James Desmet

James Desmet Email and Phone Number

President and CEO | Solving Problems with Advanced Technology Solutions @ CRG Technologies
Louisville, KY, US
James Desmet's Location
Louisville, Kentucky, United States, United States
James Desmet's Contact Details

James Desmet personal email

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About James Desmet

Over 20 years, I had the good fortune to help drive the success of two very different companies — General Electric and Big Ass Fans. Now, as President & CEO of CRG Automation, I’ve realized my long-held professional dream to build an engineering company focused on solving the most complex problems. We’re using our decades of collective engineering expertise and our state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot machine shop to invent, design and fabricate solutions for customers of all industries.

James Desmet's Current Company Details
CRG Technologies

Crg Technologies

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President and CEO | Solving Problems with Advanced Technology Solutions
Louisville, KY, US
Employees:
2
James Desmet Work Experience Details
  • Crg Technologies
    President And Ceo | Solving Problems With Advanced Technology Solutions
    Crg Technologies
    Louisville, Ky, Us
  • Crg Technologies
    Solving Problems With Advanced Technology Solutions
    Crg Technologies 2023 - Present
    Louisville, Kentucky, Us
    CRG Technologies is an Advanced Technologies Integration company formed to develop technical system solutions for our customers’ most challenging problems. CRG Technologies is a spin-off company from the award-winning Automation Integrator, CRG Automation.
  • Crg Automation
    Solving Problems With Innovative Automation Solutions
    Crg Automation 2019 - Present
    Louisville, Ky, Us
    An award-winning industrial automation company known for its range of creative solutions from complex integration projects to custom design-build automation equipment. CRG specializes in the packaging, material handling and manufacturing automation industries.• Fast Company – World Changing Ideas (2024)• Time Magazine – Best Inventions of the Year (2023)• Fast Company – World Changing Ideas (2022)• Robotics Business Review – RBR50 Innovation Awards (2022)• Fast Company – Top 10 Most Innovative Companies, Robotics (2022)• Kentucky Best Places to Work • Louisville Best Places to Work
  • 502Cares
    Engineering Ways To Help And Protect Kentuckians
    502Cares Apr 2020 - Present
    502cares launched as a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to solving some of our local communities biggest problems. Our initial efforts started as a grassroots effort to manufacture the protective masks so desperately needed by our friends, family and neighbors in healthcare who are courageously responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. We organized rapidly, mobilizing and developing a first production run to provide more than 50,000 masks to those most in need. Beyond donations, 502cares seeks equipment, materials or simply introductions to those who can assist. And if you can’t give, please share our story so others might. We’re in this together.
  • Big Ass Fans
    Global Vice President Of Engineering And Operations
    Big Ass Fans 2015 - 2019
    Lexington, Ky, Us
    Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, the company designs and manufactures high-end industrial, commercial and residential fans, LED lighting and automation controls. I joined the company in 2010 as Director of Engineering, rising to become Vice President with time spent overseeing engineering, research and development, operations, product management and web/e-commerce. During my time with the company, revenues soared from $35 million to $250 million with employment increasing from 150 to more than 1,000.PERSPECTIVE AND PATIENCEHelping team members see eye to eye isn’t always easy, especially when they come from different departments or different continents, and bring with them passionate perspectives. As an executive with a proven record of building consensus, I know listening is more important than talking, and fostering a respectful atmosphere is the best way to keep everyone working together to solve problems and move forward.⇨ Serviced four international subsidiary operations, seven foreign distributors and delivered products compliant in 80-plus countries.⇨ Oversaw engineering and operations teams in Malaysia, growing them from an acquisition of three people and a 500-square-foot office to 70 employees in a 44,000-square-foot regional headquarters.IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILSWhether spearheading Big Ass Fans’ expansion from industrial products to commercial and residential fans or shepherding its production teams through several factory rebuilds, I know no detail is too small when it comes to guaranteeing successful results. As an engineer, I revel in those details.⇨ Led manufacturing teams through transformations of 98,000- and 165,000-square-foot factories with zero downtime, on-time delivery exceeding 98% and inventory turns improving 28%. ⇨ Served as operations leader for the opening of seven facilities spanning more than 350,000 square feet and 10 new manufacturing lines.
  • Big Ass Fans
    Vice President Of Engineering
    Big Ass Fans 2010 - 2015
    Lexington, Ky, Us
    Everyone knows the saying, “Keep Calm and Carry On,” but not everybody can do it. During my years at Big Ass Fans, the company grew rapidly, and I guided some of its best industrial and commercial innovations from concepts to award-winning products. But I consider one of my biggest contributions to be ensuring that discipline and structure didn’t get lost amid the frequent expansions. I credit my training at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy for my ability to maintain a steady course.⇨ Led teams developing four new product lines resulting in 23 major introductions.⇨ Established a facility in Lexington to produce the world’s first smart ceiling fan, which also became the first home ceiling fan to be manufactured in America in years.⇨ Developed an easy-to-use fan layout tool that creates renderings of customers’ facilities and automatically suggests fan placement with the goal of dramatically reducing energy costs and improving employee comfort.⇨ Introduced the company’s first lighting line with seven models, adding $36 million in revenue during their first full year.
  • General Electric
    Bringing Good Things To Life
    General Electric 2000 - 2010
    Boston, Ma, Us
    General Electric is not only one of the world’s largest conglomerates; it dates to the 19th century, when it was one of the original 12 Dow Jones companies. In my nearly 10 years at the industrial bellwether, I received eight promotions, rising from Product Quality Engineer to New Product Introduction Manager, and, in the process, successfully innovated and updated numerous products in the company’s appliances division. I also achieved Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification, training that has proved invaluable in helping me set, meet and exceed goals in all the years since.EXPAND AND EVOLVEProduct development requires a steady hand, as obstacles often appear out of nowhere. At GE, I was repeatedly charged with leading teams that both solved some of the appliance division’s biggest challenges and tackled its most exciting initiatives.⇨ Oversaw product development for GE’s home energy management system, the first full line of consumer electronic devices designed and produced by the company in more than 20 years.⇨ Implemented GE’s first-ever lean new product introduction process on a $73 million dishwasher portfolio redesign and factory transformation.⇨ Project lead for a $31 million redesign of a GE Monogram appliance, encompassing three countries, 19 organizations and 108 individuals.⇨ Drove product and process improvements on ice makers, resulting in 75% fewer service calls and $3.5 million in annual savings.

