Brian Kutner Email & Phone Number

Paris, FR

Redwood City, California, US

• Responsible for both NPI engineering and manufacturing activities on first-in-market surgical robotics capital platform for bronchoscopy applications. Took product from initial prototypes in March 2017 to first.
• Extending growth in startup organization from 2 headcount in 2017 to 15 headcount in 2020, developing depth in both manufacturing engineering and direct production staff. Active technical leader in brand-new deployment.
• Owner of strategic operations 5+ year roadmap, inclusive of make vs. buy transition plans, external manufacturing partners, capital budgets, direct headcount and facility planning, and key supplier development needs
• Coordinating in-depth DFM feedback across R&D mechanical, electrical, systems, and SW teams, providing actionable metrics-driven feedback from both the concept phase through design verification phases.
• Hands-on and vocal leader for continuous engineering efforts, resulting in 30% reduction in labor in 1 year from launch
• Active partner with Marketing counterparts to provide maximum support and flexibility to the commercial marketing team during highly-dynamic product launch, while still ensuring that brand reputation for product.

• Directed manufacturing operations (headcount of ~50) for single-use disposable medical device products, spanning the following areas:
• Multiple manufacturing cells and associated supply chains
• Engineering and process development functions in support of new product introduction
• Injection mold tooling management and qualification
• Automation equipment and capacity scale-up
• Business systems and planning infrastructure

Sunnyvale, CA, US

• Directed multiple teams associated with assembly operations and capabilities for molecular diagnostic instrumentation products (electro-optical/mechanical) and injection-molded diagnostic consumables:
• Manufacturing automation -- alignment of factory capabilities with NPI pipeline, strategic capacity and cost modeling, large-scale capital equipment builds and deployment, test automation with supporting SPC programs.
• Sustaining engineering -- engineering/technician team staffing for production operation support, manufacturing process development and capabilities enhancement, continuous improvement activities and reject reduction
• Incoming inspection and quality control -- streamlined inspection logistics and enhanced metrology capabilities, engaged with suppliers on defect reduction and corrective actions, developed risk assessment-based.

Sunnyvale, CA, US

• Responsible for new product introduction and production support initiatives for medical instrumentation products. Managed a team of 5 manufacturing engineers representing a diverse array of technical disciplines.
• Served as lead transfer role for several major new product releases, ranging from cosmetic redesigns to major shifts in instrument size and scope. Identified and maximized internal manufacturing core competencies while.
• Deployed volume manufacturing of first-in-class fully automated instrumentation products.
• Took over as manager for incoming inspection department (team of 4), and initiated multiple logistical and metrology improvement programs to decrease turnaround time while increasing technical effectiveness..

Sunnyvale, CA, US

• Responsible for optical test development for production and technical sustaining operations for medical device manufacturing operation.
• Owner of transfer activities for next-generation product design into manufacturing, including test design, validation activities, operator training, and BOM/COGs activities.
• Drove multiple continuous improvement projects to achieve ongoing yield improvement and cost reduction.
• Developed automated metrics and reporting tools to improve business intelligence and increase inter-departmental coordination.

US

• Managed production line (staff of 10) and new product introduction activities for erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) products sold to Tier 1 customers.
• Supported line troubleshooting and drove improvements into manufacturing execution system. Reported operational performance metrics to management.
• Key contributor in product and process transfer activities to Bookham following the acquisition of Onetta. Identified skillset and equipment gaps between US, UK, and China facilities. Traveled between sites to.
• Production line sales annual volume in the range of $20M.

• Performed product development on fiber bragg grating (FBG) sensor product as well as evanescent coupler fabrication. Activities ranged from manufacturing process optimization, cost reduction, and research lab management.
• Supported marketing and sales lead generation activities as trade show representative.
• Drove SBIR grant reporting in support of fiber sensor commercial platform.

• Developed automated manufacturing test platforms for erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) products at a small startup. The test platforms were used to characterize optical components across multiple parameters with.
• Oversaw training of technicians and supervised prototype builds.

Executive Education Course - Product Management

Executive Education Course - Finance For Non-Financial Executives

Ms, Optical Sciences

Bs, Optics