Brian Bickers Email & Phone Number

Grand Rapids, MI, US

Indianapolis, IN, US

Zeeland, Michigan, US

• Creating the process for translating Customer and System level requirements and decomposing into detailed requirements for the Mechanical Engineering team.
• Map the existing process for Mechanical requirements and work closely with the ME team to understand how they need requirements presented to ensure the process captures the project’s needs.
• Understand Mechanical SPICE requirements, mapping the software ASPICE existing process and using best practices for the Mechanical system architecture.
• Work closely with System Engineering team to understand up stream requirements and the overall project deliverables throughout the product development process.

Holland, Michigan, US

• In this role, I led a team of 10 -- 4 new product development (NPD) engineers, 3 Custom Solution Engineers, 1 custom solution quoter, 1 custom solution Processor, and 1 Drafter -- for the development and introduction.
• Led the team to deliver 7-9 new product development projects from concept to production, contributing to company’s ability to meet customer needs for stylish, affordable furniture
• Introduced new design practices to the team, including tolerance stacks, Pugh matrices, rapid prototyping; Design, Verification, Plan and Report (DVP&R); technical design reviews, and project tracking competencies
• Collaborated with, succeeding at influencing colleagues at another site to adopt, implement same design practices
• Supported 260-member Manufacturing team’s day to day operations. Planned new product development projects, reviewed quality data, incorporated manufacturing’s input into process improvements
• Participated in Kaizen events, manufacturing reviews, time studies, resulting in hitting 6.5 ppm productivity, 33% time saving, 33% reduction of RMAs’ target goals

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

• Promoted to lead team of 4 engineers (2 in North America, 2 in China) and 1 master assembler for the development and introduction of new storage and organization products for the Gladiator brand.
• Delivered 3 innovations to the Gladiator team, like patented EZ connect racks, Gladiator Garage upright freezer, and Gladiator stand-alone refrigerator, adding incremental volume and revenue to the business
• Led innovative design of additional products, including feature that reduced assembly time by 40%. Developed a “grab and go” product based on customer feedback
• Integrated voice of the customer and quality function deployment (QFD) into all facets of the product delivery process, increasing intelligence about customer requirements, generating multiple solutions to address those
• Coordinated, integrated work of global team (2 Engineers and Procurement in China; 3-4 engineers and designers in GTEC India team). Interacted with China suppliers

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

• Promoted to technical lead and system integrator to a new trade partner product development project to provide a new garage organization system bid.
• Developed new product line from general specifications to bid submission in 9 months, supporting deal expected to generate incremental $20 million revenue
• Collaborated cross-functionally with marketing, customer business teams to understand customer requirements, while developing DVP&R, test plan, technical solutions to meet those requirements and aggressive cost targets
• Collaborated with customer’s sales and design teams, built trusting relationships, discussed trade off options for customer needs, translated into engineering requirements
• Defined new product architecture, enabling to incorporate improvements to baseline architecture in collaboration with our Chinese suppliers

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

• Within Whirlpool, took a role with the Garage and Storage Organization group, supporting the Gladiator brand.
• Integrated the Whirlpool product delivery process into Whirlpool’s Individual Business Unit. Brought best practices in drawing release, BOM development, Product delivery processes, testing requirements and.
• Initiated, developed at least 4 product prototypes for new cabinet line in response to a customer bid request under a 6-month request, utilizing simulation, internal and external model shop coordination, and our supply.

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

• As a senior engineer, I delivered multiple projects as a system integrator over 3+ years on time and budget for Freestanding Ranges and Built-In Ovens across multiple US factories and brands.
• Was the system integrator to launch Whirlpool’s first fully connected Appliance in the Jenn-Air Built-in Oven program, leading a team of over 15 people. Integrated sub-system and system level DVP’s, to deliver new to.
• Delivered a new Maytag aesthetic launch in a 8-month target timeline across 2 plants and 3 platforms (Gas and Electric Freestanding ranges, Gas and Electric Double-Oven Freestanding ranges, and Built-in ovens).
• Worked daily with procurement, marketing, product development managers, and manufacturing to deliver multiple projects on time and at cost.

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

I was a project engineer for Whirlpool corporation for the single oven Freestanding Range platforms for new product introduction and model line projects. I lead multiple cross functional teams and launched the products with our manufacturing plant to deliver projects on time and on cost, while managing all technical aspects of the projects.

Benton Harbor, Michigan, US

I was hired into Whirlpool after graduation as a model line engineer for Whirlpool Branded Freestanding ranges. I delivered multiple model line, cost, and quality projects for the Whirlpool brand. I was trained in Whirlpool's six-sigma black belt program. I also interned for 5 summers prior to this position, working in both Laundry and Dishwashers. I lead.