James Texter Email & Phone Number

Northville, Mi, Us

Part of a first-class experienced management team with a solid growth vision.Team Lead for R&D, Engineering, and Program Management.

Madison, Indiana, Us

Managed $17MM Detroit Technology Center. Led Design, R&D, and New Business Departments. Provided Toyota with environmentally sustainable products, engineering knowledge and experience and full-system engineering resources. • Grew to be best-in-class supplier, as evidenced by 2021 – 2023 feedback surveys.• To address collapsed customer timeline and significant staffing attrition, implemented new cross-functional team feasibility process intense design reviews for capability. This reduced total development times by several weeks earlier detection of problems.• Generated untapped revenue by initiating new business for lab testing and engineering services.

Plymouth, Us

Managed human and capital assets for product, processes, R&D, and application engineering. Trained and mentored product and process engineers on the manufacturing and application testing side of engineering, GD&T for initial design creation, defining capable tolerances for lean manufacturing processes, optimizing design, and reducing cost/lead times for tooling, fixtures, and gauges.• Beat 7 competitors in the coil springs market to win 3 major EV business contracts within six months.Providing solutions to customers that exceed product endurance and performance specifications while balancing competitiveness and profitability.Developed young talented engineers guiding them through the product development experience and enhancing their professional development.

Edinburgh, Indiana, Us

Held entrepreneurial position building engineering function, designing value-added engineered products, Developed innovative exhaust, emissions, thermal solutions and manufacturing machines and equipment for both Automotive and Commercial Vehicle manufacturers. To optimize process efficiencies and cost savings, trained engineers on engineering/quality tools, including QFD, DMA, PPAP, FMEA, GD&T, and VAVE. Implemented formal QFD for product engineering team, keeping customer needs / wants in the forefront.• Pioneered research with university graduate students for new thermal insulation materials, addressing exhaust and engine heat management. Benchmarked existing materials used in refinery, aerospace, and automotive industries. Developed empirical lab test for quantifying differences in thermal conductivity.• Reduced daily quality issues by 70% by introducing Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) model to design customer-centric Product Realization process.

Cumming, Ga, Us

Managed new business development and marketed products that met environmental/emission regulations and capitalized on market opportunities. Oversaw engineering, R&D, and business development.• Grew revenue by 20% ($8MM) by pioneering and implementing engineering solution for Daimler Truck and Navistar, which expanded Boa into commercial vehicle market and maintained company solvency during 2008 recession when the two automotive customers were in bankruptcy.• Eliminated between $500K and $1MM YOY by negotiating new warranty agreements with OEM customers and providing dealerships with improved service procedure.

Cumming, Ga, Us

Founded and managed Engineering division, including product design, project management, test laboratories, and R&D for custom-designed, high-volume exhaust, engine, and chassis components. • Built product engineering department, which grew American Boa by introducing new product into market for two major automotive manufacturers; put American Boa on the map.• Provided GM with YOY variable cost reduction of nearly one million dollars, by partnering with Ohio State University and major steel manufacturer to pioneer new stainless-steel precision strip alloy.• Oversaw new business, R&D, and product development functions. Responsible for $2 million R&D budget.

Auburn Hills, Mi, Us

Managed engineering professionals. Design, development of brake systems for multiple truck lines. Introduced new products for six major vehicle assembly facilities. Led engineering and marketing team to develop and implement new product innovations, including rear disc brakes, antilock, and adjustable pedal system. Anticipated market demand for new braking systems on trucks, organized team to develop and launch new brake system from concept through production. Selected source supplier. Interfaced with other design teams, bringing project on time and within budget, which enabled company to meet market demand and enter the market ahead of competition. Developed brake system for optimum performance. Created braking system with insufficient lead-time. Directed development and validation testing, ensuring performance before production release. Resulted in specific brake system rated best-in-class evidenced by Motor Trend magazine.

Auburn Hills, Mi, Us

Developed new exhaust systems from concept through serial production. Launch team leader for critical new program. Introduced the first leak-free flexible exhaust system in North American automotive industry. Effective use of QFD.• Spearheaded first gas-tight flexible exhaust decoupler for North American automotive industry. Conceived new product to address market challenges; presented model to executive management and gained approval. Results: Product realization resolved warranty costs for key products. Over 10 million products introduced into the market with no warranty or field returns since 1995.Product Engineer - Brake Development - Chrysler Proving Grounds, Chelsea MIDevelopment, testing, and certification of new brake systems.Product Development Engineer and Chrysler Institute Of Engineering (CIE) Management Training Program; Rotational assignments in Chassis, Powertrain, Body, Manufacturing, Proving Grounds, and R&D Laboratory while achieving Master Degree Mechanical Engineering in two years.

Master Of Science - Ms, Mechanical Engineering

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Specialization In Strategic Quality Management

Bachelor Of Engineering - Be, Mechanical Engineering

High School Diploma, Deans List. Top 5%.

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Business Administration And Management, General