Kelly Austin Email & Phone Number

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, United States

Oregon, Wi

OVERVIEW:Recruited to join the company during a high-growth phase, including a relocation to a new facility with new team members (company absorbed multiple functions previously handled by a 3rd-party vendor). Responsible for forecasts, financial statements, back-office operations and risk management, leading a team of 3 and reporting to executive management. Created and executed strategies to drive improvements, including systems and process implementations. Conducted thorough reviews of all systems, processes, policies, and personnel to evaluate growth capacity per company goals.HIGHLIGHTS:☑ Increased on-time deliveries by 18% and reduced inventory write-offs 26% by improving the build-to-order process between internal resources and external vendors.☑ Established standards for monthly forecasting, purchase order process, and quality control that prevented departure of vendors due to previous chaotic processes.☑ Increased cash flow and mitigated need for a 6-figure facility expansion by expanding floor space and improving inventory turns through the integration of an inventory management system.

Fond Du Lac, Wi

OVERVIEW:Promoted to create the long-term strategy, prioritize projects, and build the foundation for organization-wide Continuous Improvement and Reliability principles and best practices. Led a team of 6, including hiring and development of 4 new team members. Managed staff development, change management, and communications.HIGHLIGHTS:☑ Spearheaded the successful, on-time launch of 2 new departments (Total Process Reliability and Continuous Improvement) to support growth across 5 production facilities, a conversion plant, and a distribution center, with a total of 1,000+ employees. 🚩 Assembled and developed 2 cohesive implementation teams; achieved buy-in from senior management for strategic initiatives through above-and-beyond efforts.☑ Drove company-wide implementation of a Lean Management system, including Standard Work Instructions, Training-within-Industry, and Managing for Daily Improvement, to support 15% required growth (155M lbs. produced, 145M lbs. converted). 🚩 Created the roadmap, organized projects, and built cross-functional implementation team. Delivered 6% in initial productivity gains within 5 months.

Fond Du Lac, Wi

OVERVIEW:Brought on board to oversee and improve manufacturing operations in 2 facilities (total production of 120M lbs. of cheese products annually). Led 3 direct and 140 indirect reports, including 2 Plant Managers and a TPR Manager. Conducted SWOT analysis in both facilities, identifying need for wholesale changes across multiple functional areas. HIGHLIGHTS:☑ Increased production throughput 44% while reducing costs 11%. Transitioned team members to more suitable roles and utilized visual management to provide clarity on daily plant goals. 🚩 Subsequently led improvement of critical processes using Lean methodologies.☑ Facilitated 17% uptime improvement and decrease in unexpected failures by guiding a full-scale upgrade of the Enterprise Asset Management system. 🚩 Created organizational visibility on parts inventory and costs, preventative maintenance, maintenance KPIs, and overall asset management.☑ Achieved unprecedented results in utilizing existing space for aged cheese storage. Eliminated the need for leased storage space and transportation costs to transport product (8-month payback on project). 🚩 Additionally, upended the status quo on a highly ineffective product storage process.☑ Drove a 55% increase in production capacity through a multimillion-dollar capital improvement project, leading an interdisciplinary team through the stage gate approval and implementation phases.☑ Requested to absorb a stalled enterprise initiative (institutionalization of Total Process Reliability).

Oshkosh, Wi

OVERVIEW:Progressed through increasingly responsible positions, including Treasury Analyst, Senior Credit Analyst, Assistant Credit Manager, Senior Analyst (International Treasury), and Manager.HIGHLIGHTS:☑ Built a 5-year record of key contributions and achievements that included the following: leading a newly created Treasury Lean team to facilitate Treasury projects and train 4 departments with 70+ employees; utilizing change management with all ancillary departments to optimize the corporate credit process in order to surmount a tough business climate; and integrating A/R portfolio of 3 separate BUs into Oshkosh Shared Services.Prior position as Managing Director with Brandon, Inc., a licensed sportswear manufacturer. Managed team of 12 direct reports and 200+ indirect reports. Played key role in growing sales 566% and tripling operating margin to 18%.