Christopher Knable Email & Phone Number

Huntersville, NC, US

Charlotte, NC

Led efforts in exploring, initiating, developing, and validating opportunities in sourcing activities, VA/VE activities, cost savings and other supply chain related opportunities. Technical interface between suppliers and development/manufacturing engineers to determine new and alternate sources, materials and processes for maximum cost reduction activities.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Recouped $400M in non-conforming material annually. Improved inventory accuracy by 50% by ensuring proper disposition and debiting to supply base.
• Reduced supplier quality defect rate by 50%, enabling higher efficiencies for internal manufacturing, and to help purchasing define a sourcing strategy that retained high performing suppliers.
• Further reduced supplier quality defect rate by 10% by implementing a quality planning process to ensure qualitative criteria were removed from… Show more
• Further reduced supplier quality defect rate by 10% by implementing a quality planning process to ensure qualitative criteria were removed from prints and replaced by quantifiable specifications, and that.
• Reduced post-production engineering changes by 25%, and reduced obsolete material cost by 75% by enforcement of advanced quality planning process (APQP).
• Improved customer satisfaction and internal ppm through production part approval process (PPAP). Show less

Charlotte, NC

• Achieved nearly $1MM in direct material savings in a single project, by moving from a dual to single sourcing arrangement.
• Implemented a sourcing strategy for steel components, including tube and plate fabrications, stampings, pulleys, laser/form, powder metal, wireforms, tubing, and machined components using a detailed quoting.
• Developed pricing and contracts to achieve 3% purchase price variance (PPV) activities for multiple manufacturing… Show more
• Developed pricing and contracts to achieve 3% purchase price variance (PPV) activities for multiple manufacturing units.
• Achieved 3% purchase price variance (PPV) on $100MM spend by identifying and coordinating opportunities for Value Improvement/Analysis/Engineering (VI/VA/VE) projects with engineering to achieve 3% PPV. Show less

Shady Grove, PA

• Implemented 7% cost reduction on $20MM spend (on a 2% goal) while concurrently developing sourcing strategy by managing a group of commodity managers to ensure KPI attainment
• Secured 80% coverage of suppliers with Master Purchase Agreements (MPA). Resulted in gained trust and buy-in for VA/VI projects with suppliers, thereby simplified and guaranteeing annual cost reduction performance.
• Achieved a 50% reduction in number of suppliers through thorough review of capabilities… Show more
• Achieved a 50% reduction in number of suppliers through thorough review of capabilities, capacities and performance, and consolidation of supplier not meeting established criteria.
• Developed and managed a comprehensive commodity strategy for Fabrications, including Weldments/Flat work, Machined Products, and Sheet Metal Show less

Grovetown, GA

• Eliminated 28% of suppliers (161) in 2010, and 40 additional suppliers in 2011. This led to additional cost reduction input by offering leveraging higher volumes with a fewer number of suppliers.
• Achieved 3% cost reduction for assigned commodities through competitive, fact-based quoting, VA/VI engineering project development and management, and aggressive solicitation and implementation of supplier suggestions.
• Achieved target cost and sourced over 200 parts on-time and under cost… Show more
• Achieved target cost and sourced over 200 parts on-time and under cost with full Advanced Quality Planning (APQP) process for multiple New Product Development projects
• Reduced overall cycle time of engineering changes, and reduced cost of quality and obsolescence through focused communication with internal commodity team. Ensured production launch readiness and continuing production.

• Employed process mapping, rapid continuous improvement, demand flow manufacturing technology, and cycle time and setup reduction for elimination of waste in business and manufacturing processes.
• Employed root cause analysis to eliminate quality and delivery problems.
• Originated value analysis/value improvement projects to reduce cost.
• Facilitated supplier projects resulting in $300,000 average yearly savings.
• Developed and implemented revised PPAP process more… Show more
• Developed and implemented revised PPAP process more closely resembling AIAG format.

• Achieved 50% in cycle time by developing optimal work definition and balancing for internal manufacturing processes.
• Increased internal efficiency of assembly and weld departments through lean improvement efforts.
• Developed and implemented a supplier evaluation system paralleling requirements of ISO 9000 and the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP’s).
• Achieved $300M in yearly savings by facilitated supplier kaizen projects.

Performed advanced quality planning activities for new model planning, current production, and field (warranty) phases. Conducted supplier corrective action reviews for production and warranty nonconformance utilizing root cause analysis and process review techniques.

Mba, Supply Chain Management

Bsise, Industrial And Systems Engineering