliverables. • With the support of team members, prepared and led gateway presentations to review project status against required deliverables with upper management approval at each phase of the launch process. • Served as the point of contact with OEM customers including Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and Subaru for launch related activities including manufacturing readiness, quality and run at rate approvals.• Managed multi-million dollar budgets that include capital and expense spending for each program.• Worked with global suppliers to ensure manufacturing equipment and purchased components meet quality, delivery, manufacturing, and cost targets.• Applied TPS principles to drive process improvements to meet program ROI targets.• Utilized third party packaging vendors to develop and source returnable and expendable packaging for finished and component part logistics.• In house manufacturing processes included machining, welding, soldering, forging and assembly of electro-mechanical assemblies

Jackson, Tennessee Area

• Directed quality department of 26 personnel at a tier 1/tier 2 automotive supplier manufacturing single and two shot injection molded interior and exterior components with value added assembly shipping to Ford, Chrysler, GM, Honda, VW as well as tier 1 automotive seating and HVAC suppliers.• Lead cross functional teams to implement effective corrective actions in production processes and eliminate customer-imposed 3rd party containment.• Updated post molding assembly cells for improved process flow and error proofing to address customer, internal and PFMEA prioritized issues.

Milan, Tn

• Managed quality department of three QE’s, four other Quality Staff and HSE Coordinator of an automotive tier 1/ tier 2 headrest and armrest supplier with $85M annual sales.• Applied quality improvement principles and problem-solving methods to foam in place, foam on armature, rotational molding, tube/wire bending, broaching and assembly operations with fasteners and welding.• Reduced Cost of Non-Quality from $200K to $13K monthly through product and process improvements as well as customer relations.• Recertified the Quality Management System to ISO/TS 16949. Managed QE’s performing customer service to automotive customers.• Led the Quality responsibilities of New Product Introduction including APQP, check fixture development, drawing review, product validation, process development, Run at Rate, PPAP, etc.• Purchased and programmed Pax-It weld measurement software for lab personnel to perform weld penetration measurements.

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

• Managed quality engineers and technicians to support metal stamping and mechanism assembly for automotive seating components.• Led the quality department responsible to maintain the calibration of gauging tools, countermeasure internal and external concerns and complete the APQP steps for successful launches of new and changed product.• Managed the cost of poor quality by continually improving the ARJ Quality Management System to ensure satisfaction of 38 customers.• Lead and coached problem-solving teams to effectively identify and eliminate root causes for product and process problems.• Specified and implemented process improvements to equipment and tooling through internal personnel and outside contractors.• Further developed and improved the ARJ quality management system to be registered to the ISO/TS16949:2002 standard.• Improved customer PPM from over 400ppm to less than 10ppm.• Reduced the cost of poor quality from over $100,000 per month to less than $10,000 per month.• Developed and implemented an efficient Quality Management System for a new TPS based automotive seating component metal stamping and welding plant start-up.• Purchased a CMM, Measuring Microscope as well as cutting and polishing machines to equip a quality lab to perform dimensional and weld penetration measurements.• Designed and developed checking fixtures and instructions to provide manufacturing personnel with efficient and clear part evaluations to GD&T requirements.• Lead multidisciplinary teams in developing the ARJ process flows, PFMEA’s, Control Plans, Inspection Standards, and work instructions to define our processes.• Completed product capability and gauge repeatability studies.• Obtained domestic and Japanese transplant Tier 1 and 2 customers’ approvals for more than 400 new and in sourced stamped parts and welded subassemblies to both AIAG PPAP and Toyota SQAM criteria.• Served as the primary customer contact to address concerns and implement corrective actions.

Lexington, Tn

• Served as engineering support to manufacturing of automotive power seat tracks and recliners.• Evaluated the impact of proposed product or process changes on the product and manufacturing.• Specified and purchased manufacturing equipment and equipment improvements with equipment vendors.• Developed and implemented countermeasures to product or process related quality concerns.• Participated in problem solving teams to determine root causes of internal and external quality concerns.• Maintained process documentation including operator instructions, PFMEA’s, Control Plans, etc.• Tracked and supervised product changes from concept through implementation into manufacturing.

Selmer, Tennessee, United States

• Solved internal and external product quality issues related to single and multicolor injection molding and assembly of automotive interior and exterior mirrors as well as rear lighting supplied to customers including: GM, Mercedes, Dodge, VW, and BMW.• Served as the direct contact to customers for product related issues including quality concerns, new product development and validation.• Completed capital authorization requests for new manufacturing and testing equipment.• Developed and conducted product validation through environmental, vibration, and life cycle testing.• Managed the mirror business unit in the absence of the Business Unit Manager.

Jackson, Tennessee, United States

• Managed all aspects of a franchised motorcycle/ATV/utility vehicle/PWC dealership providing retail customers with sales, service, parts, and accessories.• Developed a very extensive knowledge of the retail powersports industry through contact with Kawasaki Motor Corp., aftermarket suppliers and retail customers daily.

Lexington, Tennessee, United States

● Prevented and resolved internal and customer quality concerns related to the manufacture of automotive power seat tracks and recliners.● Addressed concerns originating from internal sheet metal stamping, welding and assembly manufacturing processes, equipment, suppliers, and design.● Supported the launched new products and design changes requiring gage certification, validation testing and dimensional studies.● Completed timely PPAP submissions to OEM and TIER 1 automotive customers.● Coordinated the design, development, and certification of product testing equipment with equipment suppliers.● Developed, validated, and implemented significant cost reductions through process and material changes.● Evaluated supplier quality systems and assisting suppliers with quality concerns.

Marysville, Oh

● Promoted through positions of increasing responsibility and supervision within the Product Quality Engineering Department.● Supervised other engineers in solving field problems related to various automotive systems includinginterior and exterior components, engine controls, HVAC, engine cooling, fuel, and exhaust systems.● Analyzed warranty data trends and failed field parts to determine problem priorities and root cause.● Designed and performed tests to duplicate market failure modes and confirm corrective action effectiveness.● Corrected problems caused from foreign and domestic suppliers, in-house manufacturing, and design.