Dave Heller Email & Phone Number

Utilizing Lean Manufacturing, I drive continuous improvement and operational efficiencies through design, integration, build, production, repair and maintenance of electronic aerospace display and support systems. Our company is a worldwide contractor in aerospace systems and the leading provider of communication and electronic systems used in military and commercial platforms. Directing 8-member leadership group, I manage an integrated manufacturing/assembly and sales operation that is supported by 175 employees and includes manufacturing engineering, materials, domestic and international supply chain, manufacturing, pilot production, maintenance/repair/operations and estimating. Under my leadership, our division’s supply chain has grown by more than 75%, effectively managed MRO to achieve a 98% yield rate for units remaining in the field past warranty and averaged a 10% reduction in material budgets.I manage a large multi-million dollar overhead budget to support 30 simultaneous programs, while ensuring improved cycle time and reduced costs. I have better aligned our resources and equipment to support the company’s strategic vision and have evaluated new and existing equipment to optimize technology for improved efficiencies.

Accountable for Hardware and Software Quality Engineering and Configuration Data Management, I directed the ISO conversion and upgrade from 2000 to AS9100 Rev B to align with military standards. I also implemented Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and assisted 4 other divisions with technology issues. I led implementation of a close-loop system for tracking field returns and reducing warranty returns, resulting in a 22% reduction in returns over 2 ½ years. This included leading a cross-functional team with representatives from manufacturing engineering, manufacturing floor technicians, reliability engineering and quality engineering.

I reorganized the manufacturing process flow and directed development and production procedures to improve productivity by 35% while reducing material waste by $550K and reducing labor by 25%. I also developed and implemented strategies to reduce field returns, internal rejections and customer complaints and achieved a 50% reduction in 1 year. I assumed operational management of manufacturing, material control and production testing for the V22 program and was assigned to several other special projects to drive improved quality and operational efficiency

I served as the on-site manager at L3-Communications, formerly Loral Information Display Systems, and as liaison for program coordination on the Enhanced Main Display System (EMDU) product. Among my achievements was establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Navy on High Quality/High Reliability Soldering Technology.