Edwin Chen Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Lead and oversee all new gummy product development. Spearhead the development of eight Natrol brand gummy products from bench scale to commercialization, ensuring alignment with clear objectives and adherence to regulatory requirements and industry standards. Devise and implement product development strategies, leveraging expertise in optimizing formulations. Take charge of the entire product development process, ensuring its seamless execution within specified timelines and successful outcomes.• Shape product quality and champion manufacturing best practices across two manufacturing sites, including an R&D facility and commercialization unit.• Implement and continuously enhance the site's practices, with a particular focus on refining the stage gate process for optimal efficiency and effectiveness.• Establish and review project proposals by determining timeframe, funding, limitations, procedures for accomplishing project, staffing requirements, and allotment of available resources to various stages.• Ensure development projects at the sites according to project planning, budget, and based upon scientific rationale, execution, and documentation.• Collaborate with the research and development team to design and conduct stability testing, sensory evaluation, and other relevant studies to assess product quality and performance.Results Highlights:• Led the establishment of two startup gummy manufacturing facilities, playing a crucial role in ground zero setup and serving as a key member of the inaugural R&D team for both sites.• Directed the in-house commercialization of Natrol gummy product line, initiating reverse engineering and successfully transitioning manufacturing from a third-party, resulting in significant cost reductions and increased profitability.• Developed new gummy formulations, collaborated with operations to improve manufacturing, enhanced gummy quality standards, improved taste and sensory attributes, and successfully reduced costs per unit.

Los Angeles County, California, United States

Pioneered the development of six new product development bulks, overseeing the entire lifecycle from bench scale to commercialization. Led gummy formulation and technical execution of vitamins, minerals, herbals and supplements (VMHS) New Product Development (NPD) projects from ideation through commercialization.• Oversaw the full NPD cycle, including lab/bench scale formula development, prototyping, pilot production, shelf-life studies, analytical testing, and finished product specification development.• Supported R&D lead in initiating short and long-term technology projects, utilizing internal and external R&D networks, to enable long-term NPD Pipeline development.• Established strong working relationships with external suppliers, internal and contract development labs, and manufacturing sites to successfully advance projects in accordance with the overall project timeline.• Proactively identified and led the technical team evaluation of novel functional ingredients, delivery forms, processes, and other relevant technologies to fuel future innovation.• Partnered with internal consumer science and sensory teams to design and coordinate studies guiding and optimizing product design, ensuring new products delivered an exceptional, differentiated consumer experience.• Designed experiments and conducted plant trials with co-manufacturers as well as internal plants both domestically and internationally.Results Highlights:• Successfully led the creation of five Megafood/Pharmavite gummy items and one new product development of Pharmavite capsule bulk, managing the process from NPD, benchtop, pilot to full commercialization.• Simultaneously managed and prioritized multiple projects and products across multiple functional groups while meeting target due dates.

San Antonio, Texas Area

Planned, managed and completed technical projects and activities necessary to design, develop and optimize new and improved formulations/products/delivery systems. Led technical activities to assist advancement of multiple projects concurrently through the stage gate product development process.• Launched and delivered new gummy innovations such by meeting deadlines, testing within spec and meeting stability. • Support gummy manufacturing by tech transfer, R&D initiatives, and gummy product/process improvement. • Contributed to the development of new principles or concepts that lead to capability and competency enhancements and/or higher impact/value opportunities.

San Antonio, Texas Area

Formulated diverse nutritional gelatin and pectin gummy supplement products to bolster manufacturing efforts. Established and approved new raw material specifications, master batch records, change controls, deviations, and other essential documentation for the production of existing in-line products. Spearheaded pilot/scale-up strategies and ensured the successful qualification and transfer of technologies and processes to other internal manufacturing sites.

Garden Grove, California, United States

Enhanced products and processes, addressing manufacturing issues, seeking cost savings, and ensuring operational efficiency. Led the effort to simplify and optimize product formulations, contributing to increased production throughput through efficient processes. Conducted root cause analysis of problematic bulks, implemented solutions, and analyzed data to confirm ingredient compliance. Recognized and updated existing formulations for improved production efficiency.

Garden Grove, California, United States

Developed innovation prototypes and produced trial samples, successfully progressing to the commercial batch, including tablets and formula blend. Led all aspects of development from DFQ to commercialization, demonstrating comprehensive project management skills. Analyzed and evaluated alternate raw materials, ensuring compliance with production guidelines and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Conducted assessments during product development phases and monitored market testing results to gain a better understanding of consumer demands.

• Monitor, analyze and measure sales performance; develop and implement plans to maximize sales and meet or exceed sales goal and objective. • Ensure each customer receives outstanding customer service and train new associates by following SOP and guidelines.