Don Lowe Email & Phone Number

Seymour, Tn, Us

Newport, Tn

Successfully managing multiple 24/7-day manufacturing facilities with a total of 200 production team members.• Initiated and installed two new 2.4M bottling lines, developing standard operation procedures (SOP) for effective production and priming in the lines. • Redesigned existing fruit line and several manual lines within one month, cutting labor cost per case in half and doubling production. • Deployed under-utilized staff to operate another bottling line, streamlining two facilities of 200 employees across three shifts. • Assessed current processes, employee skills and engagement, and equipment capacity, creating more streamlined and effective production, improving processing in six months from 3K gallons of alcohol per day to 15K gallons. • Assessed alcohol blend pass rate on first test, initiating procedural changes and moving employees to new roles, improving pass rate from under 20% to 50% within six months with existing equipment, and current pass is over 65%.• Managed three bottling lines and 45 employees, producing product 24/7 with two 10-hr shifts, and using downtime to conduct preventative maintenance.

Maryville, Tn

• Supervise four different QA labs simultaneously • Monitor a USDA canning line, aseptic fill line, and FDA regulated canning lines• Developed an SQF level 3 certification plan• Supervise (12) Salary Lab Technicians in the areas of bacteriology, data and chemical testing and sample/inventory control and (8) Union employees • Responsible for the overall direction, coordination and evaluation of lab units• Perform daily sensory evaluations on all products made the previous day• Partners with plant and corporate entities to provide technical support on issues related to product quality, sanitation and continuous improvement• Responsibilities include: interviewing, selecting, and training employees; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints, working with vendors on ingredient issues; leading and directing teams; assisting with and leading plant training to all plant employees and resolving problems

• Monitor and audit products to ensure they meet high quality standards• Evaluate food & beverage items through performance audits, sensory, cooking, and scientific testing methods• Perform physical plant audits and compile data and/or results for the Executive & Operation teams• Provide feedback to the manufacturer about their products and audit results• Use statistical trends to see which contracted products are performing best• Audit manufacturing plants to prevent and/or solve problems affecting products• Monitor new production runs through beginning, middle, and end sampling• Inspect distribution warehouses• Manage quality control for over 200 different food & beverage products monthly• Ensured that contracted products meet specifications • Implement and/or monitor new operating procedures at contracted supplier’s production facilities • Monitor product cook times to ensure effective time/temperature requirements are met• Work closely with research & development, purchasing, and distribution teams as well as the supplier base to implement new concepts and/or products• Train General Managers & Culinary Managers on proper Safety & Sanitation • Resolve any product specification issues• Implement and perform weights & measures procedures for data collection

• Supervised 12 employees per shift• Developed shift schedules• Trained employees on proper cooking techniques• Coordinated cleaning/sanitation activities

Bachelor Of Applied Science (Basc), Food Science And Technology

Associate Of Arts And Sciences (A.A.S.), Business Management/Culinary Arts