James Desmet Skills

Six Sigma Cross Functional Team Leadership Manufacturing Engineering Product Development Process Improvement Engineering Management Dmaic Program Management Continuous Improvement Supply Chain Management Operations Management Root Cause Analysis Strategic Planning Fmea Product Management Project Management Process Engineering Quality Management Value Stream Mapping R&d Supply Chain Sourcing Supplier Quality Systems Engineering Business Strategy Vendor Management Electronics Quality Engineering Cost Reduction Quality Systems Manufacturing Management Business Process Improvement Manufacturing Operations Management Quality Control

James Desmet Education Details

  • United States Merchant Marine Academy
    United States Merchant Marine Academy
    Marine Engineering Systems
  • Jesuit Dallas
    Jesuit Dallas

Frequently Asked Questions about James Desmet

What company does James Desmet work for?

James Desmet works for Crg Technologies

What is James Desmet's role at the current company?

James Desmet's current role is President and CEO | Solving Problems with Advanced Technology Solutions.

What is James Desmet's email address?

James Desmet's email address is jd****@****ion.com

What schools did James Desmet attend?

James Desmet attended United States Merchant Marine Academy, Jesuit Dallas.

What skills is James Desmet known for?

James Desmet has skills like Six Sigma, Cross Functional Team Leadership, Manufacturing, Engineering, Product Development, Process Improvement, Engineering Management, Dmaic, Program Management, Continuous Improvement, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management.

Who are James Desmet's colleagues?

James Desmet's colleagues are Ben Barrett.

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