Kathy Galat Email & Phone Number

Bowling Green, Ky, Us

Westerville, Oh

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Bowling Green Area, Ky

Northfield, Il

In this role I was the Quality leader of $4.2B Kraft Cheese and Dairy business unit with responsibility for manufacturing and headquarters quality, food safety, compliance and continuous improvement. This role reported to the Business Unit president and was responsible for 10 manufacturing plants in both US and Canada. I was responsible for 15 direct reports, ensuring alignment on strategy, business results as well as career development.The BU had been experiencing a number of challenges when I joined, I quickly performed a situation assessment and drafted a plan of action to drive immediate change. My team drove a new Quality Engineering approach to drive out the quality losses we were experiencing. The results have been excellent with 85% reduction in dollars on hold, Lowered consumer complaints and improved right first time measures. These actions have resulted in significantly improved business results.I led the Cheese and Dairy, Foodservice, Canada and Export Quality team through the merger of the Kraft and Heinz companies, In this expanded role I was responsible for creating and implementing new work practices and processes for the combined organization.

Northfield, Il

Leader of organization responsible for Supplier Quality, Policy, SSMT Risk Management (Special Situation Management Team) and Statistical Process Support Team.Member of Kraft Foods Manufacturing Leadership Team, reporting indirectly to the Executive Vice President of operations, responsible for ensuring quality for $16B revenue of Kraft Foods and 34 Manufacturing locations.Quality Leader for Kraft Foods Risk Management team, worked cross- functionally with legal, consumer relations, operations to ensure best possible outcome for Quality related situations. Led 5 recall events, recommending corrective actions and ensuring implementation.

Glenview, Il

Directed the product development and quality team who developed and commercialized line extensions, quality improvements, and cost reductions across $2.0 B business, reporting directly to the BU PresidentGained global leadership experience as a team member of the Worldwide Global RDQI Leadership team. Responsible for the leading Organizational Excellence communication sub team to enable consistent messaging world wide.

Glenview, Il

Created the SAP strategy for Kraft Foods by blue printing and implementing SAP QM module across all North American manufacturing locations. Led initiatives through alignment of North American quality organization and manufacturing locations, ensuring all needs were captured in the blue printing phase. Translated plant customer requirements into a system application that was intuitive and user friendly.

Glenview, Il & Madison, Wi

Led the Quality and Food Safety team and programs across division, gained USDA experience via Oscar Mayer plants. Created strong cross functional linkage with R&D, Marketing and Operations to ensure effective commercialization during the product development cycle.

Glenview, Il

Generated a productivity pipeline that would deliver savings and maintain high quality standards. Delivered novel cream cheese process to reduce fat while maintaining consumer quality parameters. This was a cross functional assignment to gain a deeper understanding of the product development process.

Glenview, Il

Led Quality agenda for each of the divisions to ensure Quality and Food Safety, drive consumer complaints down and to effectively reduce quality incidents. Responsible for Quality leadership role interfacing with manufacturing locations, R&D, Marketing, Operations as part of the category leadership team

Garland, Tx

Managed the Quality and Food Safety team for all Quality, Sanitation and pest control programs, ensuring programs are in place to effectively manage all risk and deliver safe product for consumers.

Champaign, Il

Progressed through positions of increasing responsibility starting from a part time lab analyst, Microbiologist, Quality Supervisor and Compliance Manager. As the compliance manager I created and implemented HACCP for the site.